Nestled in the Blackwater River State Forest's uplands, this fish hatchery is an oasis of wading birds and shorebirds. Stop at the entrance kiosk to check the sightings log and to pick up a checklist. Walk the dikes between the aquaculture ponds, looking for winter waterfowl such as Ring-necked Ducks, Blue-winged Teal and Wilson's Snipe at the muddy edges.
This waterfront park is located on Rocky Bayou in Choctawhatchee Bay. Of its three trails, Red Cedar and Rocky Bayou are more interesting for birds than Sand Pine Trail. Walk the trails for migrants like Cedar Waxwings and Indigo Buntings.
Henderson Beach State Park offers nice beachfront for nesting Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers. Piping Plovers are present in winter and migratory shorebirds like Whimbrel and Semipalmated Sandpiper may be encountered in spring and fall. During the summer observe the posted areas and take care not to disturb beach-nesting birds, which are often ... Read more
Two recreation areas (north and south) make this area of the state forest fun to explore. Check for Bachman's Sparrow and Brown-headed Nuthatch calling in the sandhills, ducks (including Wood Duck and Blue-winged Teal) and wading birds like Green Heron visible from the north access pier.
Shoal River Wayside Park is worth a quick check for wading birds at the river and songbirds in the adjacent floodplain forest. In this part of the Panhandle, floodplain corridors along rivers like this create migrant highways through arid turkey oak and sand pine uplands.
Walk the scenic 0.75-mile boardwalk along tannic Turkey Creek through a river forest of titi, maple, cypress and bay. Watch for Green Herons stalking minnows on low hanging branches over the water and Anhingas swimming in the creek. Mississippi Kites are common in summer and songbirds like White-eyed Vireos breed here.
Nestled in the Blackwater River State Forest’s uplands, this fish hatchery is an oasis of wading birds and shorebirds. Stop at the entrance kiosk to check the sightings log and to pick up a checklist. Walk the dikes between the aquaculture ponds, looking for winter waterfowl such as Ring-necked Ducks, Blue-winged Teal and Wilson’s Snipe at the muddy edges.
This waterfront park is located on Rocky Bayou in Choctawhatchee Bay. Of its three trails, Red Cedar and Rocky Bayou are more interesting for birds than Sand Pine Trail. Walk the trails for migrants like Cedar Waxwings and Indigo Buntings.
Henderson Beach State Park offers nice beachfront for nesting Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers. Piping Plovers are present in winter and migratory shorebirds like Whimbrel and Semipalmated Sandpiper may be encountered in spring and fall. During the summer observe the posted areas and take care not to disturb beach-nesting birds, which are often … Read more
Two recreation areas (north and south) make this area of the state forest fun to explore. Check for Bachman’s Sparrow and Brown-headed Nuthatch calling in the sandhills, ducks (including Wood Duck and Blue-winged Teal) and wading birds like Green Heron visible from the north access pier.
Shoal River Wayside Park is worth a quick check for wading birds at the river and songbirds in the adjacent floodplain forest. In this part of the Panhandle, floodplain corridors along rivers like this create migrant highways through arid turkey oak and sand pine uplands.
Walk the scenic 0.75-mile boardwalk along tannic Turkey Creek through a river forest of titi, maple, cypress and bay. Watch for Green Herons stalking minnows on low hanging branches over the water and Anhingas swimming in the creek. Mississippi Kites are common in summer and songbirds like White-eyed Vireos breed here.
The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a network of more than 500 premier wildlife viewing sites across the state. When you want to know where to go in Florida to see native birds, butterflies and more, head for the Trail.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Russell Office Park
1875 Orange Ave. East
Tallahassee, FL 32311