Eastern Shore, Mobile Bay Causeway
and Blakeley Island Loop

(Sites 23-33)

This loop covers part of the Eastern Shore, Fairhope to Daphne, and then crosses Mobile Bay on the Causeway (US 90/98) and continues northward up US 90A to Blakeley Island. The final site is on US 43 and offers an opportunity to take a swamp cruise at the Chickasaw Marina. There are many accommodations for food and lodging in the area particularly around the intersection of US 98 and I-10 at exit 35.

ACBT 23.
Fairhope Municipal Pier and Beach
This loop begins at the municipal pier and beach at the west end of Fairhope Avenue just off US 98A in Fairhope. There is no charge for the pier, but there is a charge for entry to the beach. The pier is a good location for winter ducks, and the parking area for Barred Owl.

ACBT 24.
Daphne Bayfront Park
Return to US 98A turning left (north) and continue along Scenic Route 98A northward through Montrose to Daphne turning left (west) on Bay Front Park Drive [8.0] (at the juncture with US 98). Continue to the waterfront [0.4]. This is a public park (City of Daphne) open daylight hours. Scan the bay for ducks, waders and shorebirds (low tide). Return to US 98A and turn left (north) and continue northward on US 98.

ACBT 25.
D'Olive Bay Overlook
This section is heavily developed commercially. Just before the intersection with I-10 [1.5] there is an overlook on the left (west) behind the Shell service station. This spot provides an excellent view of D'Olive Bay below and farther out into Mobile Bay. Check the bay for ducks in winter as well as wading birds year round. The balance of this loop will generally involve birds at a distance and a scope is very helpful, if not necessary.

ACBT 26.
Meaher State Park
Continue north on US 98 across I-10. You can either turn left (northwest) on US 98 and go to the next site, Meaher State Park(skip to next paragraph for directions to Meaher Statr Park). Or you can continue straight for a very short distance, take the next left onto Larry Dee Cawyer Drive and stop at the Scenic Overlook which is atop the hill and surrounded by a rock wall. Area information, restrooms and telephones are available at the Scenic Overlook which is also the location of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Return to US 98, turn right this time (still northwest) to the junction with US 90 and US 31 (Mobile Bay Causeway). Proceed westward on US 90/98/31 to the entrance of Meaher State Park on the left (south). Picnic facilities and restrooms are available here and the park closes at sunset. Stop at the gate house to pay a nominal entrance fee and then drive to the shell road about three-tenths mile to the boardwalk trail. Park here (there is a chain across the shell road at this point) and walk on toward the boardwalk that extends out into Mobile Bay. As you approach the boardwalk watch for sparrows. Many wading birds can be seen from the boardwalk, including bitterns and rails. This is a great place for terns, including Gull-billed in summer. On the south side of the island, looking west into the bay there are often ibis. American White Pelican finds this a favorite spot in winter, as do large rafts of ducks.

ACBT 27.
Chacaloochee Bay
Continue westward on US 90 to the open area on both sides [2.0] viewing Chacaloochee Bay to the north and Mobile Bay to the south. Be extremely careful of the traffic when crossing over. This is an excellent place for ducks in winter and waders all year on both sides of the road. By far the most numerous will be American Coot which winter here by the tens of thousands. Look for Mottled Duck, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Duck to mention a few. Look to the north end of the bay for American White Pelican and White and Glossy Ibis. There will be several more tempting places to stop as you continue westward. Check them out!

ACBT 28.
Mobile Bay Mudflats
Continue west under the I-10 interchange. The best viewing at this site is during low tide. Drive to an open spot in the shore vegetation on the left (south) [1.5]. Park and make your way to the mudflats. This is a good place to look for waders and waterfowl in winter. Long-billed Curlew was found here on one recent Christmas Bird Count.

ACBT 29.
Battleship Park

(Sites 29-32)

Cross over the bridge going westward and turn into the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on the left (south) [1.6]. Admission is charged per vehicle to enter the park which entitles you to use the restrooms in the gift shop. The open lawns of the park can be excellent for shorebirds particularly after a rain. A Long-billed Curlew has been reliable here for several winters. Bear to the right as you drive into the park and toward the southwest you will see a paved walkway leading to an observation deck (currently under repair) overlooking Pinto Pass. During low tide this area is filled with herons, egrets, and occasionally ibis, especially in late summer. Blacknecked Stilt may be around almost any time of the year at low tide. Gullbilled Tern is here in summer and Least Bittern often fly across from one marshy area to the next. During migration the mudflats are filled with shorebirds. Look for dabbling ducks in the shallows and bay ducks farther out in the deeper water to the south. There may be numbers of Yellowcrowned Night Herons here with many immatures in late summer and Black-crowned year round. Continue around to the parking lot to the east side along the bay, checking for gulls and terns. At the extreme north end, park and survey the lawn from this vantage point for the curlew and any plovers that you might have missed from the other side.

ACBT 30.
North Pinto Disposal Area
Return to US 90/98 and turn left (west) continuing to a closed gate on the left (south) [0.3] leading up to the top of a dike. Follow the instructions given under ACBT 32 to notify Alabama State Docks before birding this site. Park out of the traffic on the left and walk up the dike. This is a dredge refuse disposal area, frequently graded and turned to hasten drying of the mud, but there is usually some water in the ponds. When there is water this can be an excellent shorebird spot especially during migration, with sandpipers, yellowlegs and dowitchers being seen regularly. If there is appreciable water in the winter there may be ducks.

ACBT 31.
Polecat Bay
Continue northwesterly on US 90/98 to the traffic light at the Bankhead Tunnel [0.7], where the exit from I-10 merges. Pull to the side of the road and park on the shoulder well out of the traffic. Walk toward the water. This spot gives an excellent view northward to Polecat Bay. At low tide there will be an appreciable mud flat here with lots of shorebirds during migration. In the winter months there will be a good sampling of ducks from this point. Osprey have nested on the light pole above the ramp for the past several years.

ACBT 32.
Blakeley Island Mud Ponds
Go north on US 90A. The ponds on the dikes at Blakeley Island are the premier shorebirding spots in the state. Spring and fall migration can offer looks at hundreds of shorebirds. It is a reliable place to see a variety of ducks in winter. The shallow ponds along the road as you approach the dikes are often good for shorebirds. The ponds continue under the bridge, and these may be reached by turning left at the approach to the bridge.

32A.
South Blakeley Disposal Area
Continue north on US 90A to access point A [1.3]. Park well off the road near the locked gate across from the "Bender Yard 9" sign, and leave your permit sheet visible on the front dash. Bear to the right as you walk on the dirt road leading southeast to the diked pond. At the top of the dike scan the large ponds in various stages of management; you must stay on the perimeter dikes. Best areas usually are in the northwest and southwest corners of the pond.
Please refer to warning statement.

32B.
Mud Lakes
Continue northward from the traffic light to the locked gate [1.8], access point B, park well out of the way, and walk the dirt road up the dike. Continue east on the dike road, remembering not to leave the dike for any reason. The best areas for birding usually are lake numbers 1 and 5 to the south and north of this dike as you first approach from the west.
Please refer to warning statement.

32C.
North Blakeley Disposal Area
Continue northward on US 90A to access point C at the foot of the Cochrane-Africatown USA bridge, where you will note a road to the left (west) with a sign indicating "Alabama State Docks." Follow this under the bridge, carefully examining any birds that may be in the canals. As road veers left, take the second dirt right which leads east to a locked gate at the base of a dike to the left. Climb the dike to check the area, which under the proper conditions, may produce waterfowl and shorebirds.
Please refer to warning statement.

ACBT 33.
Mobile Tensaw Delta Swamp Tour
Return to US 90A and turn left (north) crossing the Cochrane- Africatown USA bridge and continuing to the intersection with US 43 [2.0]. Turn right (north) and continue through Chickasaw to the Chickasaw Marina on the left (west) [6.0]. Wildland Expeditions provides swamp tours up Chickasabogue Creek exploring parts of the 200,000- acre Mobile Tensaw Delta aboard the "Gator Bait". The tour takes about two hours and is narrated by Captain Gene Burrell who points out the birds and wildlife along the way. Tours depart at 8 am, 10 am and 2 pm. There is a fee for the tour. Reservations are recommended. For more information call 251/460 8206.

This is the end of the Eastern Shore, Mobile Bay Causeway and Blakeley Island Loop. To proceed on to the East Mobile River - Tensaw Delta Loop, continue north on US 43 to AL 158. Turn left (west) on AL 158 to I-65. Go North on I-65. As you cross over the Mobile River, you will have a spectacular view of the water and forest land below. Continue to AL 225 at exit 31, where you will go north on AL 225. Or you can return to US 90A and go south to the intersection of US 90 and I-10. Head west on I-10 to do the Dauphin Island - Bayou La Batre Loop. Drive on I-10 to the west side of Mobile to exit 17-A, AL 193 South. Go south on AL 193 to Dauphin Island. See the Dauphin Island - Bayou La Batre Loop section for further directions to the birding sites in this loop.

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