Coastal, South Baldwin County Loop | Baldwin | Best Seasons: Winter
Bon Secour Bay is a contiguous bay sitting on the eastern edge of Mobile Bay. Scan the bay and the small canal next to the parking lot for gulls and terns. In winter, look for Black-crowned Night Heron roosting in the oaks scattered about the area. Return along River Road, continuing past CR 10 to the eastern end. Park in an out- of-the-way location and walk to the shore where you can look northeast up the Bon Secour River. Please be sure not to trespass on private property, which includes all the piers along the river. In winter look for Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers and Horned Grebe; Eared Grebe is also a possibility.
DIRECTIONS: Return east on US 98 back to Magnolia Springs and turn right (south) on CR 49 [8.5]. Proceed through the little village, crossing Magnolia River and continue south on CR 49. Where CR 49 eventually curves east [6.1], it will cross Skunk Bayou and continues eastward crossing CR 19 [1.4] to CR 10 [2.2]. Turn right (south) onto CR 10 and continue to River Road, the main street of Bon Secour. Turn right (west) a few hundred yards to the waterfront and a seafood wharf. Parking is available there.
GPS: N30.30164 W-87.73741
Amenities Available:
Nearby Sites
5 Rivers Delta Resource Center
5 Rivers sits on the banks of one of the canals that traverse the Mobile-Tensaw delta. The decks of the Delta Hall and the perimeter trail around the facility provide excellent vantage points to observe birds of the surrounding marsh and waterways. I …
Boggy Point
Boggy Point Boat Launch, an Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources facility, offers a small beach with an excellent view of Robinson Island, a roosting site for herons and egrets, to the east. Robinson Island offers important habita …
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge – Jeff Friend Trail
The Jeff Friend Trail is a one-mile loop to Little Lagoon. Habitats include maritime forest, freshwater marsh and open water along the north shore of Little Lagoon. A variety of species are possible-waterbirds, raptors, songbirds and other passerines …
Bon Secour NWR – Mobile Street
Mobile Street is a paved road leading to the beach, with a parking area for the one-mile (each way) Gator Lake Trail, which connects Mobile Street with the Pine Beach Trail. This narrow trail can be good for winter birding where you may see Blue-gray …
Bon Secour NWR – Pine Beach Trail
At the Pine Beach trailhead stands an interpretive kiosk with trail maps and bird lists. This is a two-mile trail (each way) southeastward to the beach by way of Little Lagoon and Gator Lake. The hike is an enjoyable walk through a variety of habitat …
Cliff’s Landing
Cliff’s Landing is one of the best spots in Alabama (south of I-65) to view Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites in the spring and summer. Look for kites and other raptors across the river to the west, with best light in the morning.