Ponce Preserve

Stretching from the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Preserve is an amazingly diverse parcel with an impressive bird checklist for its size. On the west side of Peninsula Drive, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk runs through salt marsh and mangroves out to the river. The boardwalk has three covered gazebos for scanning or relaxing, plus two canoe/kayak launches for paddling the marsh and river. Birds you may encounter here include both night-herons, Wood Stork, Glossy Ibis, and Clapper Rail. On the east side of Peninsula Drive, hiking trails lead from the parking area through maritime hammock, coastal strand and out to a short stretch of pristine beach/dune habitat. The trails have many benches. One foot trail leads to the Green Mound State Archaeological site, a native American shell mound covered with majestic live oaks good for migrant songbirds. Other trail segments lead to an observation tower and through coastal strand to Atlantic Ave. Take the wheelchair accessible dune crossover out to the beach, where Lesser Black-backed Gull and Piping Plover may occur in winter; Royal and Sandwich Terns are present year-round. A few sea turtles nest here each year.