September
9/19 Clower-Thornton Nature Trail, Harrison County
Leader: Steve Dunaway- (228) 697-5755, station3cap@gmail.com
Clower-Thornton contains a mix of urban and natural habitats and is a go-to spot for coastal birders looking for migrants. Often found are warblers, vireos, and buntings. Although bird numbers have waxed and waned over the years, as hurricanes and humans continue to change the landscape, this park continues to be a stopover site for many species. Updates at the park include restored native plants, enhancements to the wetlands, additional stone paved walking trails within the interior of the park, and an observation deck, stone retention wall overlooking a new pollinator garden, and educational signage placed throughout.
Place and time: Meet at the Clower-Thornton parking lot at 7:30 AM
Between 244-298 E Railroad St, Gulfport, MS 39507 (here)
Conditions: Easy walking around a 0.8-mile paved loop trail along Coffee Creek with sit spots. Some areas are sunny and some are shady. Bugs are typically minimal.
October
10/17 Ship Island Excursions, Harrison County
See Ship Island Excursions website for details – participants are responsible for purchasing their tickets.
Ship Island is a premier stopover and beach-nesting bird site in the state. On this trip, we will visit the historical fort grounds in search of songbird migrants, before proceeding to the beach to look for hard-to-find shorebirds such as Snowy Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Red Knot.
Bring binoculars and your curiosity.
Leaders:
Rhonda Plitt – 601-916-2457, rplitt09@yahoo.com
Patty Horner-870-754-0083, pjwhorner@icloud.com
Place and time: Gulfport Harbor. Departs Gulfport at 9am. Departs Ship Island 2:30pm or 5pm Saturday.
Conditions: Dress appropriately. It is possible for a cool start but will warm up and may get hot! Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks etc. Expect relatively difficult walking conditions across sand, potentially for upwards of 2-3 miles. Also prepare for blowing sand.
***You can purchase your ticket(s) at msshipisland.com/cruises/ or give them a call at (228) 864-1014
10/24 Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons, Jackson County
Leader: Sharon Milligan- (228) 861-1622 , 2sharon123@gmail.com
Co-Leader: Collin Stempien collin.stempien@audubon.org
Closed to the public — special entry arranged for our chapter!
Join us this fall for a fun and one-of-a-kind birding adventure at the Seaman’s Sewage Lagoon in Vancleave! While the name may raise eyebrows, this site is one of the coast’s quiet migration gems – and because it’s normally off-limits, every visit feels like we’re unlocking a secret birding spot just for our group.
We’ll scan the ponds for early shorebirds and arriving waterfowl. A variety of swallows and raptors often swoop overhead, and the surrounding brushy edges can hold warblers, buntings, kingbirds, and other fall migrants fueling up for their journey south. Egrets, herons, and Black-necked Stilts frequently add to the show, along with the occasional unexpected rarity that keeps lagoon birding exciting.
Expect easy walking, relaxed birding, and plenty of enthusiastic conversation with fellow nature lovers. Whether you’re building your migration list or just enjoying exploring unusual hotspots, this trip promises interesting species, great company, and an adventure you’ll be talking about long after. Bring binoculars, scopes if you have them, and your curiosity. The setting may be humble, but the birds certainly aren’t!
Place and time: Meet at the facility between 7:15 and 7:30 am. (Map)
Coordinates: 30.500325, -88.798204
Conditions: Slow driving with stops; some groups will walk a lot.
Important: This is a working facility. You must stay with leaders while on site. Call Sharon (above) if you have questions about policy.
10/31 Whitehead Coastal Preserve (Graveline Bay), Jackson County
Field Trip Leader: Jake Pettigrew
For questions or more info contact Patty Horner 870-754-0028
Location: Whitehead Coastal Preserve (Graveline Bay Preserve System), Jackson County, MS. The Preserve is located at the end of Old Shell Landing Road, off of Old Spanish Trail in Gautier, MS
Join field trip leader Jake Pettigrew for a morning bird walk exploring the maritime pine flatwoods, tidal bayou edges, and salt marsh habitats of the Whitehead Coastal Preserve. Positioned along the Graveline Bay estuarine complex, this preserve serves as a vital coastal stopover during peak fall migration.
Conditions: Easy walking paths, some wet ground. Insect repellent, and drinking water are advised. Binoculars are essential
Target Bird Species
Late October brings a rich transition window featuring arriving winter residents alongside lingering Neotropical migrants:
Passerines & Forest Birds: Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, House Wrens, Brown Headed Nuthatches, and Eastern Phoebes. Sedge and Marsh Wrens inhabit the dense rushes.
Sparrows: Nelson’s, Saltmarsh, and Seaside Sparrows in the estuarine marsh fringes; Swamp and Savannah Sparrows in open grassy ecotones.
Waders & Coastal Species: Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Clapper Rails, Belted Kingfishers, and opportunistic shorebirds along the exposed mudflats and creek bends.
Raptors: Northern Harriers hunting low over open marshes, Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and migrating sharp-shinned or Cooper’s hawks.
About Whitehead Coastal Preserve
Formation & Acquisition: The tract was recently acquired and incorporated into public protection through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Coastal Preserves Program in partnership with the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (TIG)
Ecological Purpose: Graveline Bayou represents one of the few relatively undisturbed tidal bayou and estuarine creek systems remaining on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The primary conservation mission of preserving the Whitehead tract is watershed protection, maintaining estuarine water quality, preventing sedimentation of oyster reefs, and preserving unbroken maritime pine savanna, black needlerush marsh, and coastal bayfront habitats critical for migrating songbirds, waterfowl, and coastal raptors.
November
Coming Soon!
December
12/5 Grand Bay NERR/NWR Birding by Boat Trip, Jackson County
Place: Our field trip for Grand Bay NERR/NWR will be Saturday, 05 December 2026 from 0830-1200 (noonish). We will be meeting the boat launch at the Bayou Heron boat ramp at the south end of the road – this is the same road the Grand Bay NERR office is located on. The focus of this trip is finding waterfowl, shore, wading and marsh birds and we will be getting out of the boats and walking through some small sections of marsh and on sand flats. Thus, rubber knee boots or other footwear you can get wet and muddy are highly recommended. To get good looks at shorebirds it is necessary that we visit the area during low tide, which will mean “slogging” through soft mud/sand so come prepared.
Time: 08:30-12:00 (noonish).
This trip is LIMITED to 15 participants and requires pre-registration. To register for the trip, please send me an email with your name, # of people in your group, your email, and your mobile phone number. Spots on the trip will be filled first come-first served based on the date and time I receive an email. NOTE: There will be a $40/person fee for this trip. Details about payment will be made once you are officially signed up for the trip.
If you have any questions, contact Mark Woodrey via mark.woodrey@msstate.edu.
