For the first mile of the
drive you have water on both sides of the road. The lagoon side is
surrounded by red mangrove trees. This section is good for wading birds
and includes snowy, reddish and great egrets, great blue, tri-colored, and
little blue herons. You will have your best luck finding large numbers of
wading birds at low tide and early or late in the day. During the winter
at high tide you well see many waterfowl. In summer and fall you might see
some roseate spoonbills and wood storks. Just after the one-mile point
there is an observation area overlooking the mangrove lagoons. This area
is also good for wading birds. Double-crested cormorants may be seen on
the roots of the mangroves and anhingas may perch in the branches. You may
also see brown pelicans.
Sometimes you will see red-shouldered hawks perched
along the next stretch of road and this section is also good for
green-backed and night herons. Shorebirds may be seen feeding at low tide
on the north side of the road. Along the south side of the road is a
marshy area that also attracts shorebirds.
Just after Mile 2 there is a dike crossing that connects with
the Indigo Trail. Even if you decide not to hike the Indigo Trail, you
might want to make a short hike here to an area that can be productive for
more wading birds, spoonbills, cormorants and anhingas. This is also a
good place to find alligators during sunny winter days.
Just after the dike crossing you come to the observation
tower that is a good location for sunset. This is especially so during
late spring, summer and fall when large numbers of roseate spoonbills
visit the refuge and flocks of them come into the area around the
observation tower at sunset. The fresh water pond to the east of the road
is a good place for ducks during January and February. The road follows
the north shore of the fresh water pond where there are some small islands
that are a good place to spot shorebirds at high tide and more alligators.
This may also be a good place for cormorants, pelicans, and spoonbills.
After turning south at Mile 4 you come to the short,
one-third-mile Shell Mound Trail that is not too inspiring except for song
birds during the spring migration that gather in the mangrove and
buttonwoods. Around the next loop of the Wildlife Drive are a series of
observation areas for alligators.
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