Apollo Beach
Twenty-four miles of undeveloped beach, acres of maritime hammock and coastal strand, plus the Mosquito Lagoon and associated mudflats ensure great birding at this barrier island preserve.
Volusia
Apollo Beach
Twenty-four miles of undeveloped beach, acres of maritime hammock and coastal strand, plus the Mosquito Lagoon and associated mudflats ensure great birding at this barrier island preserve.
Blue Spring State Park
Although Blue Spring State Park is best known for the 200 West Indian Manatees that overwinter in its first magnitude warm water springs, the habitats on the surrounding lands are excellent for birding, too.
Brickyard Slough
On the eastern shore of Lake Monroe (and bordering the St. Johns River) is a spot you don't want to overlook. Most of the habitat here is wetlands (including freshwater marsh, wet prairie, hydric hammock, cypress swamp and bay swamp), which serve as a regionally important Florida Black Bear corridor. Miles of trails provide a great all-day birding experience.
Buck Lake Conservation Area
Birding this wild property is particularly rewarding if you invest time and energy in hiking or biking its extensive uplands. Miles of multi-use trails lead through the eastern portion of the property, which features hardwood swamp, oak hammocks, oak scrub and scrubby flatwoods.
Bulow Creek State Park
Bulow Creek State Park protects one of the largest remaining stands of southern live oak forest on Florida's eastern coast. This beautiful property also includes Boardman Pond, a shorebird hotspot along the north side of Walter Boardman Ln.
De Leon Springs State Park
John James Audubon visited these popular springs in 1832, which he dubbed a "garden with beautiful flowers and a pure sky." It was here that he reportedly encountered his first Limpkin; modern-day birders can still find this bird as well, along with splendid scenery and much more.
Hontoon Island State Park
Leave your car behind to visit this island park nestled between the St. Johns and Hontoon Dead Rivers. As the free ferry whisks you across the water to the other side, scan for Osprey, Anhinga, Limpkin and other wading birds along the shoreline. Pick up a map of the area at the visitor center/museum and plot your course.
Kilbee Tract
Named for the two branches of the Econlockhatchee River which flow through the site, this state forest has 160 plus bird species and 20 miles of hiking trails on two recommended parcels. Here, where the floodplain opens, you'll have a view of the river and its waders, shorebirds and ducks in fall and winter. The walk to the river is unremarkable, so you might scope the river from the boat launch at the SR 46 bridge.
Kratzert Tract
Although this property is largely composed of freshwater wetlands, a 1.4-mile hiking/biking/horseback trail on slightly higher topography provides a different experience than the surrounding marshes. The best birding here is in spring and fall. Start by picking up a map at the entrance kiosk (or download one from the St. Johns River Water Management District website).
Lake Ashby Park
A 1-mile equestrian trail is open to the public and leads off to the west side of the property; this trail is worth hiking on productive migration days. Please respect adjacent private property by not crossing fence lines. This park can get busy on weekends with anglers and other users – plan accordingly.
Lake George State Forest
The ecologically diverse Lake George State Forest features upland flatwoods, hardwoods, floodplain forest and basin swamps, with 3.5 miles of St. Johns River frontage. Birders will want to start at the Bluffton Recreation Area at the end of St. Johns River Rd.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Woodruff NWR's impoundments provide important resting and feeding areas for thousands of waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds, especially in winter. Pick up a map at the entrance, and explore the multi-use dike trails around a series of pools of varying depths.
Lighthouse Point Park and Marine Science Center
Lighthouse Point Park on the north side of the Ponce de Leon Inlet offers excellent year-round birding. It's also an outstanding magnet for rarities and sea-faring birds not easily seen from shore so don't forget your spotting scope. The rock jetty has a paved wheelchair-friendly walkway.
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Depending on how much time you have, you can bird here for several hours or several days. The park encompasses nearly 18,000 acres, and borders 6 miles of the St. Johns River and 4 miles of the Wekiva River and Blackwater Creek.
Lyonia Preserve
For birders, two syllables sum up this site: "scrub-jays." Thanks to exemplary habitat management and restoration, the Lyonia Preserve north of Deltona supports numerous families of Florida Scrub-Jays along with other rare, scrub-dependent flora and fauna.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of Florida's premier birding sites with more than 330 recorded species. World-renowned for its 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive (an auto tour loop), its shorebird and wading bird opportunities can't be beat. Fall and winter are best for these species, but even in summer, specialties such as Roseate Spoonbill aren't hard to find.
North Peninsula State Park
Located 4 miles south of Flagler Beach, the scenic but under-birded North Peninsula State Park is ideal for observing Brown Pelican, Northern Gannet, terns, gulls and numerous shorebirds along 2.2 miles of unspoiled beach.
Ponce Preserve
Stretching from the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Preserve is an amazingly diverse parcel with an impressive bird checklist for its size. On the west side of Peninsula Drive, a wheelchair-accessible, 1,700-foot boardwalk runs through salt marsh and mangroves out to the river. The boardwalk has three covered gazebos for scanning or relaxing, plus two canoe/kayak launches for paddling the marsh and river.
Port Orange Causeway Park
Although this park under the Dunlawton Causeway is small, it provides a rewarding glimpse into the 1,000-acre Port Orange Wildlife Sanctuary, a 4-mile stretch of islands in the Halifax River/Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The southern side of the park has fishing piers, boat launches and a manicured, grassy shoreline, all of which provide excellent vantage points for scoping Rookery Island (also known as ICW Island #3) and mudflats at low tide.
River Breeze Park
This small county park's unique feature is a keyhole dock that extends out into the Indian River/Mosquito Lagoon. At high tide, the area may seem unremarkable, but at low tide, the mudflats are exposed in and around the keyhole.
Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
Spanning four counties, this large wilderness area (like most St. Johns River Water Management District lands) yields the best experience when hiking the property's extensive multi-use trail system. Sixty percent of the property is floodplain marsh and together with the hydric hammocks, floodplain swamp, pine flatwoods and wet prairie, you're apt to see everything from migratory songbirds and Painted Bunting, to Wild Turkey and wading birds.
Smyrna Dunes Park
Located on the south side of the Ponce de Leon Inlet, this county park is a perfect complement to its northern neighbor, Lighthouse Point Park. Bring sun protection, as there is little shade available. Morning hours and low tide tend to be best for birding. Guided nature walks and educational programs are offered; call for more information.
Tomoka State Park
Birders and wildlife watchers may explore Tomoka State Park by land or by water. The Tomoka and Halifax Rivers border this peninsula park, offering a variety of experiences for a wide range of interests and abilities. You may bird Tomoka's hammock by car, if necessary, but the experience is better on foot.
Blue Spring State Park
Although Blue Spring State Park is best known for the 200 West Indian Manatees that overwinter in its first magnitude warm water springs, the habitats on the surrounding lands are excellent for birding, too.
Brickyard Slough
On the eastern shore of Lake Monroe (and bordering the St. Johns River) is a spot you don’t want to overlook. Most of the habitat here is wetlands (including freshwater marsh, wet prairie, hydric hammock, cypress swamp and bay swamp), which serve as a regionally important Florida Black Bear corridor. Miles of trails provide a great all-day birding experience.
Buck Lake Conservation Area
Birding this wild property is particularly rewarding if you invest time and energy in hiking or biking its extensive uplands. Miles of multi-use trails lead through the eastern portion of the property, which features hardwood swamp, oak hammocks, oak scrub and scrubby flatwoods.
Bulow Creek State Park
Bulow Creek State Park protects one of the largest remaining stands of southern live oak forest on Florida’s eastern coast. This beautiful property also includes Boardman Pond, a shorebird hotspot along the north side of Walter Boardman Ln.
De Leon Springs State Park
John James Audubon visited these popular springs in 1832, which he dubbed a “garden with beautiful flowers and a pure sky.” It was here that he reportedly encountered his first Limpkin; modern-day birders can still find this bird as well, along with splendid scenery and much more.
Hontoon Island State Park
Leave your car behind to visit this island park nestled between the St. Johns and Hontoon Dead Rivers. As the free ferry whisks you across the water to the other side, scan for Osprey, Anhinga, Limpkin and other wading birds along the shoreline. Pick up a map of the area at the visitor center/museum and plot your course.
Kilbee Tract
Named for the two branches of the Econlockhatchee River which flow through the site, this state forest has 160 plus bird species and 20 miles of hiking trails on two recommended parcels. Here, where the floodplain opens, you’ll have a view of the river and its waders, shorebirds and ducks in fall and winter. The walk to the river is unremarkable, so you might scope the river from the boat launch at the SR 46 bridge.
Kratzert Tract
Although this property is largely composed of freshwater wetlands, a 1.4-mile hiking/biking/horseback trail on slightly higher topography provides a different experience than the surrounding marshes. The best birding here is in spring and fall. Start by picking up a map at the entrance kiosk (or download one from the St. Johns River Water Management District website).
Lake Ashby Park
A 1-mile equestrian trail is open to the public and leads off to the west side of the property; this trail is worth hiking on productive migration days. Please respect adjacent private property by not crossing fence lines. This park can get busy on weekends with anglers and other users – plan accordingly.
Lake George State Forest
The ecologically diverse Lake George State Forest features upland flatwoods, hardwoods, floodplain forest and basin swamps, with 3.5 miles of St. Johns River frontage. Birders will want to start at the Bluffton Recreation Area at the end of St. Johns River Rd.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Woodruff NWR’s impoundments provide important resting and feeding areas for thousands of waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds, especially in winter. Pick up a map at the entrance, and explore the multi-use dike trails around a series of pools of varying depths.
Lighthouse Point Park and Marine Science Center
Lighthouse Point Park on the north side of the Ponce de Leon Inlet offers excellent year-round birding. It’s also an outstanding magnet for rarities and sea-faring birds not easily seen from shore so don’t forget your spotting scope. The rock jetty has a paved wheelchair-friendly walkway.
Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Depending on how much time you have, you can bird here for several hours or several days. The park encompasses nearly 18,000 acres, and borders 6 miles of the St. Johns River and 4 miles of the Wekiva River and Blackwater Creek.
Lyonia Preserve
For birders, two syllables sum up this site: “scrub-jays.” Thanks to exemplary habitat management and restoration, the Lyonia Preserve north of Deltona supports numerous families of Florida Scrub-Jays along with other rare, scrub-dependent flora and fauna.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of Florida’s premier birding sites with more than 330 recorded species. World-renowned for its 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive (an auto tour loop), its shorebird and wading bird opportunities can’t be beat. Fall and winter are best for these species, but even in summer, specialties such as Roseate Spoonbill aren’t hard to find.
North Peninsula State Park
Located 4 miles south of Flagler Beach, the scenic but under-birded North Peninsula State Park is ideal for observing Brown Pelican, Northern Gannet, terns, gulls and numerous shorebirds along 2.2 miles of unspoiled beach.
Ponce Preserve
Stretching from the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Preserve is an amazingly diverse parcel with an impressive bird checklist for its size. On the west side of Peninsula Drive, a wheelchair-accessible, 1,700-foot boardwalk runs through salt marsh and mangroves out to the river. The boardwalk has three covered gazebos for scanning or relaxing, plus two canoe/kayak launches for paddling the marsh and river.
Port Orange Causeway Park
Although this park under the Dunlawton Causeway is small, it provides a rewarding glimpse into the 1,000-acre Port Orange Wildlife Sanctuary, a 4-mile stretch of islands in the Halifax River/Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The southern side of the park has fishing piers, boat launches and a manicured, grassy shoreline, all of which provide excellent vantage points for scoping Rookery Island (also known as ICW Island #3) and mudflats at low tide.
River Breeze Park
This small county park’s unique feature is a keyhole dock that extends out into the Indian River/Mosquito Lagoon. At high tide, the area may seem unremarkable, but at low tide, the mudflats are exposed in and around the keyhole.
Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
Spanning four counties, this large wilderness area (like most St. Johns River Water Management District lands) yields the best experience when hiking the property’s extensive multi-use trail system. Sixty percent of the property is floodplain marsh and together with the hydric hammocks, floodplain swamp, pine flatwoods and wet prairie, you’re apt to see everything from migratory songbirds and Painted Bunting, to Wild Turkey and wading birds.
Smyrna Dunes Park
Located on the south side of the Ponce de Leon Inlet, this county park is a perfect complement to its northern neighbor, Lighthouse Point Park. Bring sun protection, as there is little shade available. Morning hours and low tide tend to be best for birding. Guided nature walks and educational programs are offered; call for more information.
Tomoka State Park
Birders and wildlife watchers may explore Tomoka State Park by land or by water. The Tomoka and Halifax Rivers border this peninsula park, offering a variety of experiences for a wide range of interests and abilities. You may bird Tomoka’s hammock by car, if necessary, but the experience is better on foot.
