Above: Reddish Egret by Melissa Rowell/Audubon Photography Awards
SPRING MIGRATION on DAUPHIN ISLAND
April 7 to 10, 2022
Georgia Audubon Guides: Michelle Hamner and Dottie Head
Group Size: Maximum 16 participants
Registration:
- Georgia Audubon Master Birder in good standing - $550 per person
- Georgia Audubon Member - $575 per person
- Non-member - $605 per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Guests are responsible for their own meals, travel, and lodging. Georgia Audubon will reserve a block of rooms at a nearby hotel for those who are interested in reserving a room at a group rate (see Lodging Information below).
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
Few places in the United States offer the birdwatching excitement that can be found along the Gulf Coast during the spring. Songbirds adorned with the brightest of plumages pour into the region after safely traversing miles and miles of open water. In addition to these feathered jewels, northbound shorebirds and dancing waders cover the beach, skulking rails and sparrows fill the marshes, and year-round residents sing alongside their temporary neighbors. If this sounds like a birdwatching experience you would like to be a part of, then join Georgia Audubon as we visit the hotspots of Dauphin Island, Alabama, and the Mobile Bay.
We'll explore songbird havens, productive coasts and marshes, and the local river delta. On this trip, we hope to find 15-20 species of warblers, 20+ species of shorebirds, almost if not all of the wading birds of the eastern U.S., and numerous other highlights like Painted Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, and possibly Magnificent Frigatebirds. We’ll also keep an eye out for vagrant species, such as Black-whiskered Vireo, a Caribbean species that occurs in small numbers along the Gulf coast and that the 2020 Dauphin Island group was lucky to find! Join us as we take in the splendor of spring migration and the unpredictable excitement this area can bring.
We'll explore songbird havens, productive coasts and marshes, and the local river delta. On this trip, we hope to find 15-20 species of warblers, 20+ species of shorebirds, almost if not all of the wading birds of the eastern U.S., and numerous other highlights like Painted Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, and possibly Magnificent Frigatebirds. We’ll also keep an eye out for vagrant species, such as Black-whiskered Vireo, a Caribbean species that occurs in small numbers along the Gulf coast and that the 2020 Dauphin Island group was lucky to find! Join us as we take in the splendor of spring migration and the unpredictable excitement this area can bring.
itinerary
Day 1 - thursday, april 7 - arrival
Participants should plan to arrive by the evening of April 7. Those who arrive in time can meet the Georgia Audubon guides for a casual dinner and/or drinks as we discuss our most wanted targets and enjoy the salty air.
day 2 - friday, april 8 - dauphin island hotspots
Our entire first day will be spent bouncing around the best birding sites on the island. Hooded, Worm-eating, Prothonotary, and many other warblers are expected. Tanagers, buntings, orioles, and a handful of swallow species can all be found. Some likely destinations in the morning include the Airport Marsh, Shell Mound Park, Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and Goat Tree Reserve. Depending on the success of the morning, we will spend the afternoon either visiting more songbird traps or spending time at the west end beaches (if accessible at the time of our trip), where we can expect to spot Piping and Snowy Plovers, Least and Caspian Terns, Reddish Egrets, and many more. Dinner on your own.
day 3 - saturday, april 9 - fort morgan
We’ll start the morning with a ferry ride across the Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan. Relax with your coffee aboard the ferry, or join your fellow birders out on the deck to keep an eye on the sea, as pelagic surprises could always make an appearance. Fort Morgan is known for its impressive number of migratory species, and we will look for birds not detected at Dauphin Island or any wayward vagrants that may have been found. There’s a good variety of habitats for us to explore at Fort Morgan, including beaches, marsh, and coastal hammocks. Plan to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at Fort Morgan. Upon our return in the afternoon, depending on the time and energy level of the group, we will revisit some of the island hotspots to see what new birds are arriving on the afternoon winds, which can bring some of the best birding this time of year. In the evening, we'll arrange an optional group dinner meeting location at a local seafood restaurant for anyone who wants to join on our last evening together.
day 4 - sunday, april 10 - MOBILE BAY & TENSAW RIVER DELTA
Depending on recent sightings, we will start the day at Battleship Memorial Park on the western shore of Mobile Bay. Mixed habitats here will give us chances at a variety of species, including shorebirds, terns and gulls, wading birds, Black-necked Stilt, ducks, and more. To cap off our trip, we will then take a chartered boat trip with Wild Native Tours through the Tensaw River Delta-Mobile Bay area. On the boat trip, we will learn about the history and ecology of the bay in addition to looking for aquatic species. Double-crested Cormorants, Sora, Osprey, Brown Pelicans, and other open water or marsh birds may be spotted and heard. The birdwatching will end around lunchtime, ensuring that everyone can begin their journey home at a reasonable time. The area around the boat ramp has restrooms and picnic tables, as well as some good birding opportunities, for those interested in packing a picnic lunch to enjoy upon our return to shore. There are also ample restaurants and drive-thrus in the immediate area for those who are eager to hit the road.
additional information
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Lodging Information:
Participants are responsible for their own lodging. Depending upon availability, Georgia Audubon will set up a room block at the only hotel on Dauphin Island, the Gulf Breeze Motel, for the nights of April 7, 8, and 9. The room block cannot be set up until the fall, so we will communicate this lodging information with registered participants at that time. The Gulf Breeze Motel provides basic and clean accommodations, including an in-room mini fridge and coffee maker. Participants who desire more amenities may want to consider other private rental units such as houses and condos on the island through providers such as VRBO, Airbnb, private rental companies, etc. Please contact us with any questions about lodging.
Meals:
Participants are responsible for their own meals. An optional casual dinner and/or drinks meet-up on the evening of Thursday, April 7, will be arranged and communicated to participants in advance of the trip. In addition, an optional group dinner at a local seafood restaurant will be organized for all who wish to attend on our last evening together on Saturday, April 9. Plan to pack a picnic lunch/snacks/water that you can easily carry in a backpack for our day at Fort Morgan. There are many restaurants on the island that are convenient for a sit-down meal or to pick up a meal to-go.
Pace:
To maximize our time in the area, you can expect full days of birding, beginning around 7:30 AM and ending around 7:30 PM. We’ll take about an hour for lunch each day to give people time to pick up lunch or to rest. Weather in the area can change quickly during the spring, so the group should be prepared to adjust plans as needed.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 7, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between January 8, 2022, and February 7, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
- Two full days and one half-day of guided birding with Georgia Audubon staff
- Chartered boat tour of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta
- Admission to all fee-based birding sites, including Fort Morgan, Battleship Memorial Park, and Dauphin Island public beach access points
- Ferry ticket (round-trip, Dauphin Island-Fort Morgan)
- Guides will bring two spotting scopes for group use
- Loaned binoculars are available for use during the trip with advance notice
Price does not include:
- Transportation and travel fees not specified above
- Lodging
- Meals, beverages, etc.
- Travel insurance, recommended
- Medical costs
- Souvenirs
- Other incidentals participants may wish to purchase
Lodging Information:
Participants are responsible for their own lodging. Depending upon availability, Georgia Audubon will set up a room block at the only hotel on Dauphin Island, the Gulf Breeze Motel, for the nights of April 7, 8, and 9. The room block cannot be set up until the fall, so we will communicate this lodging information with registered participants at that time. The Gulf Breeze Motel provides basic and clean accommodations, including an in-room mini fridge and coffee maker. Participants who desire more amenities may want to consider other private rental units such as houses and condos on the island through providers such as VRBO, Airbnb, private rental companies, etc. Please contact us with any questions about lodging.
Meals:
Participants are responsible for their own meals. An optional casual dinner and/or drinks meet-up on the evening of Thursday, April 7, will be arranged and communicated to participants in advance of the trip. In addition, an optional group dinner at a local seafood restaurant will be organized for all who wish to attend on our last evening together on Saturday, April 9. Plan to pack a picnic lunch/snacks/water that you can easily carry in a backpack for our day at Fort Morgan. There are many restaurants on the island that are convenient for a sit-down meal or to pick up a meal to-go.
Pace:
To maximize our time in the area, you can expect full days of birding, beginning around 7:30 AM and ending around 7:30 PM. We’ll take about an hour for lunch each day to give people time to pick up lunch or to rest. Weather in the area can change quickly during the spring, so the group should be prepared to adjust plans as needed.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 7, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between January 8, 2022, and February 7, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
For any questions, please email Michelle Hamner.
Prothonotary Warbler by Melanie Vickers.
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Birding on Dauphin Island. Photo by Adam Betuel.
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Adam Betuel.
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