Birders Enjoy Annual Migration at Bald Point State Park

Birders Enjoy Annual Migration at Bald Point State Park

For visitors who enjoy bird watching, the annual fall migration birds and butterflies is in full swing along coastal North Florida. Along

Alligator Point especially, several types of migrating birds use Bald Point as a stopover before they make their long flight across the Gulf to Central America. The annual migration usually peaks after the first cold front of September and will continue until mid November.

According to Kevin Patton, park manager at the Bald Point State Park, Bald Point is one of the best areas in the Southeast to view this migration south, as well as the return to the north in the spring of the year. Some of the migrating bird species you might encounter on a quiet morning or late afternoon might include warblers, Peregrin Falcons, hawks and Bald Eagles. Some of the common migrating species of butterflies include the Gulf Fritillary and Monarch.

The Bald Point State Park, located at the eastern end of Alligator Point in the most eastern section of Franklin County is a naturalists' haven. If you enjoy hiking or bicycling, Bald Point has many trails to explore. For canoeing, there many freshwater lakes, tidal creeks and Ochlockonee and Apalachee bays. Red fish and trout are feeding in the shallows and can be caught from the park's small fishing pier. Morning and evening times seem to offer the best results for fishing. The park opens at 8:00 am and closes at sundown. If you wish to fish later into the evening or earlier then 8:00 a.m. you can do this by purchasing a Florida State Park entrance pass. These passes can be purchased at Ochlockonee River State Park 850-962-2771. Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.

For Information about Bald Point State Park, please call 850-349-9146.

Some of the most picturesque scenic areas along north Floridas Gulf Coast can be found at this park. Located on Alligator Point where Ochlockonee Bay meets Apalachee Bay, Bald Point offers a multitude of land and water activities. Coastal marshes, pine flatwoods, and oak thickets foster a diversity of biological communities that make the park a popular destination for birding and wildlife viewing. Bald Point offers access to two Apalachee Bay beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing.

Alligator Point itself is a secluded and tranquil peninsula at the eastern end of Franklin County. It encompasses the 14,366-acre Alligator harbor Aquatic Reserve and 4,800-acre Bald Point State Park. A refuge for wildlife and a top migratory area for birds, Alligator Harbor also is a feeding grounds for the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, a rare marine turtle.

Rental accommodations on Alligator Point include coastal cottages, modern marina townhouses or beach and bay-front homes. Renters enjoy access to the full-service marina on the protected harbor. To learn more about accommodations on Alligator Point or elsewhere throughout Franklin County, please visit www.anaturalescape.com