Dauphin Island - Bayou La Batre Loop

(Sites 39-50)

Dauphin Island is one of the most popular places on the Gulf Coast for birding during spring migration. The Dauphin Island bird card lists 345 species, about 85 percent of the state list. As a classic migrant trap it can be an overwhelming experience during a spring fall out when a cold front moving southward brings rain and northerly winds causing birds to literally fall from the sky. Birding can be equally good in the fall but seems to linger longer. Motels are conveniently located for birding as are several excellent restaurants. Check with either of the above contacts for further information. The loop begins at the water tower on Dauphin Island, at the southern end of AL 193, covers the forested east portion of the island, then the western portion. The loop then continues across the bridge and causeway to the mainland and travels west on AL 188 to Bayou La Batre.

ACBT 39.
Shell Mound

(Sites 39-45)

From the water tower drive east on Bienville Boulevard to Iberville Street [0.3], turn left and you will see the Shell Mound straight ahead of you, to the north. Park on the shoulder anywhere and explore the mound, an ancient Indian shell midden. The park is managed by the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, whose offices are on the back side (northeast corner) of the park. Check in the office for a tide table, it will be invaluable in birding for shorebirds and waders. The ancient live oaks provide the insects and cover that the neotropical migrants depend on at their first landfall. It is not unusual to see 20 species of warblers here on a good day. Check the information box at the north side of the mound for recent bird sightings and a bird card for the island. Look northward from here across the field to the feeders on the edge of the lawn. Check for Bronzed Cowbird as well as Shiney Cowbird that show up occasionally.

ACBT 40.
Goat Trees
After leaving the Shell Mound turn left (east) at the first road and continue east on Cadillac Avenue to Grant Street [0.4]. Park on the shoulder out of the traffic and bird the large oaks on the left. Migrants frequently feed in these trees.

ACBT 41.
Cadillac Square
Turn right (south) on Grant Street and return to Bienville Boulevard, across the street you will see Cadillac Square, a large park with lots of old live oaks, picnic tables and restrooms. It is also a good place to bird. In the spring of 1998, Black-whiskered Vireo was here for several days.

ACBT 42.
Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary
Continue eastward on Bienville Boulevard crossing Audubon Street to the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary [0.9]. Turn right into the parking area [100 yds.] During peak migration in mid-April, you may have to park in the median on Bienville Boulevard. Check the information box in the parking lot for brochures and study the map. The sanctuary has 164 acres of largely maritime pine forest with several miles of trails. Passerines prefer the oak grove of the Banding Area to the extreme east end of the Campground Trail and the south boundary of the swamp along the Dune Edge Trail. Swainson's Warbler is frequently found at the Banding Area and Black-whiskered Vireo may be found there occasionally.

ACBT 43.
Pelican Point
Continue eastward along Bienville Boulevard past the ferry landing. You may want to pause here for the restrooms and/or look at the far shore for waders, shorebirds and seabirds. Ferry landings are always good for gulls and terns. Continue past the Estuarium and on around the east end of Fort Gaines to the parking lot at the end of the road [0.9]. This spot provides an excellent view of the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Pass.

Check the jetties for shorebirds. Ruddy Turnstone and Black-bellied Plover are common. Marbled Godwit and Red Knot are fairly regular in spring along the shore. Bobolinks frequent the field and underbrush between the road and the fort during migration.

ACBT 44.
Airport
Return along Bienville Boulevard back to the water tower. Continue to the next intersection and turn right on Lackland after passing the town hall on the left. Proceed on Lackland two blocks to Chaumont, turn left (west) and continue on Chaumont to Omega Street. Bear to the right on the approach to the airport where there is marsh on both sides of the road. Continue to the end of the road and park. Observe the no trespassing signs for the airport proper. Though this is a small general aviation strip there is frequent helicopter traffic out to the gas wells in the gulf.

Check the marshes carefully for rails. Clapper Rail is common, Virginia and Sora are fairly common though secretive in fall and winter. Yellow Rail is very rare in winter as is Black Rail most of the year. Also check the marshes for Seaside and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Check the ponds and sandbars to the north for Reddish Egret. In winter scan the bay for ducks; Horned and Eared Grebe, scaup, Bufflehead, and mergansers. Old Squaw is an occasional visitor. During spring and fall migration check the brush and trees for passerines, particularly after a front with strong west winds. This is the time and place for possible vagrants.

ACBT 45.
West End
Return to Omega Street, turn right (south) and proceed to Bienville Boulevard. Turn right (west) on Bienville and continue westward after the boulevard turns to two lanes.

American Kestrel is common on the wires during winter. The canals along the western portion of the drive are tidal and frequently host egrets, herons and ibis. There is one record of White-faced Ibis along here. Access to the western end of the island has been restricted. Beyond St. Stevens Street there are cross streets leading to the gulf on the south and the Mississippi Sound on the north. You may use these to scan the gulf for seabirds particularly after a storm when the likelihood of boobies and gannets is greatest. The sandbars on the sound side are ephemeral, changing with the storms. They frequently host large numbers of gulls and terns, so check them out carefully. Check the vacant lots for Seaside and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Return to the water tower.

Note: The above description of the West End was written before Hurricane Georges (September 1998). This portion of Dauphin Island was entirely overwashed by the storm surge depositing large volumes of sand, resulting in a beach from shore to shore. At this writing there are no canals along the road, but many new sand bars and inlets. Birding the area will be different but still good.

ACBT 46.
Cedar Point
From the water tower proceed north on Le Moyne Drive ( AL 193) across the bridge to the mainland, carefully driving and looking at the same time. Do not stop on the bridge, although the sandbars and shoals will be full of birds at low tide. When you reach the end of the bridge at Cedar Point [4.3] pull over and park on the shoulder, facing the east. Check any sandbars that may be visible. Cross the road to the parking lot on the southwest side and check the sandbar to the west. It may have some seabirds as well as waders. Whimbrel has favored this spot in the fall. Continue along the causeway toward the mainland and shortly you cross Heron Bay Cutoff Bridge and the bait shop on the right (east). Check any terns you see cruising over the marsh; Gull-billed Tern favors this area in spring and summer.

ACBT 47.
Bayfront Park
Continue northward on AL 193 to Bayfront Park on the right (east). This is a relatively new county park that affords a good view of the open bay with some marsh habitat. Although it is an untried birding spot it has good prospects. There are picnic tables and portable restrooms.

ACBT 48.
Bellingrath Gardens
Continue northward on AL 193 to Alabama Port and the intersection with AL 188. Bear left (west) on AL 188 and continue to Bellingrath Road [2.9]. Turn right (north) on Bellingrath Road, continue to the first turn to the right into the gardens [4.0] and proceed to the parking lot [1.0]. The gardens have not been birded heavily in recent years but offered good birding in earlier years. Bellingrath Garden's literature lists 130 bird species. The entire 900-acre complex is a bird sanctuary and there is an observation tower overlooking the Fowl River and salt marsh. Cruises through the waters of the Fowl River aboard the Southern Belle are available at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. The gardens open at 8 am, closing time is seasonal. Call Bellingrath Gardens at 251/973 2217 for admission costs to the gardens and the river cruise. Return to Bellingrath Road, turn left (south) and continue back to AL 188.

ACBT 49.
Coden Belt Road
Turn right (west) and proceed to Clark Road [3.7] in Coden, and turn left (south) and follow the road to the water's edge. Continue westward on Coden Belt Road. There will be a few sandbars exposed at low tide which may be good for shorebirds, gulls and terns. Occasionally a large flock of Black Skimmers can be viewed out over the water. Dunlin and Red Knot may be found in winter on the sandbars. If it's a cold winter there may be bay ducks out on the water.

ACBT 50.
Bayou La Batre Ponds
Following Coden Belt Road you will return to AL 188 at the bridge over Coden Bayou. Turn left (west) and continue westward on AL 188 through Bayou La Batre. At the first stop light after crossing the draw bridge over the bayou on Wintzell Avenue (AL 188) turn left (west) onto Little River Road and follow it to a fork [1.0] where Little River Road becomes unpaved and Powell bears left as a paved road. Continue on Little River Road to the elevated dikes on the right. These ponds, built in 1996, are managed by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers for the town of Bayou La Batre and are used to store the material dredged from the Bayou La Batre channel. A scope is essential here. Although there will be signs of traffic on the dike, please do not drive on the dike. Climb to the top and walk the eastern dike. Although this pond has been nearly filled with dredge refuse material, there is water in the far, northern end. This pond has been terrific for shorebirds since the second year after it was built. American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt have been present year round as well as dowitchers, yellowlegs and the ever present Willet. Least Tern has nested on the flat sands. Walk the eastern dike to get a better view, the birds have been fairly cooperative. There may be some ducks on the open water, mostly Mallard. There is a dike running north and south partially dividing the ponds, with much deeper water on the western end.

You may walk the path along the southern dike past the dividing dike to gain a view of the western pond or walk back down to your vehicle and drive to the other end. There will be shorebirds along the edges of this pond but the main attraction here is the waterfowl. In winter there will be large numbers of ducks out on the water, teal, scaup, Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck. It is expected that as time goes by more and more ducks will find these ponds.

This is the end of the Dauphin Island - Bayou La Batre Loop. Hopefully your tour of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail was a memorable experience and you will return again and again to enjoy the extraordinary birdlife of our area. Return to AL 188 in Bayou La Batre. To head for I-10 and Mississippi, turn left (north) and take AL 188 to Grand Bay and I-10. To retrace your path, turn right (south) and continue eastward on AL 188 to Alabama Port and the intersection with AL 193. At this point you may turn left (north) and return to I-10 and Mobile. Or, you can turn right (south) and return to Dauphin Island. You may want to stay on the island or take the ferry to Ft. Morgan.

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