Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program

Nature Tourism areas are listed by county.

Aransas County (Aransas Pass, Fulton, Rockport)

Lighthouse Lakes Kayak Trails-Free and open to public, (in between Port Aransas and Aransas Pass) off TX 361
Slow-Ride Guide Services, (361) 758-0463, Aransas Pass TX (Kayak tours/fishing) 821 S. Commercial
Newbury Park Humming Bird Garden, Aransas Pass TX (Birding)
Aransas Pass Commuinty Park-Free and open to public, Aransas Pass TX (Birding) off TX 361
Ransom Road Navigation District Park-Free and open to public, Aransas Pass TX, (Birding) off TX 361
Aransas Pass Wetlands (Conn Brown Harbor)-Free and open to public, Aransas Pass TX (Birding) off TX 361
Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary-Free and open to public, Rockport TX (Birding) off East First St.
Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary Viewing Scope-Free and open to public, Rockport TX (Birding) off TX 35
Goose Island State Park (361) 729-2858, Rockport TX, (Camping, fishing, wildlife viewing) off Park Road 13
Birding Tours www.rockport-fulton.org, (local birding guides can be found here)
Rockport Beach on Aransas Bay, Rockport TX, (Boat ramp, beach for recreation purposes) off Business TX 35
Aransas Woods- Free and open to the public, Rockport TX, (Birding) off TX 35
Copano State Fishing Pier, Rockport TX, (Birding, Fishing) off TX 35
Rockport Demonstration Bird Garden and Wetlands Pond-Free and open to the public, Rockport TX, (Birding) off TX 35

Bee County (Beeville, Skidmore-Tynan, Pettus, Pawnee)

White-winged Dove

Ranch land area drive the FM roads in search of birds

Brooks County (Falfurrias)

Red-tailed Hawk

Hawk Alley (drive TX 285 towards Falfurrias) (Birding)
Rest Stop South of Falfurrias-Free and open to public (Birding) off TX 281

Duval County (Freer, Benavides)

Whitetailed Buck

Drive County Roads in search of birds (Birding)

Jim Wells (Alice, San Diego, Premont, Orange Grove)

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Lake Alice (Birding) off N. Texas Blvd

Kenedy County (Sarita)

Red Head Duck

Drive down US 77 looking for birds on fences and power lines (Birding)
Drive Sarita city streets in search of birds-Free and open to public, Sarita TX (Birding) off US 77
Rest Stop south of Sarita-Free and open to public, (Birding) off US 77

Kleberg County (Kingsville, Riviera)

Roseate Spoonbills

King Ranch, www.king-ranch.com, or (361) 592-8055 (check website for tour times and dates) Kingsville TX, (Nature and Wildlife tours) off TX 141
B Bar B Ranch Inn (361) 296-3337 or www.b-bar-b.com, Kingsville TX (Birding, Lodging) off CR 2215 E
Santa Gertrudis Creek-Free and open to public, Kingsville TX (Birding) off TX 141
Dick Kleberg Park-Free and open to public, Kingsville TX (Birding) off Escondido
Santa Gertrudis Creek Bird Sanctuary-Free and open to public, Kingsville TX (Birding) off FM 1717
Drum Point (over looking Cayo del Grullo)-Free and open to public (Birding) off CR 1132 E
Kaufer-Hubert Memorial Park- Free and open to public, Loyola Beach TX (Birding) off FM 628
Louise Trant Bird Sanctuary, Riviera TX, (Birding) off US 77
Rivera Fishing Pier, Riviera TX (Birding, fishing) off FM 711
Padre Island National Seashore, (361) 949-8068, (Camping, boating, beach area) off Park Road 22

Live Oak County (George West, Three Rivers)

Curve Billed Thrasher

South Shore Unit of Choke Canyon State Parks (361) 786-3538 (Camping, boating, and wildlife viewing) off HWY 72
Excellent birding along FM 624 (undeveloped areas)
Carmel Hills (Subdivision)-Free and open to public, (Birding) off FM 534
Pernitas Point (Subdivision)-Free and open to public, (Birding) off FM 534

McMullen County (Calliham, Tilden)

Painted Bunting

Calliham Unit of Choke Canyon State Parks (361) 786-3868 (Guided birding tours, camping, boating) off HWY 72
Excellent birding along FM 624
Drive FM and CR’s near Loma Alta-Free and open to public, (Birding) off FM 624

Nueces County
(Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Robstown, Petronila, Bishop, Driscoll, and Agua Dulce)

Black Skimmer

Botanical Gardens- Corpus Christi TX (Birding, plants) off S. Staples
Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat Community- Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off TX 361
Mustang Island State Park (361)-749-5246, Corpus Christi TX (Wildlife viewing, camping, recreation) off TX 361
Rincon Channel Observation Overlook- Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off TX 181
Indian Point Park- Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding,fishing ) off TX 181
Pollywog Pond- Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Up River Rd
Hans Suter Wildlife Area- Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Ennis Joslin Rd
Corpus Christi Pass-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding, fishing) off TX 361
Held/Moran Nature Preserve, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Waldron
Packery Channel County Park-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Park Road 22
JP Luby Surf Park-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Recreation, birding) off TX 361
Red Head Pond Wildlife Management Area-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX, (Birding) off Laguna Shores Rd
Oso Bay Park-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Ennis Joslin Rd
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Nature Trail-Free an open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Ocean Dr
Blucher Nature Park-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Carrizo St
Nueces River Park-Free and opent to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off I-37
Hilltop Community Center-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off Leopoard St
Hazel Bazemore County Park-Free and open to public, Corpus Christi TX (Birding) off FM 624
Bishop Park and Nature Trail (361) 584-2214, Bishop TX (Birding) off US 77
Port Aransas Wetlands Center, Port Aransas TX (Birding) off Ross Ave
Top Water Kayak Tours (Wes Kistler) (361) 749-5159, Port Aransas TX
Birding on the Boardwalk- 1(800) 45-COAST, Port Aransas TX
Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Guided Beach Walks, Port Aransas TX
Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas TX (Recreation, Birding)
Port Aransas South Jetty-Free and open to public, Port Arnasas TX (Birding, Fishing) off Alister
Fort Lipantitlan State Historic Site-Free and open to public, (Birding) off TX 359
John J. Sabalatura Nature Park-Free and open to public, (Birding) off TX 44

Refugio (Refugio, Bayside, Austwell, Woodsboro)

Brown Pelican

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, (361) 286-3559 Austwell TX (Wildlife viewing, hiking) off TX 239
Lion’s/Shelly Park-Free and open to public, Refugio TX (Birding) off FM 774
Mission River Flats, View from shoulder of FM 2678 (Birding)
Black Point (Bayside), View from shoulder of FM 136 (Birding)
Egery Flats, View flats form shoulder of Egery Road (Birding) off FM 136
Fennessey Ranch Nature Tours (361) 529-6600 or www.fennesseyranch.com, Bayside TX (Birding, Hunting) off FM 2678

San Patricio County (Portland, Mathis, San Patricio, Odem, Sinton, Taft, Ingleside)

Little Blue Heron

Lake Corpus Christi State Park (361) 547-2635, Mathis TX, (Camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking) off Park Road 25
Wesley Seale Dam and The City of Corpus Christi Wildlife Sanctuary (Birding and Nature Trails) off Park Road 25
Welder Wildlife Foundation & Refuge, (361) 364-2643, Sinton TX, (Guided tours for public) off US 77
Welder Park-Free and open to public, Sinton TX (Birding) 700 N. Rachal Ave
Rob an Bessie Welder Park-Free and open to public, Sinton TX (Birding) off US 181
Live Oak Park-Free and open to public, Ingleside TX (Birding) off Sherry St
Fred Jones Nature Sanctuary, Portland TX, (Birding) off CR 69E
Knolle Farm and Ranch’s Bed, Barn and Breakfast, Sandia TX, (Birding, hunting, horseback riding) off FM 70
Excellent Birding along FM 666 (In between San Patricio and Mathis)