Rockport & Aransas NWR trip....(More shots added.)

[Shadow]

Well, it was a good trip in the end, although the weather was a bit challenging. The Whoopers were great, although we didn't get as close as we would have liked. Had to shoot the 300mm with the 2x converter, manual focus for many of them. We ended up going on the "Skimmer" with Captain Tommy Moore on Sunday afternoon. Highly recommended. (They are Nikon fans.... Woot!)

Here's a few to get things started. (More Later...)

Whooping Cranes







Wilson's Plover



Great Blue Heron









Forster's Tern







Turkey Vulture @ Aransas NWR



Need an ID on this bird....



TONS of wildflowers out down there...

Wild Garlic & Bluebonnet @ Goose Island SP (by my 15 year old daughter)





Bluebonnet in Rockport by me...



Brown Pelican
Fulton Harbor









Reddish Egret
Nesting island off of the Refuge

[Photoholic]

Beautiful series! I'm glad the weather cleared up for you.

[houtex01]

Bruce..looks like you had a great and productive weekend...very nice variety in this series...fav is #7...great details...

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by houtex01

Bruce..looks like you had a great and productive weekend...very nice variety in this series...fav is #7...great details...

Thanks. The Whoopers are looking chubby this year, due to the bumper crop of Crabs. They're loading up for the trip north very soon.

Originally Posted by Photoholic

Beautiful series! I'm glad the weather cleared up for you.

Thanks, it was windy as all get out, but sunny eventually.

[sandboa]

Those are very nice. I like the Wilson's Plover.
I also got a photo of the whoopers last week, but from the tower at the refuge so mine are a white speck in the distance. I guess I need to try going on the boat?

Your Caspian Tern is a Forster's Tern (or possibly a Common Tern).

Chris

[ttusa]

GBH with the fish is fantastic, Bruce!

[jfoureyes]

#2 wins the prize for me and would have been worth the trip!

[tech1961]

Nice series.

[WanaM3]

Nice bunch of photos. It appear that you took photos of everything that got in your way. I like #2 & 4. Waiting to see the rest.

[slickshooter]

Way to go Bruce
Great variety

[lhdvies]

Way to go Bruce -Great trip!!

[corralup]

I love the catch on the GBH and the Fawn! Excellent post!

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by sandboa

Those are very nice. I like the Wilson's Plover.
I also got a photo of the whoopers last week, but from the tower at the refuge so mine are a white speck in the distance. I guess I need to try going on the boat?

Your Caspian Tern is a Forster's Tern (or possibly a Common Tern).

Chris

Thanks. Didn't know there were some many similar varieties.



Thanks, all. What a monster fish, huh!?!?

[tech1961]

Beautiful Reddish Egret shots Bruce.

[Shadow]

Thanks. Jimmy. It's really a short drive from Houston, Austin or San Antonio. Everybody should do the Whooper cruise at least once. There are two companies. The "Wharf Cat", and the "Skimmer". I've done both, and the Skimmer is much more photographer-oriented. It has a shallower draft (2.5') and can get in closer than the Wharf Cat. They velcro your tripod to the upper rail for you too. The Wharf Cat has a little snack bar, while the Skimmer sells water, and offers free "Chateau du Cardboard" box wine on the afternoon trips. Tommy, the Skimmer Skipper is quite a character, and very knowledgeable too.

Skimmer here.... Home - Whooping Crane Tours and Coastal Birding Aboard Skimmer



Great Skimmer video here... YouTube - Endangered Whooping Cranes


Wharf Cat here... Wharf Cat Birding Tours