Aransas Bay Birding Charters
aransas bay birding charters
Rockport's Premier Photography Tours
Feel free to call or text.
Your Tour
Your tour will start at the Sea Gun Marina. The Marina is located on the Lamar peninsula. Ten miles North of Rockport at the North end of the Copano Bay Bridge. We will navigate into Aransas bay, past the Goose Island State Park. We will then travel along the South shoreline of the Aransas Wildlife Refuge to the Intercoastal Waterway. Once in the Intercoastal we will enter the main body of the Refuge. There are many opportunities to photograph Whooping Cranes as well as shore birds along the intercoastal. Your tour will take you North on the Intercoastal along the Refuge and into San Antonio Bay to the North end of the Refuge. This is the turning point of the tour. We won't simply turn and take you home from there. We will continue to look for photography opportunities. The boat is at your disposal for the duration of your tour. We will stop for anything you like and stay at each site as long as you wish. We are on your schedule not ours.
The cost of the trip is $500.00 for the first four and $550.00 for five and $600.00 for six.
Please visit www.aransasbayadventures.com to see the calendar and book your tour.
Service animals and are always kids welcome!
We provide bottled water. Feel free to bring whatever you wish to drink and eat. We ask that you please take all your trash with you when we return to the dock.
Welcome to Aransas Bay Birding Charters. Rockport/Fulton's premier on the water photography and bird watching eco tour company.
Our boats are specifically designed for photography by photographers. We specialize in bird and nature photography/watching. During the months of October through April you will be treated to fantastic opportunities to see and photograph the Majestic Whooping Crane. From the first of March until the end of May you will be treated to fantastic views of Rookery/nesting islands.
about our boats
Our boats are uniquely designed for photographers. The Jack Flash has three different decks at separate elevations to give you the angle of your choice. The Lady Lori has two decks at different elevations. Another great feature of both boats are the enclosed cabins so you can take a break and relax out of the elements.
Our boats are true shallow draft. We are able to float at a depth of ten inches and can motor at eighteen inches so we can get you close while providing a stable platform to photograph and view the Whooping Cranes as well as other subjects. This allows you to get really close to the birds. It is not uncommon to get within 50 feet of Whooping Cranes and even closer for most Shore Birds. Each boat has an enclosed cabin that will keep you and your gear warm, dry and safe.
At Aransas Bay Adventures we strive to provide you with the best photographic experience in our area, on boats designed for you, the photographer. Each tour is unique, as you never know what wildlife will spring forth or which bird will pose to have their picture taken on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, or in the surrounding waters and islands of the Texas Inland Coast. Don't miss your shot book now!
Don't be fooled by fishing guides advertising their birding and photography services. They will put you in a small, open, unstable fishing boat where you and your gear will be subject to the elements and in many locations you will be unable to get a good view of the Whooping Cranes. Our boats have viewing/photography platforms above the cabins - this higher elevation allows you to photograph/view with different perspectives and above any obstructions. Sometimes if the Cranes are feeding on crabs in the ponds being on the elevated decks is the only way to get the perfect unobstructed image.
There are larger group boats in the area that offer excellent birding opportunities. They do all they can to accommodate photographers. Just realize they are large boats and limited to areas they can go. You will also be on their schedule. They have programmed tours leaving the dock once or twice a day. These tours leave at a specific time and return at a set time.
Shared Charters
Do you not have enough people to fill a boat? Or do you want to share a boat? We have shared charters just for this reason.
We have dates available for shared charters. Please contact us if you are interested in sharing these dates. email If you have a date you would like to share please let me know. Please let me know if your interest is birding or photography. The fee will be divided evenly per person.
Photography Info
Our tours are designed to accommodate your individual needs. We depart at a time of your choosing. The trip will last four to six hours depending on how long you want to stay out.
For photography We recommend leaving a half hour before daylight. This allows us to be on site with the sun coming up at our backs. This can be a great time to get flight shots when the Cranes are coming out to feed.
Photography tours take a minimum of four hours - we will stay as long as you like. Most people have had enough and are ready to come in at the six hour mark. At some point the light will become harsh and the Whooping Cranes fly inland to feed and for fresh water.
We will stay on each subject until you are ready to move on. You won't be on the boats schedule as you would on a larger group boat. As there is no set return time we can sit and wait for the behavior shot you are looking for.
The shallow draft of our boat allows us to get into areas that larger boats are not able to. This also allows us to get in close to the birds and have the boat sit on the bottom to make it as stable as possible.
We can accommodate up to five tripods. There are three different levels to shoot from. The bow and aft decks will get you level with the birds while the upper deck will get you above the grass and brush if needed.
Thank you for considering us for your photography tour.
Birding Info
I find that birding trips are some of the most fun. The birders I have had aboard are very knowledgeable and very happy to share their knowledge. Sometimes we are unable to identify a bird at first glance. If together we are unable to make an identification we can take the time to get out the books and correctly identify the bird. In the past we have followed a particular bird along the shoreline or across the canal to make a positive id.
Our tours are designed to accommodate your individual needs. We depart at a time of your choosing. The trip will last four to six hours depending on how long you want to stay out. You won't be on the boats schedule you will be on your schedule.
The shallow draft of our boat allows us to get into areas that larger boats are not able to. This also allows us to get in close to the birds. We will also be able to tour some of the back lakes and bays that are much too shallow for large boats.
Thank you for considering us for your birding tour.
5:30 am-6 pm, 7 days a week
5810 Hwy 35 N Bypass, Rockport, TX 78382
