Registration required one week in advance (by June 3, 2023), but registration for the Boat Tour starts May 10, 2023. Minimum for the trip is 6 participants (see below for Boat Tour information). For the protection of all participants, all Field Trip attendees MUST be vaccinated against COVID 19. NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.
NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. NOTIFY GENE BY TEXTING HIM AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDING YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S).
Field Trip Description: Rockport, Rookery Tour, skimmer nesting site; highlight - breeding colonial waterbirds; also nesting shorebirds that breeds in South Texas, Little Bay Rockport. Co-leader and boat caption, David Newstead (complements of Coastal Bend Bays and Estuary Program).
Field Trip Group meets at 8:00 AM at boat ramp at Little Bay Park Harbor (please contact Field Trip Leader Gene Blacklock for directions to the boat ramp). Note: the boat can accommodate 6 people per excursion. The excursion will last approximately an hour each.
For reservations, first come first serve; note that before we can accommodate the first excursion, we must be guaranteed 6 participants, same for second group as well as for the 3rd. Example: 6 must be confirmed for 8 AM boat tour; following that 6 for the 9 AM tour and so on. Tentative schedule for boat tours: 8AM; 9AM; 10AM.
Concurrently while the rookery tour via boat is being successfully accomplished, all other trip participants will be observing the birds in and around Little Bay Park, including the breeding skimmer and gull colony, and hoping to see the Sooty Tern. Reservations for boat tour start May 10th.
Entrance fee for Rockport Beach Park is $10/vehicle.
Energy Requirement: light – moderate.
Please do not forget water, hat, insect repellent, and snacks.
Reminder: Please dress appropriately, suggest baggy cryptic clothing (never white or black, never bright colors like red), hat, insect repellent, comfortable shoes (shoes preferably with ankle support), a light rain jacket (optional), drinking water and snacks. Recommend binoculars and field guide.
Equipment: Binoculars, field guides, and if available a spotting scope.
Bathroom Availability: Please be sure to use local restroom facilities before boarding for the boat tour. (No restrooms available on the boat.)
Equipment: beginners, please have a field guide, binoculars or scopes if it is desirable.
Birds of special interest: Clapper Rail, Black-necked Stilt, Snowy and Wilson's Plovers, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Willet, ten species of breeding wading birds, several species of terns, including the Sooty Tern and Horned Lark (perhaps).
Download seasonal Coastal Bend checklists from Coastal Bend Audubon Society's webpage.
CBAS field trips are an extension of a classroom learning experience, so please bring binoculars & field guide references (books, phone apps). Questions are encouraged and are welcomed.
Field trip summary will be reported on eBird, Facebook, Twitter and CBAS on line.