Bob's Gone Birding: Taylor-Made for Birding (Econfina River State Park)


Bob's Gone Birding in Taylor County

The Boat Launch at Econfina River State Park

My series of blogs on out-of-the-way state parks has had me pouring over maps looking for a park I'd never visited. By a lucky coincidence, I am also taking part in a "Twelve Day Big Year" in Taylor County. That combination led me to Econfina River State Park. Not only had I never visited the park, but I can't ever recall reading a birding report that originated there. So the Red Van Gang set out early on a 36 degree Wednesday morning to make the trip from Gainesville to the western edge of Taylor County.

I followed route 14 south all the way to the southern tip of the county, just a couple of miles from the Gulf. There was a small parking lot, a few picnic tables, and a boat-launch area. It was gorgeous! A Northern Flicker called from across the river, and another called from the parking lot. A Red-bellied Woodpecker darted about as did a bunch of Yellow-rumped Warblers. It was a nice beginning to the day.

Hermit Thrush

Our goal was to walk the blue trail, a 2.6 mile round trip that begins at the northwest corner of the parking lot. There is a relatively straight portion of the trail that eventually reached a loop, like a big ring at the end of a rope. It's advertised as the best birding in the park, and it started well. We were surrounded by a mixed flock that included Black-and-white Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Tufted Titmouse, and Carolina Wren. They were joined by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a Gray Catbird and a Hermit Thrush. A little farther down the path we reached a depression that held a couple of inches of gently moving water. We crossed it without any thought ... probably a mistake.

We reached the loop and decided to walk counterclockwise. Almost immediately we saw another flock with several of the same species and a few new ones. An Eastern Towhee sang to us from one side of the path while a Blue-headed Vireo danced around the other side. Farther along we found a Pine Warbler with its dry, raspy call.

Looking back on the crossing we worked around.

We covered about three quarters of the loop when we encountered a problem. A gap in the path was filled with a foot or more of water. A thin branch looked like it might be used as a bridge, but only for hobbits or elves. We could turn around and take the long way back, but not these intrepid explorers! We searched the area and found where we could gain the other side by crossing three more shallow areas. A couple of inches of water here, a couple of inches of mud there, and we were across. Hah! Nothing can stop us!

We were rewarded almost immediately with a secretive Marsh Wren who allowed us a quick glance before it dove for cover. A Little Blue Heron and a Great Egret also flew out of a nearby channel.

Soon we completed the loop and turned toward the parking lot. Suddenly we stopped dead in our tracks. That couple of inches of moving water we had crossed two hours earlier was now much more formidable. There would be no getting around this one. There also would be no going back. Nope, the trickle of water had become a stream deep enough to reach just below my knees, and it separated us from the parking lot. We had to cross it. We sat on the ground, stripped off our shoes and socks, rolled up our pants legs and waded into the water. There is no way for me to describe this adequately, so I'll just say it. The water was VERY COLD!!!! I got to the other side, used my scarf to dry my feet, and put my socks and shoes back on as quickly as I could. We hastened back to the parking lot where I realized that I had forgotten my thermos of coffee. Grrrr!

Lesser Yellowlegs

We had a quick lunch in the picnic area and then drove to our second destination, Hickory Mound. This is really a great place, and if you haven't been there, you need to get there. Essentially, it's a square driving trail that winds its way among salt water marshes, shallow ponds, deeper pools, and channels leading to the Gulf. Based on the season, waders, shorebirds, gulls, terns and ducks can be found everywhere you look. Quickly we saw a nice group of shorebirds that included Dunlin, Western and Least Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plovers and what I'm convinced were both Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers. I studied the dowitchers for a long time - long enough that I missed a Virginia Rail seen by the others. We watched Northern Harriers and Belted Kingfishers hunt the marshes for a late lunch. And we slowly drove past Laughing, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls that resented our incursion into their resting area on a narrow piece of the road. Along Coker Road we added a Common Yellowthroat and a Bufflehead to the day's haul. This was terrific birding!

An Osprey at Hickory Mound

On the other hand, we were way behind schedule! So we turned from Hickory Mound and headed toward the coastal beaches along CR 361. Along the way we stopped at a farm pond where a flock of White Ibises were feeding on the opposite side. A Killdeer flew over my head and into the field beyond. An Eastern Phoebe perched quietly on a rock as if sunning himself on a lazy afternoon.

Eventually we reached Adams Beach where we saw a Brown Pelican and a Ruddy Turnstone on an oyster bar just off shore. Next was tiny Dekle Beach where a quick drive along Front Street added European Starling and Eurasian Collared-Dove, birds often associated with more urban environments. And then with the sun sinking toward the horizon, we pulled into Keaton Beach, a charming community with a small public beach and a big fishing pier. Here we found the day's only House Finch, the 72nd and final new bird of the day.

We had just a bit of daylight left - enough to let us head into Hagens Cove to watch the sun set in a blaze of orange. It was a spectacular way to wrap up a great day of birding. We then ended the day with an excellent fried shrimp dinner at Roy's in Steinhatchee.

I love the birding life!