Bent Oaks Rookery Park
1902 E. Maple St, Rockport, TX 78382 or 1401 Broadway St, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) Bent Oaks Rookery Park is a 8.856-acre piece of land located across from Little Bay, bordered by Broadway, Business Highway 35, and Maple Street, was purchased by the city in January 2016 for $2.995 million using tax and revenue certificates of obligation. A 14-space parking lot was installed about one month before Hurricane Harvey. The nearly nine-acre piece of property includes large windswept oaks and an active, federally protected Great Blue Heron and Great Egret rookery. The city bought the property to preserve the trees and rookery.
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.
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.
Aransas Woods
Aransas Woods, 4333, 4351 TX-35, Rockport, TX 78382 (see map) This site is home to Texas Coastal Birding Trail Site #47.Worked with FEMA and TDEM to replace the windmill and clear the miles of trails after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey. During “fallouts” coastal mottes such as Aransas Woods offer food and protection to thousands upon thousands of weary landbirds who might otherwise perish if forced to continue inland to the nearest contiguous forests. The site’s observation platform overlooks a complex of grassland, oak motte, and shallow wetlands, making this site attractive to birds and other wildlife year-round. Spring Species – Migrants along the woodland trails including Warblers, Orioles, Tanagers, Vireos and Flycatchers Fall and Winter Species – Marsh Wren, Sora, Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat Aransas Woods Hwy. 35 Bypass, about 1 mile north of 188 on the eastern side of road. Watch for the Great Texas Birding Trail sign. This location is a fresh water marsh surrounded by oak mottes and native grasses. Site has a windmill, walking tails and an observation deck. Aransas Woods has an ADA compliant walkway to elevated overlook.platform.plus grass maintained trails