Flint Pen Strand, 2 March 2026 (Google Map)
The Flint Pen Strand Trails site (15970 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs) is an 800-acre Lee County portion of a 14,000-acre watershed preserve that comprises a cypress swamp strand (strand = linear swamp), pine flatwoods, and mixed shrubby and marshy habitats. According to the current CREW Education Coordinator, it is named for the Flint family, who had a cattle pen there. The pen may have been part of the large cattle operation of the pioneering family that included Harry Lee Flint (1925-2011), who served two terms as president of the Florida Cattlemen's Association. Flint Pen Strand is now owned by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and is managed by CREW (see crewtrust.org). The trails site formally opened to the public in November, 2018. Parking is free. There are no rest room facilities available.
Flint Pen is about 29 miles SE from the I-75/SR 80 (Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers) intersection. Follow I-75 S to Exit 116, Bonita Beach Rd SE, in Bonita Springs. Turn left and continue on Bonita Beach Rd SE for 2.8 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit to continue on Bonita Beach Rd SE for 1.0 mile. Make a U-turn and turn right onto Vincent Rd. The entrance to Flint Pen is on the left in 0.1 mile.
There are five different hiking trails in the area of Flint Pen that we will be visiting. Birders often frequent at least a portion of the Orange Trail (a 1.8 mi loop). According to users of eBird, 163 species of birds have been observed along this trail. In March, typically a wide variety of conspicuous waders are present. Keep your eye open for Roseate Spoonbills because there are no eBird reports for them in March. All of our woodpeckers, except for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker are reported from along the Orange Trail. Ten different warblers have been reported in March. One of the CBC's most exciting finds at Flint Pen in January, 2025, was tracking down and viewing the western species, Vaux's Swift, which had been reported from the area. It was flying with massive flocks of Tree Swallows. Depending on water levels, we might take a different trail, especially the White Trail, which is a 1.9 mi loop.
Once we complete our birding at Flint Pen, we typically find picnic tables and consume our BYOL lunches, tabulate our bird list, and choose a 'trip bird.'
Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area, Charlotte County, 9 March 2026 (Google Map)
The Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Web Wildlife Management Area (29200 Tuckers Grade, Punta Gorda), is an almost 81,000-acre property in Charlotte and Lee Counties. The Daily-Use Permit is $3.00/person or $6.00/vehicle, payable by envelope at the entrance station. .A small restroom and several picnic tables are near the Tuckers Grade entrance.
Babcock/Web WMA is about 17 miles NW of the Palm Beach Blvd/I-75 Intersection. Take I-75 N to Exit 158, Tuckers Grade (CR 762). Turn right onto CR 762 where you soon will find the entrance station. We will be caravanning along a two-track road. Typically, at the entrance station, we consolidate into a smaller number of cars and leave some parked there. This is an excellent trip for those of us who can no longer walk long distances, as it is "drive and get out" birding through mostly slash pine flatwoods.
Users of eBird report a total of 224 bird species from Babcock/Webb WMA. Two stars of the avian show are the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman's Sparrow. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a federally listed "Threatened" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Pines that contain its nests are often marked with pink tape on their trunks. CBC members often see these woodpeckers on our field trips and sometimes they put on a good show for photography. Bachman's Sparrows are seen less commonly, but are often heard and sometimes seen on some CBC spring field trips. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Species Website, Bachman's Sparrow is "one of the most rapidly declining bird species in North America" and has been proposed for ESA listing since 1994. Other 'iconic birds' as listed by eBird from Babcock/Webb, include species found more commonly north of Fort Myers, such as Brown-headed Nuthatches and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Once we complete our birding at Babcock/Webb WMA, we will consume our BYOL lunches at a picnic area near the main entrance, where we will tabulate our bird list and choose a 'trip bird.'
Bunche Beach, Fort Myers, 16 March 2026 (Google Map)
Bunche Beach (18201 John Morris Rd, Fort Myers) is an undeveloped beach that is part of the 718-acre San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve. For many years, it was the only Fort Myers-area beach that African-Americans were allowed to use. The property was acquired by the county in 2001. It is named for Dr. Ralph Bunche (1904-1971), American political scientist, diplomat, and civil rights activist, who was the first person of African descent to win a Nobel Prize. Bunche won the Peace Prize in 1950, largely for his efforts to negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt in the late 1940s.
When driving from Fort Myers, continue W on Summerlin Rd to John Morris Rd, which is about two miles beyond the bridge over San Carlos Blvd. Turn left (S) on John Morris Rd and drive to the end of the road, where the parking area is located. Parking costs $2/hr, unless you have a Lee County Parks and Recreation annual parking pass ($60). Directions for doing so are at the end of this specific field trip overview. There is no restroom or picnic area directly on the beach. Both are located at the kayak launch area, near the preserve entrance
Bunche beach has tidal sandy beach and mangrove habitats. Shore birds and waders may be abundant. Users of eBird report 241 bird species from the site. Birding success is largely tidal dependent. If the tide is really high, there will be fewer birds. If the tide is really low, the birds will be far away. We try to plan our trips for relatively low tides.
Depending on the quality of birding, we may have lunch (BYOL) and tabulate our list at picnic tables near the kayak launch or, more likely, caravan to another site, such as Lakes Park (7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers), ca. 8 miles away, with restrooms, picnic facilities, and additional birding. Directions: Head N for 1.2 mi to Summerlin Rd. Turn right (E) onto Summerlin for 5.5 mi. Merge onto Gladiolus Dr for about 1 mi and turn left into Lakes Park. Parking costs $1/hr or $5/day, unless you have a Lee County Parks and Recreation annual parking pass.
Bye Bye Stickers - Purchasing a new electronic Lee County Parks Annual Pass: To purchase a parking pass you will need a Premium Parking account. You probably have one if you have ever used a kiosk to pay for parking at Bunche Beach, Lakes Park, Six-mile Cypress, etc. The process is confusing to say the least. Go to https://www.premiumparking.com and leave the "LOCATION # OR ADDRESS" box blank, but, in the "CHOOSE YOUR CITY" box, scroll down alphabetically and choose "Lee County Parks." Once on the Lee County Parks page, scroll down until you see the heading "Local or frequent visitor." The fifth paragraph below the heading is a single, inconspicuous link "Buy LCP Annual Pass Subscription Now." You should be able to navigate to payment from here. Ignore any information about a single site that appears like the Alva Boat Ramp, which was listed (probably alphabetically by default)while testing these directions, as long as you see the statement about purchasing a pass for all county locations (except for Lynn Hall/Bonita Beach Park). Unfortunately, Sanibel Lighthouse Beach parking is not included, just like for the old sticker. It probably will not let you purchase a pass until the day after your old sticker has expired. You can manage your account from the main Premium Parking website, where you may register up to three vehicles. However, only one can be parked in one of the supported sites at any given time.
Alva area, 23 March 2026 (Google Map)
Alva is a place supposedly named for a flower by its founder, Captain Peter Nelson (1840-1919). Local legend is that Nelson, a steamship captain from Denmark, sailed up the formerly winding Caloosahatchee River in the early 1880s where he saw an abundant white flower along its banks that reminded him of the "Alva flower" of his homeland. He ended up purchasing land and platting out a community that he named for the flower. The Alva Garden Club believes that the flower he saw was the short-leaved gentian (Sabatia brevifolia Raf.), based on the memory of one of its members, Flora English Watkins (1892-1983), who apparently was taught the identity of the flower by Captain Nelson. Today, Alva is an unincorporated community and Census Designated Place (CDP) that comprises 18.4 square miles and had an estimated population of 2,750 residents in the 2020 census. Alva is bordered to the west by Olga, a second riverside community that Nelson founded. He named it for a Russian princess who was popularized by the press in the 1880s.
This week we are caravanning and making at least six stops in different parts of Alva. We will meet to begin our journey at the Franklin Locks on the south side of the river, which is accessed off of Palm Beach Blvd (Route 80). It is hoped that we will consolidate into a much smaller number of vehicles as parking is limited in some of the areas that we will visit. Our stops are arranged by number below.
1. Franklin Locks 16021 Old Olga Rd(Google Map) Our Initial Meeting Place. This is the SOUTH unit of the Franklin Locks & Dam. Coming from I-75, go ca. 7 miles E and turn left on Old Olga Rd. Entry drive to locks is 0.4 mi on right. Near the end of the entry drive, go left at the sharp right curve to meet at the parking lot surrounded by trees.
2. Alva Feeders 21281 Pearl St (Google Map)Head right (W) on 80 for 0.4 mi to make the first U-turn east. Continue 5.2 mi to light at Broadway St and turn left (N). Cross bridge and immediately turn left. The feeders are located in the second house on the right, at Dan & Viveca Skean's. Park in front yard off street (parallel to street) or along the edge of our neighbors' yard across the street. Note the Jamaica Capertree and plaque along the driveway, which were donated by CBC. In the tradition of Lois and Leon White, typically both avian and edible treats are available on site. Who knows? – It's always possible that we might even see a wayward Lazuli Bunting from out west.
3. Daniels Preserve at Spanish Creek 18500 Persimmon Ridge Rd Continue W on Pearl St, curve up to North River Rd (NRR), and turn right to 3-way stop sign at Alva School. Continue straight on NRR. Go 0.7 mi until NRR takes a sharp right curve where you should stay left and continue straight on the smaller Persimmon Rd. Continue for 0.8 mi to preserve on right. Park on right shoulder and in tiny grass lot. Next, we'll backtrack to the 3-way stop sign at Alva School.
4. Parkinson Road Return to Alva School stop sign and go straight on NRR. Continue ca. 0.5 mi and turn right on Parkinson. We'll backtrack to NRR after looking for Red-headed Woodpeckers and Loggerhead Shrikes.
5. Alva Cemetery (Google Map)Return to NRR and turn right. Go ca. 0.9 mile and turn right on Cemetery Rd. Follow to Cemetery entrance on right. Note young grapefruit and open area that formerly was citrus. In 2025 we saw a Lark Sparrow at the cemetery.
6. Cypress Creek Rd Eagles' Nest Area Return to North River Rd. Turn right and go ca. 0.2 mi before left turn at Cypress Creek Rd (CCR). Follow CCR to its end. Only place we'll want a scope.
Possible 6a (if it's not too dry). Ponds along N River Rd Babcock Ranch pond on right (ca. 4.5 mi W, turning left from Caloosahatchee Regional Park) and KMA farm ponds (ca. 0.3 mi further W toward FL 31) are two sites that are very dangerous to visit because they are viewed from the side of busy NRR. If we go before lunch and tabulations, best to leave by continuing 0.3 mi W from KMA to turn around at North River Oaks on left, then backtrack to Caloosahatchee Regional Park. Look for Turkeys & Caracaras.
7. Caloosahatchee Regional Park (Google Map) Return to NRR. Turn left on NRR and go a full 1.5 mi to Caloosahatchee Regional Park (not the first campground entrance but the second entrance on left). Here we plan to eventually meet at picnic area for lunch and bird list tabulations. Look for gopher tortoises along shoulders of drive. You might need several dollars for parking.
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, 30 March 2026 (Google Map)
Rotary Park (5505 Rose Garden Rd, Cape Coral) is a 97-acre city park that includes, among other features, a 4,200-square-foot environmental center, nature trails, a butterfly and native plant garden, a butterfly house (scheduled tours only), a playground, a dog park, picnic areas, and modern restroom facilities. Admission and parking are free. The park had its origins in the early 1980s as a project undertaken by three local Rotary Clubs in partnership with the City and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the latter providing grant funding. It was opened to the public in 2001.
Habitats at the park include open parkland with attractive hardwood plantings, human-dug ponds of various sizes, and estuary mangrove forest near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. There is an observation tower that allows for a scenic view of wading birds.
Users of eBird report 233 bird species from Rotary Park. Iconic species (as listed by eBird) reported from the area include Ovenbird, Brown Thrasher, Blue-headed Vireo, and Purple Martin. Occasionally, Mangrove Cuckoos are known from the park.