Whooping cranes at Aransas

December 2, 2023 · Aransas NWR, Texas · Mild, partly cloudy, 62°F with salt breeze · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Booked the Skimmer tour out of Rockport. The whooping cranes come back to this stretch of the Texas coast every fall and it’s still the only reliable way to see the wild population. Our guide put us within reasonable distance of three family groups at different points — a pair, a pair with a juvenile, and a single — across three hours.

The 600 was barely long enough from the boat. You don’t get close. But I’m not going to complain about how much range I have on a federally endangered bird that isn’t bothered.

Whooping crane adult on marsh edge — Adult of a pair, standing in the marsh at about 200 meters. Whooping Crane 550mm, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 1250

Two adult whooping cranes with juvenile — Pair with a juvenile. The juvenile has rusty head feathers. Whooping Crane 600mm, 1/3200s, f/9, ISO 800

Spoonbill in flight — Spoonbills moved between ponds all morning. Roseate Spoonbill 350mm, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 640

Reddish egret in dark phase — Working a shallow flat near the boat. Reddish Egret 450mm, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 1250

Long-billed curlew on a sandbar — Curlew at middle distance on a sandbar. Long-billed Curlew 450mm, 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO 640

Black skimmer skimming the water — Pair cutting the surface ahead of the boat. Black Skimmer 400mm, 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO 800

Brown pelican in flight — A loose chain passed us on their way out. Brown Pelican 300mm, 1/2000s, f/7.1, ISO 640

Laughing gull following the boat — The boat had an escort. Laughing Gull 400mm, 1/2000s, f/7.1, ISO 1250

Wide view of Aransas salt marsh — Between crane stops. This is what they live in. Aransas salt marsh 23mm, 1/1000s, f/11, ISO 200

Alligator on mud bank — Big one hauled out just off the channel. American Alligator 500mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 400