Overview

The City of Dunedin, Florida, is one of those places where Northerners go to escape the winter cold. Of course, I'm talking about the winter birds. Dunedin is a great place to see birds, many of whom are habituated to humans and allow close approach.

The Dunedin Causeway has hard-packed unpaved roads along both sides of the paved highway. Birders can drive up to the edge of the water and birdwatch from the comfort of the vehicle or walk the shoreline. Birds seem to congregate on the shoreline just east of the concession area (a good place to watch the sunset). Be sure to bird the near edge of the causeway on the south side (just before the draw bridge). Birds not often seen out on the sandy beach, such as White Ibis, congregate in this area too.

Location

Dunedin Causeway is the far west end of Curlew Road (Hwy 586) that links the mainland with Honeymoon Island State Park (1 Causeway Boulevard, Dunedin, FL). Link to Map.

Hours

Technically open 24 hours, but generally considered closed late at night.

Fees

None.

Specialties

During winter, sandy beaches with low-tide mudflats draw in birds that often allow close approach. Five feet from a Ruddy Turnstone, Snowy Egret, or Great Blue Heron -- no big deal. Many species of shorebirds (Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, American Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Red Knot, and Sanderling) and seabirds (Black Skimmer, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Forster's Tern, Sandwich Tern) congregate here, especially at the low and high tides. Keep an eye out for Loggerhead Shrike, Fish Crow, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Red-winged Blackbirds too. Also watch for Atlantic Brown Pelican, Little Blue Heron, Reddish Egret,Great Egret, and Double-crested Cormorant.