Canaveral National Seashore: Playalinda Beach

The Playalinda Beach section of the National Seashore is a wonderful site with a very respectable checklist of birds. Watch for Florida Scrub-Jay immediately after the entrance station on either side of the road, and along the road towards vista #1. Pull over at any of the vistas along the road–marshy areas along the drive towards the beach to view Black-necked Stilt, Roseate Spoonbill, Osprey, Anhinga and Bald Eagle. Park at one of the numerous beach crossovers and bird the beach, watching for Semipalmated Plovers, Forster’s and Royal Terns and Great Black-backed Gulls (winter). Black Scoters can be seen feeding in the surf in winter and Northern Gannets are very common in the colder months. In fall, when the wind is blowing onshore scan the Atlantic for Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, Audubon’s and Greater Shearwaters. Eddy Creek on the Mosquito Lagoon has a boat ramp and a boardwalk where you may see Reddish Egrets and American White Pelicans (winter). A backcountry permit is required to hike north to Klondike Beach; a beach wheelchair is available, ask at the entrance. Call the seashore’s headquarters for scheduled educational programming during your visit. Bring protection for the sun and biting insects.