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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