|
Bird and Wildlife Watching
Freshwater and Uplands Habitats
Space Coast North
|
|
Bird and
wildlife watching opportunities associated
with the St. Johns River, it's tributaries
and Upland Woods Habitats along Florida's
Space Coast. |
This
Symbol indicates that the site is a
designated site of the
Great Florida Birding Trail |
|
|
|
Salt Lake Conservation Area
From I-95, take SR 46 west. Turn left onto
Turpentine Road, then take a right on
Panther Lane then a left on Arch Road and
follow Arch Road to the main entrance and
parking area.
A mixture of upland scrub and wetlands as
well as portions of Loughman, Salt, and
South Lakes, Salt Lake Conservation Area has
a diverse wildlife population ranging from
deer, turkey, bobcat, and fox to scrub jays,
hawks, egrets, herons, ducks, and songbirds.
Property Map
GPS N 28 38.415 W 80 53.386
Google Satellite Image |
|
Buck
Lake Conservation Area
encompasses 9,291 acres and has two
entrances and parking areas on the north
side of State Road 46. The eastern entrance
is .75 mile west of I-95 while the western
entrance is 6.4 mile west of I-95. Hiking,
biking, horseback riding and hunting in
season are allowed here and there are four
primative campsites available on a first
come, first serve basis. This is a type 2
management area, meaning during hunting
periods you must have a valid hunting
license to enter the property and no camping
is allowed.
The ridge found in the eastern part of the
property supports about 200 acres of scrubby
flatwoods and oak hammock which is the
habitat for the florida scrub jay, Florida's
only endemnic bird species. This area can be
accessed from several trails that lead from
the main East Entrance Trail. In this Google
link,(Google
Image) I have placed a marker in the
middle of the eastern ridge trail network.
The trails are clearly visible in this image
as is the entrance trail to the left. A
basin swamp community dominates the eastern
third of the property. this basin receives
runoff water from the surrounding uplands
and drains into a wet prarie which forms the
the headwaters of six mile creek. The
western portion of this property features a
large floodplain marsh and a large marsh
lake, Buck Lake. Overall, this conservation
area provides protection for many natural
communities and provides habitat for not
only scrub jays, but gopher tortoises, bald
eagles, otters, deer, fox, bobcats, turkeys,
herons, egrets, owls, and woodpeckers.
Property Map
Trail Guide
Out In The Boonies Site
Space Coast Birding Site
GPS (East Trailhead) N 28 40.302 W 80
53.427
Google Satellite Image (East Trailhead)
GPS (Buck Lake Entrance) N 28 40.333 W
80 58.332
Google Satellite Image (Buck Lake Entrance)
|
|
Seminole
Ranch Conservation Area
is on Hatbill Road off State Road 46 4.1
miles west of the I-95 SR 46 interchange
(exit 81). Look for signs for Loughman Lake
Lodge and Seminole Ranch Conservation Area
on the south side of 46. There are hiking
trails in Seminole Ranch at 1.1, 2.3 and 4.1
miles from SR46. This area has a total of 35
miles of hiking trails, including several
miles of the Florida Trail which flanks the
St. John's River. Primative camping is
allowed on the portion east of the St.
John's River, as is biking, horseback riding
and canoeing. Hatbill Park, a County Park is
within the conservation area at the end of
Hatbill Road and offers boating and canoeing
access to the river.
The area ecompasses 28,785 acres, 96 % of
which is within the St. Johns drainage basin
and a variety of habitats are found here
including pine, palmetto, hardwood,
hammocks, freshwater lakes and river, and
wetlands. Certain areas have a unique plant
community supported by connate saltwater
which flows from small springs near Harney
and Puzzle lakes. The salinity of small
lakes in the area approaches one-third that
of sea water. Many salt-tolerant and
marine-dwelling organisms present here are
not found anywhere else in the St. Johns
River. Wildlife found here includes
migratory and residential wading birds,
while white pelicans, southern bald eagles,
roseate spoonbills and sandhill cranes
sometimes are sighted. Other wildlife
includes bobcats, otters, deer, and
alligators.
Space Coast Birding Site
Property Map
GPS N 28 39.904 W 80 56.393
Google Satellite Image |
|
Hatbill
Park
100 Hatbill Road, Mims
FROM I-95, take SR-46 Exit-223 west towards
Mims/Sanford. Stay on SR-46 for 4.1 miles to
Hatbill Road. Turn left and go 8.5 miles to
the Hatbill Rd/Baxter Point Rd intersection,
keep left and go 0.5 miles to the park.
Boat ramp open 24 hours a day.
A Brevard Couty Park located within the
Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, this
15-acre park is great for viewing a sunrise
over the St John's River and can provide
great birding opportunities, that is if you
can pass up all the other great birding ops
on the entrance road. It's best to get to
the park early and then explore the rest of
hatbill road on the way out due to the
airboaters who will soon be arriving.
Assorted wading birds as well as ducks,
raptors, limkins, can be seen here, Along
Hatbill Road look for various songbirds and
several species of warblers. There are also
several hiking trailheads located along the
road and one leads to a primitive campsite.
See info for Seminole Ranch Conservation
Area. just above
Primitive camping by permit at the park on
weekends. Call 321-264-5037 for permit and
info.
Space Coast Birding Site
GPS N 28 36.351 W 80 57.731
Google Satellite Image |
|
Lake
Proctor Wilderness Area
Lake Proctor is 15.5 miles west of
Interstate 95 on SR 46, on the North side of
the road.
The Lake Proctor Wilderness Area is a 475
acre wooded site located in east Seminole
County near the Town of Geneva. About 6
miles of trails will take you through a
variety of habitats such as sand pine scrub,
pine flatwoods, mixed hardwood swamp,
sandhill or longleaf pine, turkey oak,
bayhead swamp and oak hammock. Wildlife
observed on this site includes the wood
duck, white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes,
wading birds, migratory songbirds, red fox
and Florida worm lizard. The trails are open
to hiking and mountain bikes.
Out in the Boonies Site
Out in the Boonies Map
GPS N 28 43.553 W 81 05.929
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Geneva
Wilderness Area
Head south about 1 mile on CR 426 from SR 46
in Geneva. The Wilderness area will be on
your left.
The Geneva Wilderness Area is a 180 acre
site that lies to the south of the Geneva
community on SR 426 in East Seminole County.
The Geneva site contains an array of native
Florida plant communities from Mixed
Hardwood Swamp and Mesic Hammocks to Xeric
Oak, all supporting an equally diverse
collection of wildlife. A hike through these
habitats can reward visitors with sighting
gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, wild
turkey, grey fox.
Seminole County Aerial Map PDF
GPS N 28 42.565 W 81 07.429
Google Satellite Image |
|
Black Hammock Wilderness Area
Take SR 46 to CR 426 in Geneva, south on CR
426 (4.2 miles). Turn right on Walsh Street,
then take the second left onto Florida Ave,
then the next right on Barr Street, then
turn right onto Howard Ave. Park will be
right there on left.
The Black Hammock Wilderness Area, a 700
acre joint purchase with the St. Johns River
Water Management District, was acquired as
part of a comprehensive effort to preserve
significant habitat along the shores of Lake
Jesup. A round trip hike of approximately
4.5 miles of trails will take you through
habitats such as Mixed Hardwood Swamp, Sand
Pine Scrub and Pine Flatwoods. Wildlife
observed on this site includes the Barred
Owl, White-tailed deer, Bobcat and Eastern
Hognose Snake. The variety of habitats and
beautiful boardwalk and trail system makes
this park a popular destination for local
equestrians (no trailer parking), mountain
bikers, hikers, photographers and other
outdoor enthusiasts.
Seminole County Trails Map PDF
GPS N 28 41.980 W 81 09.546
Google Satellite Image |
|
Little
Big Econ State Forest
There are two separate tracts to the The
Little Big Econ State Forest, the Demetree
Tract and the Kilbee Tract.
The Demetree Tract of
the Little Big Econ State Forest protects
the watershed of one of Floridas most
beautiful Blackwater Rivers, the
Econlockhatchee, a popular canoeing
destination. Along the river one may see
wading birds perched in trees, various
raptors including Bald Eagles are commonly
sighted as well as swallow-tailed kites
flying overhead in spring and summer.
Woodpeckers and kingfishers are also common
sightings. A large variety of songbirds
inhabit the forested areas as well as the
improved pastureland near the Snow Hill Road
entrance. Other sightings may include
whitetail deer, turkey, bobcat, otter,
alligators, sandhill cranes, and many
others.
There are three entrances to the Demetree
Tract, the Barr Street Entrance, the Snow
Hill Road Entrance, which also serves as the
Equestrian use entrance, and the Jones East
Trailhead Entrance.
To get to the Barr Street entrance, go south
about 4.5 miles on CR 426 from SR 46 in
Geneva. The Barr Street entrance will be on
the left. To get to the Snow Hill Road
entrance, go south on CR 426 from SR 46 in
Geneva. In just under a mile, Snow Hill Road
veers off to the left. Go about 2.5 miles
south on Snow Hill Road. The parking area
will be on the right. The Jones East
Trailhead can be found on Snow Hill Road
about a half mile south of the Snow Hill
Equestrian Trailhead.
The Kilbee Tract is a
separate tract that straddles the St John's
River on the south side of State Road 46,
and contains the point where the Econ flows
into the St Johns. The trail leads from the
Trailhead heading south then forks into two
trails. Taking the left fork will bring you
to a great vanatage point overlooking the
St. Johns River Floodplain. Scan the marshes
for waders, ducks, raptors, and many others.
The entrance to the Kilbee Tract is off of
SR 46, just west of the SR 46 bridge about
11 miles west of the I-95/SR 46 interchange.
Space Coast Birding Site
Out in the Boonies Site
Out in the Boonies Map
SJRWMD Website
SJRWMD Property Map
Florida Dept of Forestry Trails Map PDF
GPS Barr Street Entrance N 28 40.952
W 81 09.572
Google Satellite Image Barr Street
Entrance
GPS Snow Hill Road Entrance N 28
41.175 W 81 06.873
Google Satellite Image Snow Hill Road
Entrance
GPS Jones East Trailhead N 28 40.407
W 81 06.845
Google Satellite Image Jones East
Trailhead
GPS Kilbee Tract
Trailhead N 28 42.924 W 81 02.938
Google Satellite Image Kilbee Tract
Trailhead
|
|
Lake Mills Park
From Titusville take SR 50 to Fort
Christmas Road in Christmas, turn right
(North) and follow Fort Christmas for 9.2
miles, turn left on Lake Mills Road and in
.8 miles, turn left on Tropical Ave. Park
will be just ahead on right.
This 50 acre park is located on the
shoreline of Lake Mills in Seminole County
off of Tropical Avenue just north of Lake
Mills Road. There are three areas for
birdwatching in the area, a scrub forest,
the lakeshore, and a beautiful mixed
hardwwod swamp with a little creek winding
through the swamp to the lake.
GPS N 28 37.902 W 81 07.537
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Chuluota Wilderness Area
From Titusville take SR 50 to Fort Christmas
Road in Christmas, turn right (North) and
follow Fort Christmas for 9.2 miles, turn
right on Lake Mills Road for .8 miles bear
right on Curryville Road. The Wilderness
area will be on your left in 2.5 miles.
The Chuluota Wilderness Area is a 625 acre
natural area located in the southeast corner
of Seminole County. It contains a variety of
natural systems such as mesic hammock, pond
pine flatwoods, hardwood swamp and some rare
habitats such as sand pine scrub. These in
turn provide food and shelter for an equally
diverse population of wildlife which
includes white-tailed deer, gopher tortoise,
sherman's fox squirrel, and the eastern
diamondback rattlesnake.
GPS N 28 37.398 W 81 03.742
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Econ River Wilderness Area
From I-95 and SR 50 near Titusville drive
west on SR 50 about 19 miles and bear right
on Tanner Road S for 1.6 miles. Turn left on
Lake Prickett Road, go 0.8 miles, turn right
on Tanner Road N for 2.2 miles, when the
road turns into Old Lockwood Road you are
about there. Entrance is on the right.
The Econ River Wilderness Area is a 240 acre
wooded site located on the Seminole/Orange
County line south of the city of Oviedo, on
the west side of the Econlockhatchee River.
A walk on the approximately 3 miles of
trails will take you through habitats such
as pine flatwoods, sandhill, and river
swamp. Wildlife observed on this site
includes the great horned owl, white-tailed
deer, and golden mouse. Benches are provided
at a bend in the river so you can rest and
enjoy the quiet serenity of this little
piece of natural Florida.
GPS N 28 36.818 W 81 10.463
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Orlando
Wetlands Park
25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, Florida,
32709 Park Phone: 407.568.1706
From I-95, take SR 50 west to the town
of Christmas. Turn right (north) onto Ft.
Christmas Road (CR 420) and go 2.3 miles to
Wheeler Road. Turn right on Wheeler and go
east for 1.5 miles to the parking area on
your left.
The Orlando Wetlands Park is a regional
wastewater treatment facility for the
Greater Orlando Area. The system was
designed to polish up to 35 million gallons
a day of reclaimed wastewater. The water is
conveyed through a four-foot diameter
pipeline approximately 17 miles. Seventeen
cells and three different communities were
designed to remove excess nutrients from the
water. Over 2 million aquatic plants and
200,000 trees were planted to create deep
marsh, mixed marsh and hardwood swamp
habitats. The water flows into the influent
structure and is then divided into three
flow pathways. The water first flows into
the deep marsh. The deep marsh cells are
primarily monocultures of cattails or giant
bulrush. From there, the water flows into
the mixed marsh.
Here's a website on how it works to treat
wastewater.
Wildlife; The open waters of the lake
and marshes attract wintering waterfowl,
including blue-winged teal, green-winged
teal, common moorhens and Amaerican coots.
Wood storks, white ibis, black-crowned night
herons, and other wading birds are common
during the cooler months. Bald eagles,
limpkins, and red-shouldered hawks, black
vultures, and turkey vultures are year round
residents in the Orlando Wetlands Park.
Raccoons, river otters, white-tailed deer
and bobcats can be seen along the roads and
hiking trails. The Orlando Wetlands is home
to over 30 species of wildlife that are
listed on the Florida Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s Threatened and Endangered
Wildlife list.
NBBD Website
GPS N 28 34.162 W 80 59.797
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Hal
Scott Regional Preserve and Park
9,515 acres, including individual and joint
ownership by the District and Orange County.
From Titusville, head west on SR 50, past
the town of Christmas. Turn left and go east
on SR 520 for about two miles. Turn right
(west) into the Wedgefield subdivision on
Macon Parkway. Turn left on Bancroft Blvd.,
right on Meredith Parkway, then left on
Dallas Blvd. The parking lot is 1.6 miles
south of the Meridith/Dallas intersection,
on the right.
This vast expanse of flatwoods and open
prairie straddles the Econlockhatchee River
in east Orange County. The big attraction
for birders here is an active colony of
red-cockaded woodpeckers located in the
northern third of the property. Best viewing
time for the RCWs is at dawn when the birds
awaken from their nesting cavities. White
stripes around pine tree trunks identify
trees with RCW cavities. Other common
resident species include eastern bluebird,
brown-headed nuthatch, Bachman's sparrow,
wood duck, sandhill crane and barred owl.
With some luck, visitors may find wild
turkey, whip-poor-will, hairy and red-headed
woodpecker, hermit thrush, orange-crowned
warbler, sedge and marsh wren, king rail and
Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawk.
Property Map
Trail Guide
GPS N 28 29.163 W 81 05.833
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Chain
of Lakes
Snowy Egret Drive, Titusville
Parks Referendum Project
FROM I-95, take SR-46 Exit 223 toward Mims,
and go east on W. Main Street (FL-46) 1.5
miles. Turn RIGHT onto US Hwy 1, go 1.5
miles then left on Jay Jay Road. The
entrance to Snowy Egret Drive is on the
right.
FROM US Hwy 1, turn east onto E. Jay Jay Rd
(.3 miles north of Dairy Rd or .5 miles
south of Parrish Rd). The entrance to Snowy
Egret Drive is on the right.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark.
Chain of Lakes is a regional stormwater park
and athletic facility, containing soccer
fields and softball fields. Of interest to
birders is a walking trail that completely
encircles a large serpentene stormwater
retention lake east of the fields. Along
much of the eastern shoreline the trail is
just off the shore of the lake, allowing a
view of waterfowl, wading birds, gulls,
terns, and osprey. To the east of the trail
at this point is a series of restored salt
marshes that are designed to treat
stormwater from the lake as it enters the
lagoon. There is also an observation tower
that allows a panoramic view of the marshes,
the park, and the Indian River Lagoon. As
the trail extends around the northern tip of
the lake it enters a series of restored
freshwater swamps, that have been engineered
to provide treatment for the stormwater
before entering the lake. As the trail
travels through these forested wetlands look
for many different species of migrant
songbirds among the trees.
GPS 28.643067,-80.82736
Google Satellite Image |
|
Fox lake Sanctuary
Fox Lake Sanctuary is a 2,800 acre
property owned by the Brevard County
Environmentally Endangered lands Program and
has recently opened to the public via a
trailhead located near the boat ramp of Fox
Lake Park west of Titusville. Roughly 7
miles of hiking trails provide access
throughout the property while a marked Canoe
/ Kayak trail connects Fox Lake to South
Lake to the North. Wildlife found on site
includes White Tail Deer, Hogs, Migratory
and wading birds, raptors, wild turkey, and
on at least two occasions the EELs program
was suprised to find motion activated
cameras tripped by Florida Black Bear.
The sanctuary contains a variety of habitats
such as scrub, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks,
depression and freshwater marshes.
Property Map
GPS N 28 35.309 W 80 52.496
Google Satellite Image |
|
North Brevard Walking Trail
is found on the corner of Holder and
Dairy roads in Titusville. About 6 acres in
size, it is a preserved section of Atlantic
Coastal Ridge pine scrub habitat with about
a half mile trail looping around the outer
parimeter and other trails through it.
Located atop an ancient sand dune, this type
of unique habitat is rapidly being bought up
by developers in Florida and is probably the
most endangered habitat in the state. It is
dominated by tall slash pine trees and a
lower growth of scrub oak and saw palmettos.
Nice 1/2 hour or so hike and lots of
songbirds during migratory periods.
GPS N 28 38.261 W 80 51.403
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Fox
Lake Park
4400 Fox Lake Road, Titusville
Fox Lake Park is a 37 acre recreational
park with picnic facilities, vollyball
courts, a large pavillion with a stage, a
boat ramp and fishing dock on Fox lake. (My
largest largemouth bass I ever caught came
while fishing right off this dock, 7.5 lbs.)
It is also the home of the Fox Lake
Bluegrass Festival as well as several other
festivals throughout the year.
Other than the park, the shoreline around
the lake is in it's natural state so many
species of wading birds and other wildlife
can be viewed from the park. As you enter
the park, take the one-way road immediately
to the right, which follows the shoreline.
The earlier portion of this route goes along
a narrow channel leading to the lake itself
with marshlands just on the other side,
making for relatively easy viewing of the
marshlands and their associated wildlife.
The road then turns to the right along the
shore of the lake towards the boatramp. The
lake itself is not that large, therefore
scanning the lake shore for wildlife is
relativly easy.
Putting in a boat, kayak, or canoe provides
access to not only the whole of Fox lake,
but to South lake through a canal connection
between the two. Wading birds such as egrets
and herons can be seen here as well as
american coots, gallinulles, osprey, limkin,
sandhill cranes, and many other species.
GPS N 28 35.271 W 80 52.385
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Dicerandra Sanctuary
This 44-acre Sanctuary is named after an
endangered mint plant, Dicerandra thinicola,
also known as the Titusville mint. When the
shrub blooms in November and December the
tiny flowers put on a purple and white show.
The sanctuary is 44 acres in size and has
about a two mile loop trail through the
property. The eastern edge of the property
is dominated by a depression marsh. Look for
songbirds in the trees along the edge of the
marsh while at the same time keeping an eye
out over the marsh for egtrets and the
occasional sandhill crane. From the primary
trailhead off of Mellisa road following the
trail to the right takes you along this
marsh. Soon you will come to an intersection
to a trail that takes you up to the top of
the scrub ridge. Near the top keep an eye
out for Florida's only endemnic bird
species, the Florida scrub jay. Rufous
towhees, blue jays, various species of
woodpeckers, raptors and other species are
commonly seen here.
Melissa Drive,
Titusville
From I-95 take SR-50 Exit 215 east 3 miles.
Turn right on Key Largo Drive, go 0.4 miles
and turn right on Karen Drive. Go less than
0.1 mile, turn right and go to the end of
Melissa Drive. Enter on foot.
From US-1 Take SR 50 .7 miles to the west
and turn left on Key Largo, go 0.4 miles and
turn right on Karen Drive. Go less than 0.1
mile, turn right and go to the end of
Melissa Drive. Enter on foot.
GPS N 28 33.099 W 80 48.650
Google Satellite Image
|
Wuesthoff Park
at 2000 Wuesthoff Street is Just off
Barna Ave, just south of Cheney Highway in
Titusville, Wuesthoff Park is a 25 acre park
that offers good hiking and birdwatching
through a variety of habitats including a
boardwalk over a small wetlands, and trails
that loop through hardwood hammock and and
upland pine habitats. This is a nice park
for family gatherings. Beautiful deeply
wooded hike, picnic area, and a nice mowed
open field and play area.
GPS N 28 33.342 W 80 49.541
Google Satellite Image |
|
Titusville Wellfields Trail
The Titusville Wellfields Trail is a
multiuse trail of about 2 miles in length
that winds through the City of Titusville's
South Area Wellfields, which are situated
within 300 acres of mature scrubby forest.
The trail is open to bicycle, wheelchair and
pedestrian use. The South Area Wellfields
are adjacient to the Dicerandra Sanctuary
and are home to the largest single
population of Dicerandra Thinicola or
Titusville Mint, a plant species that grows
in very limited areas of Northern Brevard
County and nowhere else in the world. The
Area around the wellfields trail is aloso
home the gopher tortise, indigo snakes,
bobcat, raptors, songbirds, turkey, grey
fox, and many other speices. To access the
wellfields trail, park at Wuesthoff Park
across Barna Avenue, and pick up the trail
there. It then crosses Barna and enters the
wellfields next to the City Fire Department.
GPS N 28 33.334 W 80 49.345
Google Satellite Image |
|
Blue
Heron Wetlands
is a constucted wetlands designed to be
a biological filtering system that reduces
nutrient levels of treated water before
reaching the St. Johns River. The man-made
wetlands cover 300 acres and can process
over 6.75 million gallons of water a day.
Completed in early 1998 and opened to the
public for Bird Watching and Wildlife
Viewing, the wetlands are just as wild as
they would have been 100 years ago, and
attract numerous species of birds and other
wildlife.
The wetlands park is located on the south
side of State Road 50 just west of the I-95
interchange. A remote operated gate is often
drawn across the entrance to the plant but a
button is mounted on the left side of the
access road. Pushing this button will alert
a city employee who will open the gate for
you. After signing in at the office, proceed
to the back of the plant section to the
entrance of the raised berm road which
surrounds the wetlands. The wetland area is
open to the public, Monday through Friday
from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If you wish
to visit the wetland area on the weekend,
you must call the Blue Heron Water
Reclamation Facility to make an appointment,
(321) 383-5642.
Follow the raised berm road to the right to
begin the tour. Some of the more noteable
species found here are sandhill cranes,
which nest here, heron species such as great
blue, little blue, green, and night herons,
snowy and greater egrets, ducks, coots,
rails, comorants, anhingas, and many other
aquatic bird species as well as otters,
alligators, and turtles. Whitetail deer have
also been spotted here.
GPS N 28 32.973 W 80 51.614
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area
This area can be accessed from a parking
area on the south side of SR 50
approximately three miles west of I-95.
Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area is a
6,741-acre property owned and managed by the
St. Johns River Water Management District.
The trail from here heads due east for about
a mile then turns due south for about
another mile until it meets the Addison
Ellis Canal, then follows along the canal
east until it comes to the border of the
Great Outdoors Golf and RV Resort. along
this route this elevated dike trail trail
offers expansive views of the marshes, which
provide habitat for a diverse population of
wildlife, including numerous migratory and
resident wading birds and waterfowl,
alligators, and many endangered species.
Once you get to the point where the canal
enters the resort, the trail turns south and
forms two loop trails which take you through
wooded hammock habitat providing habitat for
various songbird species, deer, turkey, and
other wildlife, while looping around an
extensive indian midden.
There is no camping or hunting allowed here.
Property Map
Out in the Boonies Site
Space Coast Birding Site
GPS N 28 32.708 W 80 53.790
Google Satellite Image
|
|
Tosohatchee
Wildlife Management Area;
(Orange County)
3365 Taylor Creek Road
Christmas, FL 32709-9130
(407) 568-5893
can be found west of Titusville on SR 50
over the St John's River and into the town
of Christmas. Look for Look for Taylor Creek
Road on the south side of SR 50. Then head
south for about 3 miles and you'll see the
entrance on the left on Beehead Road. There
is a nominal day use fee per vehicle. A box
to deposit the fee is at the entrance kiosk
Overnight primitive camping is available.
There are two classes of trails here.
Multi use trails can be hiked, biked, and
ridden on horseback and are marked with
orange or rust colored blazes while the foot
only trails are blazed in white. Horses are
not allowed on vehicle roads except at
designated horse crossing points. Bicycles
are allowed on all park roads, service roads
and firelines. This 28,000 acre area runs
along the St John's River and features about
30 miles of trails, primative camping,
virgin pine flatwoods, and a 900-acre virgin
cypress swamp which running along Jim Creek
is thought to be the largest remaining stand
of cypress left uncut in the state. This is
a beautiful area which can be accessed from
the last parking area west on Power Line
Road before it crosses Jim Creek. The trail
head is a log bridge over a creek just
accross the road from the parking area. In
the pinewoods near Beehead Ranch at the end
of Beehead Road, some of the tall slash
pines are thought to be 250 years old.
Bird and wildlife watchers will love the
opportunity to see some of the large raptors
such as osprey, bald eagles, and
swallow-tailed kites that can be found here.
Wild turkey, white tailed deer, bobcat,
racoon, armadillo and on rare occasions,
Florida panther are rumored to have been
spotted here. Other points of interest
include the 30 indian mounds in close
proximity to the trails.
The Park Roads provide parking areas and
trail access throughout the park. Refer to
the map for specifics.
Florida State Parks Website
The Florida National Scenic Trail Map 23,
Tosohatchee, covers this region and can be
purchased via the Florida Trail Association;
visit their Web site for an order form.
Florida Trail Association Website
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission Map
Out in the Boonies Site
GPS N 28 29.912 W 80 59.903
Google Satellite Image |
|
Enchanted
Forest Sanctuary
is a truely unique sanctuary where
Walking & Learning trails wander through
timeless Scrub, Mesic, and Hydric ecosystems
with their wide variety of endangered and
threatened species. The relationship between
soil types and plant communities is easily
seen here. Guided hikes are available or you
can strike out on your own with a map
provided by volunteers at the visitor's
center and gift shop, who are always eager
to answer any questions. A study conducted
in 1994 documented usage of the Enchanted
Forest Sanctuary by 52 bird species
including wild turkey, bald eagle,
red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, cooper's
hawk, northern bobwhite, eastern screech
owl, and numerous songbird species. Bobcats
and white tailed deer also are known to be
here. In addition, this sanctuary provides
refuge for two of Florida's endangered
reptiles, the eastern indigo snake and the
gopher tortise. With the Titusville area
being located within an isotherm, a
transitional zone separating a temperate and
a subtropical climatic zone, the variety of
plant life to be found here is truely
astounding.
The entrance to the Enchanted Forest
Sanctuary can be found on the North side of
State Road 405 in Titusville just west of
the intersection of 405 and US-1
Friends of the Enchanted Forest Website
GPS N 28 31.731 W 80 48.138
Google Satellite Image |
Fay Lake Wilderness Area
6300 Fay Boulevard, Port St John
At the west end of Fay Bvld in Port St John,
this 192.7 acre park has a 27 acre lake on
the property, walking trails, shaded
pavillions, and offers the chance to see
wading birds, migratory songbirds, deer, and
many other species.
GPS N 28 27.694 W 80 50.054
Google Satellite Image
|
|
|
|
Mitchell Ellington Park
575 W Hall Rd Merritt Island FL 32953
FROM US Hwy 1, take SR-528 east 2.7 miles,
turn left onto Courtenay Parkway (SR-3) and
go 1.8 miles. Turn left on Hall Road. The
park site is on the left.
Mitchell Ellington Park is a 114 acre park
that features athletic fields and a
playground. However there are wetlands on
the nort section, wetlands and woods on the
east and west as well as two ponds in the
center of the park that provide chances to
see song birds, deer, waterfowl, alligators,
raccoons, squirrels and many other species.
These areas are connected by an ADA
Accessible Pedway allowing a chance for the
mobility challenged to enjoy some of the
area wildlife.
ADA ACCESSIBLE: Parking, Pedway, Restrooms,
Pavilions, Playground.
GPS N 28 25.922 W 80 42.761
Google Satellite Image |
|
Kings Park
995 Chase Hammock Road, Merritt Island
FROM US Hwy 1, take SR-528 east 2.7 miles,
turn left onto Courtenay Parkway (SR-3) and
go 3.1 miles.Turn right and go 0.9 miles on
Chase Hammock.
Open after 7:00 a.m. until dark.
This is a 240 acre park with a manmade
freshwater lake and a myriad of creeks and
smaller brackish ponds that make for a very
interesting birding and wildlife area,
especialliy with the addition of the
multiuse trail on the property, which runs
along one of the creeks. There are also
several rustic hiking trails through the
park for some off the beaten path hiking.
Look for wading birds and other waterfowl
along the creeks and backwaters, and
migratory songbirds and raptors in the
wooded sections.
Editors Note; The County website
lists this area as a freshwater habitat due
to the deep manmade lake on the property.
However, long before the park was built I
frequently fished the creeks and smaller
backwater coves in the area and caught a
mixture of fresh and saltwater fish such as
small snook, tarpon, seatrout and jack
crevalle, along with freshwater bass,
bluegills, and other species. For this
reason I am listing this as both a
Freshwater and Saltwater Estuary property on
the wildlife watching pages.
GPS N 28 26.840 W 80 41.690
Google Satellite Image |
|
|
|