We will begin this trip at Dauphin Island’s Middle Beach. Making our way through the dunes towards the beach we will keep our eyes open for sparrows flitting about and listen for rails calling. Before we get to the water’s edge, there are typically small ponds that can hold a diversity of sandpipers and plovers. Towards the water, we will work through any surrounding gulls and terns. We will walk east towards Pelican Peninsula, where at a point large mixed flock groups normally gather. The grassier back dunes on this walk will also sometimes have small ephemeral ponds holding herons, egrets, shorebirds, and sometimes waterfowl.
After we finish up on Middle Beach, we will get in our cars and head towards the causeway to park and regroup at Jemison’s Bait and Tackle. The recent Dauphin Island Causeway Shoreline Restoration Project has created mudflats in the surrounding area that have been attracting an exciting array of birds all summer, including black bellied whistling ducks, black necked stilts, American avocets, and more. This area is going to remain a hot spot worth keeping your eyes on! Binoculars will be available to borrow. Scopes are recommended for this spot, so bring one if you have it, but the trip leader will have some on hand as well.
You can view the Pelican Peninsula eBird hotspot here to see what’s been spotted there recently!
There is not currently an eBird hotspot or previous checklists submitted for the North Causeway Mudflat stop.
Cost: Please note-This event is free but registration is required. This program is limited to 15 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Trip Leader: Coastal Outreach Manager Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org / 402-297-1775 [day of trip use only]). Please reach out to Cortney if you have any questions, concerns, or require special accessibility accommodations so that we can try to assist you.
LOCATION DETAILS : There is a $10 fee for parking at the Middle Beach location. You can pay by downloading the ParkMobile app, using the posted QR code, or by “Text to Pay”. Visit townofdauphinisland.org/beach-access-parking for additional information. There are newly constructed restrooms at this location in the parking lot. Most of the walking at this site will be on the beach, so please wear shoes that will allow you to traverse these conditions safely.
Parking at the second location, Jemison’s Bait and Tackle, is limited. There are no public restrooms at this location. While there is plenty of shoulder to bird from at this location we will be right beside a busy roadway so we will have to be mindful of that while birding there. Scopes are recommended for this spot so bring one if you have it but the trip leader will have some on hand as well. Please remember to wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring WATER, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: We will be meeting at the Dauphin Island Middle Beach parking lot at 7am. Address: 1501 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528. We will gather here and then head to the beach. There is a parking fee at this location. See info in previous section. We will be at this location for approximately 2-2.5 hours.
It is about a 10-minute drive from Middle Beach to our second stop at Jemison’s Bait and Tackle, address: 16871 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Coden, AL 36523. We will be here for about an hour or as long as folks desire to stay or the birding warrants.
Accessibility : The walk from the parking lot at Middle Beach to the ponds and out to the point of Pelican Peninsula and back covers approximately 2.25 miles of hard-to-loose loose-packed sand. If participants don’t want to walk to the point of Pelican Peninsula, they are welcome to wait at any point on the beach and meet back up with the group as they walk back.
The second stop at the Causeway Mudflats will be mostly stationary scoping. If participants desire a better angle, there is a maximum of .5 miles of walking along the loose gravel shoulder available. Again, this is directly beside a roadway to caution must be taken while at this location.
Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon. *If you need to cancel at last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!*
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