Shell Ridge Road
2800 Shell Ridge Road, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) 28°00’07.7″N 97°03’32.9″W Resident species – Black-necked Stilt, Willet, Mottled Duck, Reddish Egret, Black Skimmers, Reddish Egret Spring and Summer Species – Least Tern nest in the fenced area near the road Winter species – Lesser Scaup, large rafts of Redhead, Eared Grebe Shell Ridge Road Proceed south on Church Street past the Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary. Shell Ridge Rd is on the left at the bend in the road. This is private property on both sides of the road. Please stay on the road in your car.
Moore’s Pond
28°03’39.2″N 97°04’18.1″W 2520-2520 FM 1781, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Species – Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Neotropical Cormorant, Anhinga, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, White-tailed Hawk, occasionally Fulvous Whistling-Duck, and Great Kiskadee Moore’s Pond From FM 1069, turn onto FM 1781. Moore’s Pond is .3 on the left. Moore’s Pond This is a busy road. Be watchful of cars. Good Birding if the pond contains water Moore’s Pond From FM 1069, turn onto FM 1781. Moore’s Pond is .3 on the left. Moore’s Pond This is a busy road. Be watchful of cars. Good Birding if the pond contains water.
Rockport Harbor
320 Veterans Memorial Dr, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Winter Species – Common Loon, Redhead, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser Rockport Harbor is in downtown Rockport south of the beach park. This is a deep water harbor. The best birding is in winter. Occasionally, Pacific Loons have been found here.
Old Salt Lake Road
100 Old Salt Lake Rd, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Common Winter Species – Vermillion Flycatcher, Easter Bluebird, Greater Roadrunner, Great Kiskadee, Cassin’s Sparrow Old Salt Lake Road At the 4-way stop on FM 1781, Old Salt Lake Road is on your right if you are heading south. There is a road sign. This road is surrounded by private property. Stay on the road. This is a dry brushy area.
Memorial Park
1601 FM 2165, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Resident Species – Cardinal, Black-crested Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Inca Dove Spring and Summer Species – Large variety of warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Couch’s Kingbird, Indigo Bunting Memorial Park Directions – Memorial Park is located at the intersection of Pearl and Enterprise. The park has several ball fields. The hike and bike trail loops around a large pond.
Rockport Beach Park
319 Broadway St, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Common Species – This is a nesting area for many birds. Some of the nesting birds include Black Skimmer, TriColored Heron, Reddish Egret, Great Blue Heron, Least Tern, Laughing Gull, Killdeer, and Clapper Rail Spring and Summer Species – Black Tern, Magnificent Frigatebird Winter Species – American White Pelican, Merlin, large flocks of Avocets Residents – Caspian, Royal, and Forster’s Tern, Roseate Spoonbill, Brown Pelican, Black Skimmer, Reddish Egret Rockport Beach Park Directions – Seabreeze Drive. This is a pay area with Little Bay to the left and Aransas Bay to the right. At the end of the park there is an observation platform overlooking Bird Island, which is spectacular in the spring with numerous nesting birds. This is an important nesting site of the Black Skimmer.
Fulton Harbor
250 Deforest Loop, Fulton, TX 78358 (see map) Resident Birds – Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Laughing Gull, Tricolored Heron Summer Species – Magnificent Frigatebird, Least Tern, Gull-billed Tern Winter Species – American White Pelican, Common Loon, Lesser Scaup, Redhead Fulton Harbor is located in downtown Fulton. It is a commercial fishing boat harbor
Copano Bay (Causeway) South
28°06’49.4″N 97°01’31.9″W (see map) In the winter, scope for Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, and Common Loon. A large assortment of ducks can be found in the cove, along with Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Reddish Egret. Parking area and limited services at the Copano Bridge Boat Ramp.
Copano Bay (Causeway) North
28 8.1202, -97 0.6131 (see map) Copano Bay (Causeway) North AKA North LBJ CAUSEWAY Located at the Northwest end of the LBJ Causeway over Copano Bay, this site has a limited shell parking space and access to the North shoreline of Copano Bay. This area is one of the few launches protected from a North wind and has access to a few birding sites along the shoreline.
North Cove Harbor Wetlands Sanctuary
160 Cove Harbor N., Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Shorebirds, Roseate Spoonbills, Rails, and Sparrows can be found here. North Cove Harbor Wetland Sanctuary is just north of Cove Harbor Marina. You will see the parking lot for the sanctuary on the left. This is a 100 acre wetland that is owned by the Aransas County Navigation District and is leased to Aransas First. There is an 800 foot boardwalk that has a covered area and bench at the end. This site is best in winter. It is very dependent on rain and tides. Shorebirds, Roseate Spoonbills, Rails, and Sparrows can be found here. Over 202 bird species have been documented at this site. The boardwalk was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey and has been reconstructed as of 2020.