I'm not a frequent "reviewer" and only do so when something is really good or really bad! This will be a "really good one" experience. Here are details-my wife and I visited the ANWR (Aransas) by car. We did see two pairs of Whooping Cranes, but one might've needed a telescope to get a good viewing! Fortunately we thought that might be the case and we'd booked a boat with Kevin and Lori Simms's "Aransas Bay Birding Charters" for the next morning. We are NOT birders, but rather "advanced" amateur photographers (if there is such a thing). Granted weather is a huge factor and we indeed were blessed with the cloud cover(almost none) and wind(very calm). We left with Captain Lori Simms about 30 minutes before sunrise and arrived at an island and waited on the sunrise. Although the island would've been a wonderful foreground, there were zero clouds and thus no real "worthy" sunrise images. From there we began our search for the Cranes. Lori asked what exactly we wanted to photo and I gave her my "wish list"-birds inflight, birds feeding, anything "unusual" and not many birds just standing there. Boy did she deliver?! Or we were extremely lucky? Before we saw any Cranes we had photographed a Common Loon, a pair of American Oyster Catchers in flight, an Osprey and passed on a sizable Blue Heron Rookery. Before 8:00am, Lori saw a pair of Cranes (with a Colt) land on Island. In her custom built boat (access to 18" depth), she was able to get us very close to shore and we clicked away. The trio was probably less than 100yds out. But, soon thereafter 5 sub-adults trickled in and Lori said "get ready for your birds inflight! We are likely to witness a territorial battle". For the next 30 minutes we witnessed the most magnificent airshow! It was a sight to behold! Other vessels tried to get close, but the water was too shallow for them and thus we basically had the show to ourselves! We ventured from there to a few other locations and found several more pairs of Cranes before Lori turned and asked us where we wanted to go next? It was 10:00am, the sun was getting "harsher" for photos, we'd seen 19 Whooping Cranes and we had booked the boat for "as long as we wanted". My wife and I looked at each other and agreed that we'd seen enough and there was no way it could get any better. Lori seemed surprised, but we were serious for the venture had exceeded our expectations--by a long shot! The day before the winds were 15-20mph and the day after was 100% overcast--we were very fortunate! I clicked off 1200+ images in the 3 hours we were out. It was a fabulous experience and Lori could not have been more professional! You want to get close to the Whooping Cranes?--go with Aransas Bay Birding Charters--they cannot control the weather, but they can get you close to some Whoopers!! read more

If you want to see the birds, especially, of course, the whooping cranes, in the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, Captain Lori and Captain Kevin of the Aransas Bay Birding Charters with their boats, the Lady Lori and the Jack Flash, are the people to go to. Of course, you will be able to see birds from the landside of the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, but the real experience can only be had from the water, especially because then you'll have the sun on your back. You also get closer to the birds, and from many different vantage points. Lori and Kevin, with their extensive knowledge of the area from many years of experience, really know where to take you. But even so, you're kind of "in command": let them know where you want to go and/or where you want to stay, and they'll take you. That is a distinct advantage over other tours: with Lori and Kevin you're on an absolutely individual tour, tailored to your wishes, as they are not on a schedule like other boats. Add to that the fact that they have a maximum of six people on board and you will really get a personalized experience. We, btw, chartered the Lady Lori for a private tour. We were just two people, my wife and me, and that turned out to be perfect to make the most use of the different places to take pictures from, the fore and the aft deck, and the top of the cabin. We started before sunrise, and the sunrise was glorious, and later we could see not only the whooping cranes but plenty of other birds in the morning sunlight. Sometimes, Lori "parked" her boat just at the water's edge, from where she pointed out the birds and also tried to call the smaller ones by playing their calls from her cellphone. What a neat thing to do! Lori is a great person with an extensive knowledge of "her" birds. To conclude: we were very pleased with our tour as well as with Lori. We will certainly return, maybe more than once. A piece of advice: make sure you have powerful binoculars [at least 10x magnification] and a long-range tele lens [more than 500mm] as the birds are not always close by. A sturdy tripod will certainly not come amiss. read more

We had a fabulous day on our trip with Aransas Bay Birding Charters. Captain Kevin was exceptionally knowlegable not only about the wildlife in and around the bays but also the general history of the region. He not only was able to locate many species of birds (whooping cranes, american oyster catchers, rails, dippers, multiple heron species and several others) but demonstrated a full understanding of their behavior and an uncanny ability to even predict their actions, which allowed us to be educated and entertained all at once. We encountered numerous dolphins as well. He and his wife Lori run very safe and capable boats, the booking process was very smooth and they excel at providing prompt follow up while genuinely caring about trying to best meet the desires of the group. I would definitely reccommend calling on them to handle your birding/fishing chartered tours when in the Rockport area. read more

I took the tour with my son and two friends and Kevin was the captain for our trip. It was all that we expected, and much more. Kevin is expert regarding the local birds, including the cranes, including when they arrive, when they depart, what they eat, their exact habitat preference, etc. More importantly, he has a genuine concern for the conservation of the birds. In addition, our tour helped our appreciation of the entire area around the wintering grounds of the whooping cranes, including history, habitat management, storm damage, and even the busy shipping traffic. In fact we received a thorough interpretation of the entire area. The time went quickly and was enjoyable for reasons far beyond just seeing the birds, which we saw at close range without disturbing them. This is a grade-A tour. read more

My main focus was bird video, and Kevin and Lori didn't disappoint - Lori was especially great with spotting the little stuff and getting me on them! Kevin was dubious about the weather (cold and overcast with a little spittle), but we ended up getting great video of a very cooperative Whooper pair, plus Seaside Sparrow (yes, they can get you close to the songbirds from the boat!), Clapper Rail, and loafing larids! Lori is also a "dolphin whisperer" for those who want special experiences with cetaceans! Both are very knowledgeable about the Whoopers, and the limited number of participants (I think five is max) ensures personal attention and plenty of room to film. Highly recommended for photographers where the use of a tripod would be impracticable on other boats! read more

You must use this guide service. Do not be put off by the price of the charters compared with other companies who offer birding "tours.". There is no comparison. The Sims are a husband and wife team whose only objective is to provide their clients the best possible experience. They take their time with their clients to get to know them and be able to give them a tailored experience. Other "tour guides" rush you through an hour or two of looking for/at birds and other things and then move on whether you are ready or not. I took a shared charter for a very reasonable rate and would use them again in a heartbeat. Take my word for it that you will not be sorry if you use their services. read more

Absolutely the best way to see whooping cranes up close and in their natural environment here on the Texas overwintering grounds. Yes, you might be able to see them from land, but you won't see them crabbing or foraging for clams that way. Capt Kevin and Capt Lori are the best at what they do, they know the cranes, the area, and are just the nicest people you will meet to boot. Their boats are set up specifically for photographers and birders so tripods and spotting scopes are welcome. Their skills place photographers in just the right spots and hold the boats stable so that you can capture award winning images utilizing their services. Cannot recommend enough! read more

Absolutely the best birding experience in southeast TX! We have been out several times with Captain Lori, who is the expert's expert on birds and other wildlife - and knows where to find them! She identifies specific whooping cranes by the bands on their leg, and she explains what the different behaviors are and mean -- even predicts what a bird is going to do - and 100% of the time that is exactly what they did. Professional wildlife photographers go with Captain Lori and Captain Kevin. We highly recommend Aransas Bay Birding Charters to anyone who wants to see and learn about the beautiful birds of SE Texas! read more

Capt. Kevin Sims took four photographers out recently to see the whooping cranes and the day, the weather & the photography could not have been better. Kevin is very knowledgeable about the area & the behavior and location of the whooping cranes. We saw several families of cranes as well as many shorebirds & raptors. Our photos were great including several pics of whoopers flying, not to mention the gorgeous sunrise heading out that morning. We took 2 - 1/2 trips and both were five star trips. We all highly recommend Capt. Kevin and will definitely be taking future trips with him on the Jack Flash! read more

What a fantastic tour! I just went on a photography tour with Kevin to see Whooping Cranes and we saw lots of them! We were very lucky to get a few instances of the cranes flying! It was so wonderful! Kevin is very knowledgable not only about the Whooping Cranes but about all the other birds and the area. Very nice guy and he has a great boat for photography as well! The boat has multiple decks for viewing and different heights. We chartered one of the private tours so it was just me, my friend and Kevin, it was wonderful! Spent about 5 hours out on the boat. Highly recommend this tour!! read more

I've gone out with Capt Lori for several years now & have never been disappointed. We consistently see a large number of Whooping Cranes along with numerous other species. Her willingness to go out before dawn so that we can be on the Whoopers for the best light is unmatched by other tour operators in the area. There has never been any pressure to move on either, thus allowing photographers to spend as much time as they wish to photograph or simply observe the birds. If your a photographer looking for the best opportunities to shoot Whoopers I would highly recommend either Lori or Kevin. read more

Our family had a fabulous trip with Captain Lori Sims aboard the Lady Lori. We came to see and photograph birds in the Aransas wildlife refuge. Lori knew where to go to get the birds we wanted to see and photograph, and we got marvelous photos of whooping cranes and many other species such as American Oystercatcher, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, and many others. Lori is very personable and knowledgeable about the birds, especially the cranes. Although the weather was cold and overcast, with some drizzle, we had a great trip that we will remember the rest of our lives. read more

Had a delightful morning with Capt Lori as we were able to find 11 Whooping Cranes and scores of other birds. The Blue Heron Rookery was a special delight. Capt Lori was very knowledgable, quick to point out birds and dolphins on our journey. Had a cloudy day but that did not take away from the experience. Highly recommend. Boat was clean, expertly handled and I felt safe the entire time even around some of the barge traffic on the Intercoastal waterway. Truly a professional who did a terrific job for this photographer....Hope to use again in the future. read more

Lori was very knowledgeable able the birds and the area. Our focus was birding, not primarily photography, and having other clients with that same focus made the trip enjoyable as getting the perfect photo was not a priority. We appreciated the boat design - having an indoor area to escape the wind but outdoor and upper viewing areas also. Only downside is lack of bathroom- although this is true of all of the tour boats we saw. Use of an adult diaper is an option for those concerned about this making lack of a toilet less of a issue. read more

Kevin was a great help to our party of four adults and two teenagers. He held his boat very steady. Unfortunately, the cranes were a bit shy and stayed farther off than I have seen in the past, so the steady boat was of great help in getting photos, I even got some with the Carolina wolf berries between their bills with a new camera that I need to build some more skill with. He was also great with answers for my granddaughter's 1001 questions. read more

From the design of their boats, to their vast knowledge about the waters and the species seen, and their love of nature, both Capt. Kevin and Capt. Lori bring a thoughtful, confident and caring approach to guiding their guests. Whether you're there for birding or for photography, you will experience nature from the water as it should be done...expertly, ethically, carefully. Respect for nature and for their guests defines every trip. read more

On a photography trip on 1-11-26. Captain Kevin got us right to the center of interest- whooping cranes. The trip did not disappoint and neither did the cranes. Additionally we saw osprey, kingfishers, oyster catchers and lots more birds going about their daily routines. Kevin was very engaging about the area, his oyster farms and has a great depth of knowledge about the birds we saw. Alot more than just bird watching! read more

Aransas Bay Birding Charters captains are the best! Vessels are clean, safe and are wonderfully stable for photographers! Thanks for always putting us on the birds, and providing the thoughtful and professional services consistently each and every time we visit! You are highly recommended as the very best way to find, view and photograph Whooping Cranes. Much appreciation! Looking forward to next year! read more

Awesome birding trip! Captain Lori is not only an amazing boat captain but is extremely knowledgeable about all things birds and the sea. She was awesome about spotting and getting the boat in position for good viewing and photos. We got some crazy cool shots of Whooping cranes sharing a snake and other shots of seldom seen birds. Would go again in a heartbeat. GREAT charter! read more