RALPH E. LAWRENCE 



The Mockingbird is the ofiicial state bird of Florida. 



Mejdco. It is well worth spending 15 minutes here to scan 

 the horizon for passing Gannets, which are common in some 

 winters but scarce in others. The road continues westward 

 for 10 miles to Fort Pickens (toll gate charge of 50 cents 

 per car). There is a large marsh pond just south of the 

 last gun battery where ducks, coots and Clapper Rails may 

 be seen, but there is little probability of finding additional 

 bird species of interest. The old brick fort is a point of 

 much historic interest. 



EAST PASS — Leave Pensacola on U. S. Route 98, cross 

 the Bay bridge and proceed eastward for about 36 miles 

 to the city of Fort Walton Beach, cross the bridge to Santa 

 Rosa Island and continue eastward on the island to the 

 bridge over East Pass. Just before reaching the bridge, 

 park at the side of the road. On sand bars within reasonable 

 distance will be seen large numbers of gulls and terns. 

 Double-crested Cormorants, and sometimes Brown Pelicans. 

 Walk south along the beach and look for Snowy Plovers, 

 pale little birds that are hard to see on the white sand. 

 Keep an eye to seaward for passing Gannets — far out 

 toward the horizon. Then drive across the bridge to the 

 town of Destin and turn left over some of the back streets 

 for the probability of finding Ground Doves. 



GARCON POINT — Drive eastward from Pensacola 

 on U. S. Route 90 to the city of Milton (about 24 miles) 

 and turn south on State Route 191 (a surfaced road). 

 Drive about 12 miles to the end of the road on Garcon 

 Point on the shore of Pensacola Bay. Walk east along 

 the shore as far as the height of the tide will permit. 

 Along the road, many of the common birds of the region 

 will be found, especially several species of sparrows. In the 

 heavy woods near the end of the road, the typical woodland 

 birds may be seen. At the end of the road and along the 

 shore, look for loons, grebes and some diving ducks. Marsh 

 Hawks should be conspicuous. In the marsh. Short-billed 

 Marsh Wrens, Seaside Sparrows and Sharp-tailed Sparrows 

 are plentiful. At low tide, several species of shorebirds are 

 always present on the mudflats. Just after leaving the hard 

 surface near the end of Route 191, turn left on a dirt road 

 for 100 yards, then right for another 100 yards. On the 



left is a wiregrass area (very wet after rains) where Yellow 

 Rails have been seen and LeConte's Sparrows can some- 

 times be found (if the observer is very lucky!). 



Francis M. Weston 



GULF COUNTY AREA 



INDIAN PASS separates the mainland from St. Vincent 

 Island and is located in the southeast corner of Gulf County, 

 Florida, about fourteen miles east of Port St. Joe. To reach 

 it take State Road 30 about two miles east of Port St. Joe, 

 travel about ten miles to McNeils, then turn right on State 

 Road 308 which terminates in about two- miles at Indian Pass. 

 When leaving McNeils, one is in Indian Pass area, which 

 comprises salt and brackish marshes, the open water of 

 Indian Lagoon, muddy shores, grass flats and some woods 

 on both sides of State Road 308. 



At the Pass one will find sandy beaches a short distance 

 fromi the Gulf of Mexico. Feeding frequently in the 

 marshes are Great Blue, Little Blue, Green, and Louisiana, 

 Herons, also American and Snowy, Egfets. In the late 

 summer and early fall Wood Ibises may be seen in the 

 brackish marshes. Clapper Rails are found at all times. 

 In the fall, early winter and spring, Sora and Virginia 

 Rails are at the Pass, in addition to Seaside Sparrows and 

 Long-billed Marsh Wrens. 



Along the muddy shores of Indian Lagoon and the Gulf 

 Beaches, shore birds, such as Killdeer, Black-bellied, Snowy, 

 Wilson's, and Semipalmated Plovers, in addition to Least, 

 Baird's, Western, Semipalmated, and Spotted, Sandpipers, 

 Dunlin, and Black-necked Stilt. Sanderlings and Dowitchers 

 are sometimes seen. 



In the grass flats. Buff-breasted Sandpipers have been 

 found on two occasions. Along the muddy shores at low 

 tide American Oystercatchers are occasionally observed. 



In the open waters of the lagoon. Herring, Laughing and 

 Bonaparte's Gulls can be seen at the right season. Least, 

 Common, Gull-billed, Sandwich, Black, Royal, and Caspian, 

 Terns are frequently seen. Grebes, Loons, and Brown Peli- 

 cans are sometimes found in the area. 



SAMUEL A. GRIMES 

 The Anhinga is widely distributed throughout Florida. 



