Birding in Manatee County and Bradenton

Birding in Manatee County centers on its coastal preserves around Bradenton and Palmetto, where the Manatee River meets Tampa Bay. Robinson Preserve and Emerson Point Preserve each have more than 220 species on eBird, observation towers, and free entry, and Manatee County Audubon runs its own 28-acre preserve with bird blinds in Palmetto.

Our full guides cover the two biggest spots with birds by season, parking, hours, and a live go-or-skip weather check. Below them are more Manatee County Audubon favorites worth a stop.

Top Manatee County birding spots

Robinson Preserve

Northwest Bradenton · Free

680+ acres of restored coastal wetland with an observation tower, a treetop canopy walk, and spoonbills year-round.

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Emerson Point Preserve

Snead Island, Palmetto · Free

A bayside peninsula with a 60-foot tower, a bird blind, mangrove trails, and a 1,000-year-old temple mound.

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Spot list and directions

Spot	Area	Cost	Directions
Robinson Preserve	Northwest Bradenton	Free	Map to Robinson Preserve
Emerson Point Preserve	Snead Island, Palmetto	Free	Map to Emerson Point Preserve
Felts Audubon Preserve	Palmetto (4600 24th Ave E)	See source	Map to Felts Audubon Preserve
Leffis Key Preserve (Coquina Beach Baywalk)	Anna Maria Island (south end)	See source	Map to Leffis Key Preserve (Coquina Beach Baywalk)
De Soto National Memorial	Northwest Bradenton	See source	Map to De Soto National Memorial
Lake Manatee State Park	East Bradenton (SR 64)	Fee	Map to Lake Manatee State Park
Joan M. Durante Park	Longboat Key (5550 Gulf of Mexico Dr)	See source	Map to Joan M. Durante Park

What's being seen in Manatee County this season (late October and November)

Fall brings migrant ducks and American White Pelicans to Robinson Preserve, where the expansion ponds and NEST area are best for ducks. Warblers move through the wooded trails at Emerson Point in fall migration, and along Tampa Bay the Beach Walk trail can turn up loons, grebes, and American Oystercatchers. At Felts Audubon Preserve, Indigo and Painted Buntings visit the blinds in migration and winter. For up-to-the-day reports, check eBird. Recent Manatee County sightings on eBird.

Robinson Preserve: Migrant ducks and pelicans arrive in fall. The newer expansion and NEST areas are the best places for ducks. The north entrance gives good views of shorebirds, waders, rails, swallows, and raptors.
Emerson Point Preserve: Fall migration brings warblers to the wooded trails, and the Tower Trail is a good place to look for migrants and listen for rails. Along Tampa Bay, the Beach Walk trail can turn up loons, grebes, and American Oystercatchers.

More Manatee County spots worth a stop

Short notes from the local Audubon society's hotspot guide. Follow each link for full details.

Felts Audubon Preserve

Palmetto (4600 24th Ave E). Manatee County Audubon's 28-acre preserve: over a mile of mowed paths, covered bird blinds with feeders, ponds, and Eastern Bluebird boxes. Sunrise to sunset; free; no dogs. Source

Leffis Key Preserve (Coquina Beach Baywalk)

Anna Maria Island (south end). Shell trails and 1,500 feet of boardwalk through mangroves and up a 26-foot hill with Gulf and bay views; frequent migrant warblers. 8 a.m. to sunset; free; no dogs. Source

De Soto National Memorial

Northwest Bradenton. National Park Service trails along the Manatee River through mangroves and hardwood hammock, good for migrant songbirds. Dawn to dusk (lot closes 5 p.m.); free; leashed dogs allowed. Source

Lake Manatee State Park

East Bradenton (SR 64). Pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub along three miles of lakeshore; look for Bachman's Sparrow and Northern Bobwhite on the Bobcat Trail. Open 8 a.m. to sundown; Manatee County Audubon lists a $5 admission fee. Source

Joan M. Durante Park

Longboat Key (5550 Gulf of Mexico Dr). A 32-acre restored coastal hammock with a mangrove boardwalk on Sarasota Bay, good for warblers in spring and fall. Dawn to dusk. Source

Tips for birding in Manatee County

Check conditions first. As of late October 2026, Manatee County lists temporary trail closures at Robinson Preserve for October and November, and the Emerson Point fishing dock is closed for hurricane repairs.
Join a free walk. Felts Audubon Preserve holds an open house on the first Saturday of each month from October to April (8 a.m. to noon), with a guided bird walk at 9 a.m., and Manatee County Audubon runs monthly birding tours at Emerson Point from fall through spring.
Pick the right entrance at Robinson: the North Entrance for the observation tower and marsh, the South Entrance (9th Ave NW) for the ducks, NEST, and Canopy Zone.
Most spots are free: Robinson, Emerson Point, Felts, Leffis Key, and De Soto National Memorial charge no admission.
Leave the dog at home for Felts Audubon Preserve and Leffis Key, which don't allow dogs. Robinson and De Soto allow leashed dogs.
Go in the morning. Preserves open around sunrise, and the birding and the heat are both better early.

FAQ

Where is the best birding in Manatee County?

Robinson Preserve in northwest Bradenton and Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto are the county's top spots. Manatee County Audubon notes 226 species on eBird at Robinson and 241 at Emerson Point. Felts Audubon Preserve in Palmetto is the place for close looks at feeder birds from its blinds.

Where can I go birding in Bradenton?

Start at Robinson Preserve (1704 99th St NW), which has an observation tower, paved and shell trails, and the NEST nature center. De Soto National Memorial is nearby on the Manatee River, and Emerson Point Preserve is just across the river in Palmetto.

Are Manatee County birding spots free?

Most are. Robinson Preserve, Emerson Point Preserve, Felts Audubon Preserve, Leffis Key Preserve, and De Soto National Memorial have no admission fee. Manatee County Audubon lists a $5 fee at Lake Manatee State Park.

Are there guided bird walks in Manatee County?

Yes. Felts Audubon Preserve hosts an open house on the first Saturday of each month from October to April, with a guided bird walk at 9 a.m., and Manatee County Audubon offers monthly birding tours at Emerson Point from fall through spring.

Can I see Roseate Spoonbills in Manatee County?

Yes. Manatee County Audubon lists Roseate Spoonbill among the birds you may see year-round at Robinson Preserve, and spoonbills are also regulars at Emerson Point.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-30. Hours, fees, and closures change, so confirm with the managing agency before you go.