This tour offers one of the ultimate winter birding experiences in North America, as you witness the majestic Whooping Crane in its winter home on the Central Texas Coast, combined with the incredible diversity and abundance of wintering waterbirds transforming the area into a must visit destination.
A boat trip through the coastal marshes in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge provide up close views of Whooping Cranes and resident species including Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Brown Pelican, and American Oystercatcher, among others.
Further down the coast on Mustang Island, we encounter Aplomado Falcons along with many species of shorebirds and wintering passerines. Visits to inland birding sites allow us to observe South Texas specialty birds including Great Kiskadee, Olive Sparrow, Long-billed Thrasher, Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk and White-tipped Dove.
We also take a full-day local tour on the King Ranch, Norias Division – searching the extensive mesquite brushlands and oak mottes for the elusive Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Formerly more widespread in areas of the Rio Grande Valley, this species is now restricted to private lands on the northern end of their range.
From the diminutive Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl to the majestic Whooping Crane, this tour including the Central Texas Coast and the historic King Ranch, offers a birding adventure unlike any other.
Enjoy a 3-hour boat trip through the coastal waterways of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to get close views of Whooping Cranes.
Marvel at a variety of wintering shorebirds and waterfowl in the bays and marshes of the Central Texas Coast.
Observe several bird species of the Rio Grande Valley such as Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Long-billed Thrasher and Olive Sparrow.
Spot Aplomado Falcons on Mustang Island.
Look for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Audubon’s Oriole, and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet in the oak mottes and mesquite savannas of the legendary King Ranch.
Explore the Kingsville area and observe a variety of bird species including several raptors predominantly found in South Texas.
Dates: February 4-8, 2026
March 25-29, 2026
Price: $2,500 per person (DBL)
$320 single supplement
Deposit: $300 per person
Starts/Ends:
Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP)
Each tour is limited to 8 participants
Status: OPEN
The package includes all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5, ground transportation during the tour, entrance fees to parks/preserves, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, and guided services provided by the tour leader(s). This tour includes a 3-hour boat tour to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see the Whooping Cranes and a King Ranch tour to see the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. It does not include travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature.
TROY HIBBITTS
OSCAR CARMONA
Moderate (2-3 miles of daily walking). Field time each day is typically between 7-10 hours (weather permitting). Most of the birding is done on trails, boardwalks, beaches and along the road as we drive to various birding locations. Walking on uneven, soggy terrain, or in the rain is possible. Days start with breakfast at the hotel and departure for the field between 6:30 to 7:00 am, with the exception of an earlier morning start for the King Ranch tour. We bird throughout the morning, take a break for lunch and resume birding until 5:00 pm followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.
Day 1: Arrive Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) before 2 pm. After meeting everyone at the airport, we drive to Rockport to check in to our hotel. If time allows, we try to get in a few hours of birding at local sites before the evening orientation session and welcome dinner. Overnight: Hampton Inn and Suites, Rockport-Fulton.
Day 2: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Rockport. This morning, we take a 3-hour boat trip to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see the Whooping Cranes and a variety of other wading, shore, and water birds. The boat trip give us an opportunity to get close looks at family groups of Whooping Cranes as we cruise through the marshes brimming with bird activity. We are likely to see a large variety of waterfowl including Brown and American White Pelicans, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron and a variety of wintering ducks. After the boat trip, we spend the remainder of the day birding in the Rockport area including Goose Island State Park, Rockport-Tule Creek Nature Preserve and several other nearby birding sites. These locations offer chances to observe various wintering passerines and waterfowl. Overnight: Hampton Inn and Suites, Rockport-Fulton.
Day 3: Corpus Christi and Mustang Island. We drive south to the Corpus Christi area to explore the many birding spots in and around the city. Some of the sites on the western end of Corpus Christi, such as Hazel Bazemore County Park and Pollywog Pond, offer a sampling of bird species predominantly found in the Rio Grande Valley, including Least Grebe, White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, and Great Kiskadee. We also visit several coastal sanctuaries in search of wintering shorebirds and waterfowl and head to Mustang Island to look for the Aplomado Falcon. We end the day on the northern end of Mustang Island at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center where we can observe Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret as well as a variety of wintering ducks, shorebirds and marsh species including Clapper Rail and American Bittern. We visit the beach front on the island to look for shorebirds, gulls, terns and scan the offshore waters for pelagic species such as Northern Gannet and Brown Booby. Overnight: Home2 Suites, Corpus Christi Southeast.
Day 4: King Ranch. We spend the last full of day birding the Norias Division of the King Ranch. Norias is located on the southern end of the vast 825,000 acre ranch. The mesquite brushlands and oak mottes in this area are one of the few places in Texas where our target bird, the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, can be seen with some degree of regularity, although it is not guaranteed due to its secretive nature. Additional uncommon species of interest we may see include Tropical Parula, Audubon’s Oriole, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Botteri’s Sparrow. The various habitats in the ranch host many species predominantly found in south Texas, including Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow and Long-billed Thrasher. The King Ranch is a haven for wildlife; we have a good chance of seeing White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Javelina, and exotic Nilgai antelope. Overnight: Home2 Suites, Corpus Christi Southeast.
Day 5: Tour Conclusion & Departures. If time allows, we explore a few local birding spots in Corpus Christi before we conclude the tour. We will arrive at the airport by no later than 11 am. Participants may arrange departure flights from Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) after 1 pm.
