Jones Bluff Park (also known as Bob Woodruff Park)

Jones Bluff Park is an extremely productive and diverse area. The trail bordering the Alabama River is a great place to view riparian birds, from Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to Louisiana Waterthrushes, Prothonotary Warblers, Ospreys, Double-crested Cormorants and several species of swallows. This was once a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat launch, with a large paved parking area. It is no longer maintained for that use, and the paved roadway down to the boat launch is closed, with small trees across it in places. Given the remote nature of the park and the requirement to walk in for at least 0.5 mile to reach the water, plan to spend one to two hours birding the area, more during spring and fall. Remember, the walk from the parking area (room for 2-3 cars) is much easier going downhill towards the water than coming back.

The park feels very much unused, but does offer some excellent opportunities for birding. Though the roadway isn’t accessible, and certainly not passable by car (even if there were no locked gate), it does make for fairly easy walking. From spring to fall, expect to hear everything from Northern Parulas to Summer Tanagers and ever present Indigo Buntings. It makes a good pairing to visit this site along with other nearby locations along the river.

GPS: 32.3988641 -86.7920532