The Texas shoreline is a paradise for birdwatching, offering some of the most diverse habitats in the country. Here in Rockport-Fulton, The Lighthouse Inn at Aransas Bay sits right in the heart of it all. From our waterfront lodging in Rockport, TX, guests often spot birds gliding over the bay and herons wading along the shore. When you’re ready to explore beyond our hotel, we curated this list of some of the best spots and festivals for birdwatching during your stay in Rockport, TX.
Coastal Wonders: 3 Amazing Birdwatching Spots in Texas
1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Located just north of Rockport, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a world-famous birdwatching spot on the Texas Coast as the winter home of the endangered Whooping Crane. It’s also home to hundreds of other bird species, including Roseate Spoonbills.
2. Goose Island State Park
Goose Island State Park is perched on the southern tip of the Lamar Peninsula and is a must-see Texas Coast birdwatching destination year-round. The park is well-known for its diversity and serves as a key stop on the Central Flyway. It is also part of the Aransas Loop of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
3. Rockport Beach and the Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary
For a relaxed morning of birdwatching on the Texas Coast, start at Rockport Beach. This Blue Wave Certified beach offers plenty of bird activity. Walk across to the Connie Hagar Wildlife Sanctuary, named after Rockport’s beloved birding pioneer. Her legacy continues to attract birders who come to see avocets, plovers, and black skimmers feeding along the shore.
Don’t Miss These Birdwatching Festivals on the Texas Coast
- Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration: An annual event that marks the fall hummingbird migration along the Texas coast. Visitors enjoy guided birding tours, educational talks, and local festivities that celebrate the beauty and wonder of these tiny travelers.
- Whooping Crane Festival: This annual festival honors the return of the endangered whooping cranes to their wintering habitat at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Texas Coastal Bend is the only birdwatching destination in the world where you can see this naturally occurring population in the wild.
- Birdiest Festival: Held each April in Corpus Christi, Texas, it features guided birding walks, workshops, keynote speakers, and full- and half-day birding trips as participants celebrate and observe the spring migration.