Best Known Birding and Wildlife Sites and Their Locations
Author: bayside | Posted: 13.12.2011So you must go and enjoy your journey into Space Coast's natural environment. Bayside Travel offers you many opportunities and moreover you will enjoy more as compared to other places. Bayside Travel provides you different packages with discount in shopping, staying in hotel and many more. If you plan Bayside Travel vacation, you can experience a lot of things.
1) Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: It is one of the topmost birding sites in Florida Atlantic coast. Here vehicles are allowed on dike roads. In winters waterfowl and coots are rich here and moreover it is best site in Florida. The famous thing in Florida is one-way diving loop. Most of the areas are covered by large scrub lands. Do you know that refuge has world's largest population of Florida scrub jays. Birds migrate here during spring and fall.
2) Canaveral National Seashore: This seashore is located to the east of the Merritt Island. To reach here you have to go east on SR406 then go to right on SR402. As you drive towards the beach do not forget to see shuttle launch towers and you can see floating birds.
3) Playalinda Beach: The road of this beach turns North and runs parallel to the beach for 5 miles. Sand dunes can be seen there which are covered with palmettos, sea grapes and sea oats. This beach contain wading birds and gulls. During the fall and winter season there is a possibility of pelagic birds. You can see large number of willets, laughing gulls, ring-billed gulls and least terns. Common species like Merlins, peregrine falcons can be seen here regularly.
4) Hatbill Park- Seminole Ranch: To reach here go to the West on SR46 and then turn left 4.1 miles of the 195 intersection. There you can see the signs of Loughman lake lodge and Seminole Ramnch Conservation Area. There are different types of habitat including pine, hardwood, lakes and rivers and wetlands. If you want to see beautiful site of sunrise then Hatbill is the best place. There are lot of small peeps along with mottled and wood ducks.
5) Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary: One can reach to this park from the intersection of SR3 and SR520 in the Merritt Island. Go North on SR3 to the first traffic light, then turn right and proceed to the East to the second traffic light and at last turn left. You will see the bridge, cross it and turn left into the park. It is a salt marsh habitat or you can say it is better for wading birds and shorebirds. Early in the morning black rails can be seen in the short grass area.
6) Jetty Park: To visit this park go the East towards the ocean on SR528 from 195 and you will be near to the Banana River, cross it and turn left from the traffic light to Port Canaveral. Then turn right at the stop sign on George King Blvd. After this turn left on North Atlantic AV and on the right side Jetty Park will be seen. Northern Gannets, waterbirds may be seen offshore in the winter. If the weather is clear you will be able to see Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.
7) Turkey Creek Sanctuary: Go South on US1 from SR192, turn right West, drive 1.6 miles to the sanctuary entrance. From 195 take 70A exit, turn right at Babcock St and move to South to turn left on Port Malabar Blvd and walk 1 mile to the Palm Bay Community Center and then take final right turn to reach to the Sanctuary. Migratory Warblers is best known here. 20 different Warblers have been seen in Turkey including golden-winged, hooded and worm-eating.
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