Caladesi Island
If I were a bird, I would live on the 600-acre undeveloped Caladesi Island and never leave.
Overview: This stunning, pristine barrier island located a quick 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon State Park in Dunedin, Florida is an absolute gem. With miles of undisturbed shoreline, Caladesi Island State Park is a paradise for birds and an amazing location to capture shorebirds at close range. As additional highlights, it also provides for one of Florida’s best shelling spots, a chance to see the threatened Gopher Turtles, and has great on-island amenities. In other words, no matter what happens during your time on Caladesi, it is worth the trip!
Willet in the waves
Arriving to Caladesi: If you take the ferry over to Caladesi, you are limited to a four-hour visit per the State Park. But don’t let that stop you from heading over to this incredibly beautiful spot. If you leave on the first ferry, you will still have ample time to capture the foraging shorebirds. If you decide to journey over to the island in the afternoon, you can capture the resting shorebirds along the beach. (Note: you can also kayak to Caladesi or take a private boat, which would provide flexibility to arriving and departing).
What we saw: On our first visit to Caladesi, we arrived at 1:30 pm and followed the signs and boardwalk to the beach. We walked from the beach path to the north end of the island (roughly 2 miles one way). Along the way, we passed ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, willets, and gulls, but as we neared the point, we witnessed one of the most amazing spectacles of birds resting on the beach. Literally hundreds of birds, including black skimmers, American oyster catchers, laughing gulls, royal terns, Caspian terns, marbled godwits, red knots, and willets were flocked together on the shore. This alone was phenomenal, but one of the most impactful aspects of seeing these birds was their complete comfort with us walking through their flock to reach the farthest point of the island. In fact, while we were there, a ranger drove through the flock and any birds in his path simply lifted and moved to another spot. When birds are that comfortable around people, we know that their interactions have been wholly nonthreatening, and this is deeply heartening to see.
The second time we visited the island, we arrived at 10:30 am the day after a storm. The beach was covered with a spectacular array of exquisite shells, providing great collecting (which is encouraged so long as the shells are uninhabited) and a buffet for the shorebirds, including gulls, ruddy turnstones, willets, and American Oyster Catchers. While the big flock was not resting on the point that day, we could see hundreds and hundreds of birds on a sandbar on the east side. We surmised that the birds enjoyed the sandbar during low tide and likely returned to the beach in the afternoon after the water had risen.
Habitat: While we choose to explore the miles of undisturbed shoreline and sand dune area, Caladesi also has mangrove forests, and maritime hammock habitat mixed with mesic flatwoods. All together, these habitats offer birds an abundance of food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. The shoreline attracts shorebirds and waterbirds, the mangroves are home to wading birds, and the hammock and flatwoods are noted for migratory songbirds. Osprey nest in the tallest of trees on the island. Even if you choose a different way to explore Caladesi or opt for the nature trail, you will not be disappointed. Check ebird for recent sightings.
Black Bellied Plover on Shells!
Bird Photography: We recommend being prepared to walk along the shore to the north end of the island to maximize your opportunities to see scores of birds. Carry your camera and zoom lens in a photography backpack and bring a skimmer if you have one - and if you don’t mind laying down in the sand to capture birds at eye level. If a skimmer is not an option, bring along a travel tripod.
Side Trip to Honeymoon Island: While you are in the area, don’t miss Honeymoon Island State Park. This is another truly beautiful, pristine, and undeveloped stretch of beach that hosts a wide variety of birds. We could definitely write a blog article on Honeymoon, but Caladesi won our hearts. That being said we did walk about 7 miles on Honeymoon Island, and we were particularly thrilled to see several Wilson’s plovers and Marbled Godwits along with American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Egrets, White Ibis, Little Blue Herons, and Osprey. While there are birds along the beach, walking towards the end of the island and passing several inlets will yield the best sightings.
Wilson’s Plover hopping along a log
Oyster Catcher at Honeymoon
