JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

Headed soon to Orange Beach Alabama for the month of January. I was wondering if you Hoggers who have been in the area have some go to favorite spots for birding. Shooting with 850 & 500 / 70-200, 300 f2.8 and 500 f4 ... Any suggestions??

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

No, but interested in the responses.

therwol Loc: USA

Take the ferry from Ft. Morgan to Dauphin Island and check out the Audubon sanctuary there. The ferry runs year round. Click on Schedule in the second link. I don't recall where the birds are in their migration in January, but it's worth a shot.

https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/audubon-bird-sanctuary

https://mobilebayferry.com/

P.S. If you miss the return ferry, you can still drive to Orange Beach.... in about 3 hours by going through Mobile.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Dauphin Island!

therwol Loc: USA

That's exactly what I said. I grew up in Mobile. There was no ferry across the bay until after I left. Lucky there is one now.

JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

Took the ferry to Dauphin Island a couple of years ago to see Fort Gaines but didn't see the Sanctuary. Will have to check that out this trip. Thanks

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

Gulf State park has nice walking / bike trails around Shelby Lakes in early morning there are a lot of birds. Osprey and an eagles nest along one path where they have observation decks built near the nest. We stayed at the Hilton in the State park there and got some great shots from my balcony of Osprey fishing in the morning. Was like clock work same time every morning same place they would show up. Lots of shore birds and two to three types of heron. Others have mentioned taking the ferry over to Dauphin island right where you get on the ferry is also a good birding location at Fort Morgan. There is a couple nice trails just as you get to the fort. Also Bellingrath Gardens is worth seeing it is very scenic with some great back drops for birds.

martin muller

Good responses provided. FYI: I grew up near Atmore AL, a few miles away. On the hwy from Gulf Shores out to Fort Morgan, there is (or was) a wild life preserve with property on both sides of the hwy. There is a ranger office to visit with nature exhibits. If open, stop there for info. Some time ago, I walked the trails spying on the alligators. I recall heron, egret, predator birds. This AL forest meeting the salt water. I suppose the time of year and time of day brings in variables. I am not a birder. I think the property on north side of hwy. touches bay water, perhaps there you would find open water fishing birds. It is south AL, the weather can be anything in January. Have clothing for strong, cold wind coming across the bay water. Regretfully, I cannot live in south Baldwin County. I would like to see the trails weekly. I wish you could be there in warm weather to see the ditches / road shoulders flooded with blooming black eye Susans. If not birds, I think you will find much other nature. Good Image Hunting!

kcooke Loc: Alabama

I am from Alabama and have spent a good bit of time in Orange beach over the years. My mother has had a place there for 42 years. The best advice I can offer to someone going to the Alabama Coast is to go to the Alabama Birding Trails website. This link below is to that site for coastal areas.

https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/trails/coastal/

It provides a weath of information for the coast plus other areas in the state as well. Since you are going for a month, you will have plenty of time to check out the different areas shown on the map in the coastal region.
From Orange Beach it is about 30 miles to the Fort Morgan Ferry. From Gulf Shores to the Ferry on Highway 180 (Ft Morgan Rd) there is the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. This is a good place to go. Dauphine Island is a great place for birds as well. Taking the ferry from Ft Morgan to Ft Gaines on Dauphine Island is an undertaking but is faster than driving through Mobile. Make sure you know when the Ferry is leaving because otherwise you may wait up to a hour for the ferry. The ferry takes about 45 minutes to cross Mobile Bay. If you are going from Orange Beach to Ft Morgan, stopping at Bon Secour, taking the ferry to Dauphine Island, checking out Dauphine Island and returning the same way you should plan on the better part of a day. You could go to Bon Secour as a seperate trip which is what i would do. That way you can spend more time there. Since you are there for a month you wont be rushed.

Boggy Point near Perdido Pass (Alabama Point) is another good place. Bird Island and Robinson Island are there and with your longer lenses there would be some good opportunities. The Gulf State Park has many opportunities as well. Talk to the Park Ranger there to find out where to go for that time of year. They will know. Another great location in Florida near Pensacola is Big Lagoon State Park. There are multiple obeservation towers/platforms that are great for bird photography. It is not very far from Orange Beach. Also while there you may have opportunities to photograph the Blue Angels practicing. Their home base is only a few miles away.

Joe Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is one of the premier stops on the birding trail in North Alabama on the Tennessee River. You find geese, ducks, Sandhill Cranes and sometimes Whooping Cranes. There are around 18 there each year in the winter. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes in January If you are traveling on Interstate I-65 on your way to or from the beach it is very worthwhile. The main visitor center and observation decks there are easy to get to from the interstate. Enjoy your trip!

JR69 Loc: Wolverine Michigan

Thanks so much fellow Hoggers for the wealth of info. Some I knew about, Others I will delve into and do some homework. However knowing where you photogs think are fertile area is a giant step forward. We were down in Orange beach last year for a week and spent much time at the many forts, the beach, some fishing and over to Pensacola. But not that much birding. Time was too short. A month will work out great. Again Thanks to all !!!~