Birding Paradise: Aransas, Texas

With over 300 species of birds that either live year round or migrate through south Texas, it is no wonder why the Aransas/Corpus Christi area is known as the “Birdiest City in America.” And although there are many varieties of birds in the area, as well as reptiles and mammals, the primary point of interest is the annual winter migration of the endangered Whooping Crane. To date there are only about 200 left in the wild. The following photographs show the birds, in alphabetical order, that we saw during a recent trip to the area in February 2023. The map shows approximate locations of the sightings.
American Avocet, (3) Indian Point
American Coot, (6) Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
American Kestrel, (9) Rockport/Fulton area
American Kestrel, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
American Oystercatcher, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
American White Pelicans and Laughing Gulls, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Belted Kingfisher, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Black-bellied Plover, (5) Oso Bay
Black-crested Titmouse, (1) West Yoakum Avenue
Black-necked Stilts, Willets, & Green-winged Teal, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Black Vulture, (9) Rockport/Fulton area (Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary)
Blue-winged Teal, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Area
Blue-winged Teal, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Area
Brown Pelican, (3) Indian Point
Brown Pelican, (3) Indian Point
Cedar Waxwings, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Common Gallinule, (3) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Common Loon, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Crested Caracara, (4) Gregory windmills off Moore Avenue
Crested Caracara, (4) Gregory windmills off Moore Avenue
Crested Caracara, (4) Gregory windmills off Moore Avenue
Double-crested Cormorant, (3) Indian Point
Eastern Meadowlark, (4) Gregory windmills off Moore Avenue
Eastern Meadowlark, (4) Gregory windmills off Moore Avenue
Eastern Phoebe, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Eastern Willet, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Eastern Willet, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Foresters Tern, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Foresters Terns & Royal Terns, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Gadwall, (5) Oso Bay
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
Golden fronted Woodpecker, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (in parking lot)
Great Blue Heron, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Great Egret, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Great-tailed Grackle, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Great-tailed Grackle, (7) JFK Causeway (near Starbucks)
Greater Yellowlegs, (3) Indian Point
Green-winged Teal, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Herring Gull, (5) Oso Bay
House Sparrow, (9) Rockport/Fulton area (Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary)
Inca Dove, (3) Indian Point near Sunset Drive
King Rail, (7) JFK Causeway (near Starbucks)
King Rail, (7) JFK Causeway (near Starbucks)
Laughing Gull, (3) Indian Point
Laughing Gull, (3) Indian Point
Laughing Gulls, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Sanctuary
Lesser Scaup, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Little Blue Heron, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Little Blue Heron (immature), (5) Oso Bay, near Naval Air Station
Long-billed Curlew, (3) Indian Point
Long-billed Dowitcher, (3) Indian Point
Mottled Duck, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Mottled Duck, (5) Oso Bay
Mourning Dove, (1) West Yoakum Avenue
Neotropic Cormorant, (3) Indian Point
Neotropic Cormorant, (3) Indian Point
Northern Cardinal, (9) Rockport/Fulton area (Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary)
Northern Cardinal, (1) West Yoakum Avenue
Northern Cardinal, (1) West Yoakum Avenue
Northern Harrier, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Northern Mockingbird, (6) Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
Osprey, (3) Indian Point
Osprey, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Pied-billed Grebe, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Red-tailed Hawk, (4) Gregory windmills (Moore Avenue west of Portland)
Red-tailed Hawk, (4) Gregory windmills (Moore Avenue west of Portland)
Red-winged Blackbirds, (7) JFK Causeway (near botanical garden)
Reddish Egret, (3) Indian Point
Reddish Egret, (5) Oso Bay
Reddish Egret (White Morph), (9) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Redhead Duck, (7) JFK Causeway (near Starbucks)
Redhead Duck, (7) JFK Causeway (near Starbucks)
Ring-billed Gull, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Ring-necked Duck, (9) Rockport/Fulton area, off highway 35
Ring-necked Duck, (9) Rockport/Fulton area, off highway 35
Rosette Spoonbill, (5) Oso Bay
Rosette Spoonbill, (5) Oso Bay
Rosette Spoonbill, (3) Indian Point
Rosette Spoonbill, (3) Indian Point
Royal Tern, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Royal Tern, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Ruddy Turnstone, (5) Oso Bay
Ruddy Turnstone, (8) Padre Island National Seashore
Sage Thrasher, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Sanderling, (8) Padre National Wildlife Refuge
Sandhill Crane, (9) Rockport/Fulton area
Savannah Sparrow, (9) Rockport/Fulton area (Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary)
Tricolored Heron, (7) JFK Causeway (near botanical garden)
Tricolored Heron, (3) Indian Point
Tricolored Heron, (3) Indian Point
Turkey Vulture, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Turkey Vulture, (2) Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
White Ibis, (3) Indian Point
White Ibis, (3) Indian Point
White-winged Dove, (3) Indian Point, near Sunset Lake Park
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Whooping Crane, (10) Rockport Birding Adventure (from boat)
Willet, (5) Oso bay
Yellow-crowned Nigh Heron, (3) Indian Point
Yellow-rumped Warbler, (1) West Yoakum Avenue
Our adventure in the Corpus Christi/Aransas area consisted of four days. We flew from Sacramento to Corpus Christi which has a great airport with only six gates. We stayed at a comfortable AirBnB in Aransas Pass which had several cool birds, including a pair of White Ibis, in the spacious yard on West Yoakum Avenue (contact me if you would like the owners contact information).
The most enjoyable part was being able to see several Whooping Cranes up-close from our Rockport Birding and Kayaking Adventures (whoopingcranetours.com). The captain and his first mate were absolutely wonderful, as was the smooth water and delightful sunshine.
If you decide to go to this area for birding (or a host of other activities), pick up a free map on your arrival at the Corpus Christi airport. It will show you many great places to birding.
All photographs are the copyright of Jim Jackson Photography. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or authorization to use photos or for signed, high-resolution prints.
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What wonderful wildlife photography. Jim Jackson really has an eye and appreciation for nature beauty.