Coastal, Fort Morgan Loop | Baldwin | Best Seasons: Spring | Winter
Mobile Street access point to the Bon Secour NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) is just west of the Pine Beach Trail parking lot. It is a paved road leading to a public parking lot near the gulf beach. There are in-holdings in this area so birders should be particularly careful to respect the private property here. The road out to the beach is through marsh and palmetto habitat with the occasional opportunity to observe American Alligators. Caution is urged in these places, some of which are fenced to provide a healthy reminder not to get too close.
There is also good habitat for winter sparrows and some waders in the wetland swales along the road. About 0.75 miles down the road on the left is the 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 Gnatcatcher, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warbler. At the end of Mobile Street, the beach provides a vantage point for Common Loon, Northern Gannet and other seabirds and shorebirds. Common Ground-Dove is often spotted near the dune walkover.
Coastal Birding Trail booklet.
GPS: N30.23641 W-87.83038
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
12295 State Highway 180
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 540-7720
From the Pine Beach Trailhead, turn left and drive for 2.6 miles to Mobile Street, make another left turn onto Mobile Street and proceed to the parking area. Return to AL 180 if following directions provided in the Coastal Birding Trail booklet.
Amenities Available:
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