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DAUPHIN ISLAND BIRDING GUIDE
PELICAN POINT
( 2.4 miles east )
Pelican Point is at the east end of the Island. You will
know you have arrived when the pavement ends. There is a parking area at this location.
From this point you have an excellent view of the mouth of Mobile Bay (Fort Morgan can be
seen across the bay to the east and Sand Island in the Gulf to the South). In early
morning and late afternoon many seabirds loaf on the jetties. A good many gulls, terns,
turnstones and other waders may be seen throughout the day. If Whimbrels and Marbled
Godwits are on the Island they are likely to turn up here. Take a look at the fence on the
west side of the parking lot. This is a good place for migrating passerines and
western strays.
FERRY LANDING ( 1.7
miles east )
The Ferry landing is across from the entrance to the Fort
Gaines Campground. Numerous gulls, terns, and other seabirds loaf on the rocks across the
channel from the dock. Scan the water for loons, mergansers, grebes, and cormorants. A
good place to look for Gray Kingbirds is on the wires along the edge of Ft. Gaines
Campground.
ALBRIGHT
DRIVE/SEA POINTE ( 1.7 miles east )
Albright is the first street to the right after you pass
the ferry landing (going west). As you drive down Albright pay close attention to the
power lines. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are often seen, especially in fall. This is also a
good place to watch for Western vagrants in spring and fall. When you reach the T
intersection turn left and continue for about 0.3 mile. This is Sea Pointe. This point is
surrounded on three sides by water, and as you look north you have a good view of Little
Dauphin Island. Shorebirds, gulls, terns and waders can be seen from this point. Osprey
are frequently seen on Little Dauphin Island. In spring and fall scan the water for
grebes, loons, mergansers and other waterfowl.
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AUDUBON BIRD SANCTUARY (1.4 miles
east)
The "Sanctuary" is a 173 acre, heavily wooded
tract that extends from Bienville Boulevard to Pelican Bay. It is on the south side of
Bienville and the entrance is marked with a sign. There is a small parking area at the end
of a short drive. If the parking lot is filled, parking on the shoulder of Bienville is
acceptable.
You will find a trail map and other information on a
signboard at the parking lot. There is a variety of habitat in the sanctuary, including
pine forest, stand of live oak, dunes, and beach. There is also a freshwater lake on the
property.
Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the
Sanctuary. If a good migration flight is in progress the live oaks can be really alive
with warblers, tanagers, flycatchers, and vireos. The section called the Banding Area is a
very good place to watch for Black-whiskered Vireos. The trails will often be filled with
thrushes. Anytime of day can be good, but during spring be sure to visit this area in the
afternoon between 2 and 5 PM.
CADILLAC SQUARE
(0.6 miles east)
Cadillac Square is a public park on the south side of
Bienville. It is across from Grant Street. There are many large live oak trees in this
park and during migration birds may be numerous. This spot is good for a break and picnic.
There are public restrooms located here.
GOAT TREE (0.6 MILES
EAST)
There are many Liveoak trees on Dauphin Island. The best
known is the "Goat Tree". Years ago a herd of goats roamed freely on the Island
and from time to time would climb into this tree. To reach the Goat Tree turn north from
Bienville onto Grant Street which is across from Cadillac Square. The tree is one block
from Bienville on the northwest corner of the intersection of Grant and Cadillac. A quick
stop from time to time during the day during migration may be quite productive.
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SHELL MOUND PARK
(0.3 miles east)
During migration this is the best place on Dauphin
Island to see birds, especially passerines. The mounds of earth cover great piles
of oyster shells. This was a ceremonial area for early Indians. You should check the
"Shell Mounds" throughout the day during spring and fall migration. At about
noon if it appears that a good migratory flight is underway the mid-afternoon hours should
be spent at the mounds. Anything is possible! Most of the passerine migrants and western
strays recorded on Dauphin Island have been seen here at one time or the other. In spring
the trails and grassy areas may be filled with Indigo Buntings and numerous Painted
Buntings.
To reach the Shell Mounds, turn north from Bienville onto
Iberville Street. The entrance to the park is straight ahead and marked by a sign. Park on
the shoulder of the road or in the small parking area at the front entrance. There is
additional parking at the back of the park. Follow the road around to the right to the
parking lot at the Department of Conservation buildings. At the back entrance to the park
you can check the "bird sightings box" to see what has been around.
TUPELO GUM SWAMP
(0.3 miles east)
This low, somewhat wet area, consists of a strip of
land 2 lots wide and 6 blocks long on the east end of the island. The area
is between Iberville and Hernando streets on the south side of Bienville.
From Bienville turn south on Iberville and continue until you reach Infanta
. Turn left on Infanta and go to the end of the road and park on the
shoulder. The Tupelo Gums are beside the road at this point. There are
several ATV trails that you can follow to make your way through the area.
This has proved to be a good spot for migrating
warblers, especially the species that breed in Alabama (Hooded and
Prothonotaries can be numerous). Herons and egrets may also be spotted and
Great Blue Herons nest in pines a bit furthers south close to Itasca Street.
Several lots in the Tupelo Gum Swamp have been
targeted for acquisition by FODIAS (Friends of the Dauphin Island
Sanctuary).
Aloe
Bay/Mulberry Tree/Airport
Drive north three blocks on
LeMoyne Drive from the water tower (or two blocks from Cadillac Avenue) to Desoto Avenue.
Go west (left) at the convenience store, and in 0.3 miles you will see a dead end. Just
before the end of the road there is a small sand lane to the right ending at Aloe Bay in a
few feet. This is a good spot for a quick scan of the bay, which may yield small numbers
of waterfowl. Return east on Desoto Avenue one block to Levert Street, turn right , and go
one block to Chaumont Avenue, where you will turn right again. In about one-half block is
a yard on the left with a mobile home -and a large mulberry tree. When fruiting in spring,
this tree teems with Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and other migrants.
You should bird from the road at this spot.
The entrance road to the airport, 0.2 miles from Levert Street, is the paved road veering
to the right.
The airport road traverses a salt marsh for 0.2 miles until it ends at
a parking lot at the airstrip on the shore of Aloe Bay. This is an excellent dawn and dusk
spot, though it is worth a check any time of the day and at any season. Waterfowl,
occasionally including a Red-throated Loon, may be seen in either Graveline Bay to the
west or in Aloe Bay to the east. Mottled Duck is sometimes seen in the marshes surrounding
Graveline Bay in the spring and summer. This is an excellent spot for herons, including
Black-crowned Night-Herons flying from roosts in the nearby trees at dusk (especially in
the spring). The marsh is the island’s best rail locale, with Clapper, King, and
Virginia Rails and Sora regular in migration and winter. Black Rail is occasionally heard
here late at night in April and May. If you plan to look for this recluse, the ideal
conditions would be a windless night with a full moon. Be sure to bring insect repellent!
The marsh, airstrip and the shore of the bay east of the parking lot are often productive
for shorebirds. This is the best place on the island to look for migrating Lesser
Golden-Plover and Upland Sandpiper. Burrowing Owl has appeared in fall and winter. Western
Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher sometimes occur, and a Fork-tailed Flycatcher
briefly graced the marshes in a recent April. The area is good for swallows in migration.
Sedge and Marsh wrens may be found, the former in migration and winter. The airfield and
marshes are good for sparrows: Seaside breeds here, and Sharp-tailed is uncommon in
winter. To reach Isle Dauphine Country Club head back to the start of the airport entrance
road and bear right (S) on Omega Street. Travel south to Bienville Boulevard [0.5] and
turn right (W).
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Isle Dauphine
Country Club
Cross the small bridge on
Bienville Boulevard just west of Omega Street and immediately head to the left (SE) on
Orleans Drive. In 0.5 miles you will come to the entrance of the Isle Dauphine Country
Club. Pass through the entrance (birders are tolerated if you stay on the road) and in a
few feet you will have a view of the golf course to the east. The pines along the road are
excellent for Gray Kingbird in the breeding season. Continue on the road a short distance
to the parking lot east of the clubhouse. From here you can scan Pelican Bay at the
closest vantage point overlooking Pelican Island. With a scope you can identify waders and
other waterbirds on the island; this is a good place for Reddish Egret.
St.
Stephens Street/West End
Follow Bienville Boulevard west beyond the point where it
becomes two lane. As you drive check the wires for Kestrels in winter and Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers during migration. There may be ditches along the roadside with water in them
(Hurricane Georges filled a lot of these with sand). Check these ditches for herons,
egrets, and ibis. There is one record of White-faced Ibis along here. When you reach St.
Stephens Street turn right (north) for a view of the Mississippi Sound. At low tide there
may be sandbars exposed here. These bars frequently host large numbers of gulls and turns
so check them carefully. Beyond St. Stephens there are several cross streets which lead to
the gulf on the south and the sound on the north. You may use these to scan the gulf for
seabirds particularly after a storm when the likelihood gannets and boobies is greatest.
The sandbars in the sound tend to change with the tides and storms, but when present are
great for views of seabirds. Check the vacant lots along Bienville for Seaside and
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows.
Dauphin Island Links
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City of Dauphin
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SOUTH
ALABAMA BIRDING ASSOCIATION