April 22-25, 2027
Explore Birds of the Region
Spring along the Alabama Gulf Coast is a magical time of year for birds. Neotropical migrants, shorebirds, and vagrant rarities keep birders coming back year after year.
We are excited to bring you a schedule of trips to highlight all the above and put you in the best position to make new birding memories.
To whet your appetite for Alabama Coastal BirdFest, below you will find easy access to eBird hotspots and checklists for all of our trips, plus a list of spring rarities for the past decade.
eBird Hotspots
Below are eBird hotspots for 2027 trips organized by county.
Click the links below to see recent checklists submitted for each trip hotspot.
Mobile County
Dauphin Island’s Exciting East End:
Dauphin Island Woodland Hotspots: this trip will cover Shell Mound Park to start and depending on bird activity may also visit the other hotspots listed below.
Mobile Bay Discovery Cruise with Dauphin Island Sea Lab
eBird hotspot does not exist, but this is nearby & representative: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1241694. You can expect flybys from seabirds, shorebirds, waders, and more.
Pelican Hook, Shorebirds of Dauphin Island:
Photography Workshop:
Salt Marsh to Outer Beach: Dauphin Island’s Diverse Shores
Shorebirds, Waders, and More on Dauphin Island Causeway
Tern Island Expedition
There is currently no eBird checklist for this hotspot due to lack of accessibility for the general public. See event description for details.
Baldwin County
Bayfront Park / Village Point: Neotropical Migrants & Coastal Birds
Delta Explorer: Marshes & History of the Lower Delta
This trip covers a large area on the river, there is not a hotspot representative of the birds we expect to see. While we will likely see a good number of birds, this trip is more of an ecotour of the region! See event description below for details.
Fort Morgan (Birding & Banding, Afternoon Arrivals)-these trips will likely cover a combination of the following depending on bird activity:
Gaillard Island Rookery Boat Tour
There are no eBird checklists that accurately represent this trip, see event description for details.
Kayak Birding & More at Graham Creek Nature Preserve
The hotspot for Graham Creek Nature Preserve is: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2614150. Please note that birding by kayak offers a unique and fun experience, but may mean fewer opportunities to observe smaller, more easily startled species, such as songbirds. Instead, we’ll focus on spotting wading birds, waterbirds, and other marsh-dwelling species along the way!
Songbirds to Shorebirds at Gulf State Park: this trip will cover
Southwest Florida
This map shows the approximate locations of 2027 Alabama Coastal BirdFest trips.
Rarities, Regional Specialties, and Newly Established Species
Coastal Alabama is a dynamic location for birding, pulling in birds from the Eastern and Mississippi Flyways, and occasional vagrants from the Caribbean, the western US, and beyond.
Click here for a list of spring rarities seen in Mobile and Baldwin County.
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American Flamingo
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Bell's Vireo
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Brown Booby
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Bronzed Cowbird
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Black-whiskered Vireo
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Cave Swallow
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Franklin's Gull
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Fulvous Whistling-Duck
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Great Black-backed Gull
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Grasshopper Sparrow
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Hooded Oriole
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Hudsonian Godwit
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Inca Dove
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Lark Sparrow
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Long-billed Curlew
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Red-necked Phalarope
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Scaly-breasted Munia
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Shiny Cowbird
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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
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Vermilion Flycatcher
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Western Kingbird
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White-faced Ibis
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White-winged Scoter
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Yellow-headed Blackbird
