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Rockport Beach Park and the Connie Hagar Wildlife
Sanctuary...
offer a look at many
different water birds: nesting Black Skimmers, Least Terns,
Reddish Egrets, Plovers, Roseate Spoonbills, Ruddy Turnstone,
Mottled Ducks, Brown Pelicans, American Coots, Tri-colored
Herons, Willets, Long Bill Curlews, and Clapper Rails.
EST. 1870
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FM 1069...
just passed Cape Valero
(going south) are fields with Sandhill Cranes usually very close
to the road. It is not unusual to see the big cranes leisurely
feeding on the fertile land of grasses and grains. They are a
sight you don't see everyday, that's for sure!
FM 1781...
at Airport Road has a
bountiful spring migration of Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbecks,
Meadowlarks, Catbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, and Horned Larks, too
many to mention.
Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge...
is noted, of course, for
the winter home of the Whooping Cranes but has many species of
birds including Wild Turkeys, and wildlife including alligators,
deer, javelina, bobcats, coyote, and much more; walking or
driving - the tour is great and be sure and stop at the
Information Center for a map!
FM 188...
towards Sinton there is
plenty of good "hawking" in open fields and marshes; during
spring migration look over plowed fields for Upland Sandpipers
and Mountain Plovers and don't forget to look behind a moving
tractor for Franklin Gulls.
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The Fennessey
Ranch...
is
part of a legendary 750,000 acre Texas land empire that has
remained in the same family for 171 years. The ranch consists of
4,000 acres of abundant wetlands, meadows, natural lakes,
riparian woods and brush land and bordered on three sides by the
Mission River. The Fennessey is located in the heart of the
Central Flyway along a region of the Texas coastline known as
the "Coastal Bend." The Fennessey has opened its gates for a
wide array of unique recreational opportunities. Click Logo to
Visit!
Water Street Piers Area...
located at the south end
of Rockport has had Hooded Mergansers the last few years and is
good for Great Blue Herons, White Wing Scoters, Reddish Egrets,
Gulls, Terns, Marbled Godwits, and many other water birds. This
year the first sighting reports of the Black-backed Gull was
here, but was later spotted at several locations around town.
Port Bay Road...
off 1069 just 2 miles
from Cape Valero is good for Little blue Heron, lesser
Yellowlegs, Ross's Goose, Tri-color Heron, and Kingfisher. The
area is especially primitive and ecologically natural and in
some area simply breath-taking.
Tin Can Point...
located on the south end
of the causeway...you can put away the telescopes during winter
months and spot Golden Eyes, Scaups, and Scoters, Killdeers,
Sandpipers, Turnstones, ducks, and Snowy Plovers.
Goose Island State Park...
located on the north end
of the Copano Bay State Causeway, this quiet and serene area is
the perfect habitat for migratory passerines: Morning Doves,
Eastern Wood Pewees, Mockingbirds, Roadrunners, Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds, Purple Martins, and the Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers, and the Red and White-eyed Vireos.
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Cape Valero on Copano Bay...
old timer birders new
about this area long ago, but this area will eventually be lost
to housing developments. Folks enjoyed the great birding and
serene landscape that it has become a birder's retreat of sorts.
Travel due west out of town to this birding area; you'll find
Ibis, Geese, Reddish Egrets, Black-necked Stilts, Roseate
Spoonbills, and Seaside Sparrows.
Newcomb Point...
is on the west side of
Hwy 35 Just north of the causeway - is where you'll find Clapper
Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Plovers, and Sandpipers, however be
cautious using this road in rainy weather
Port Aransas Birding Center...
on Mustang Island is only
20 minutes away and a must stop before leaving the Coastal Bend
area because of the sheer volume of birds that can be seen.
Please contact the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and ask them
to mail their birding information packet to you! 1-800-45-COAST.
Port Aransas boasts their excellent Birding Center facility.
These are other favorite area birding spots for migration.
Stop by the Chamber to get more information and a location map.
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Guadalupe Delta--by the river
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Goose Island State Park wooded camping area--birding walks Thursday
through Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
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Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary in Rockport--early morning and late
afternoon
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Memorial Park in Rockport--early morning is best
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Paradise Pond and the Birding Center at Port Aransas--both on
Cut-off Road
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Packery Channel AOC
Sanctuary, Blucher Park, Polliwog Pond and Rosehill Cemetery in Corpus
Christi
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