St. Andrews State Park

Scan the Gulf from the end of the fishing pier on the peninsula’s south (Gulf) side for Brown Pelicans, Least Terns and gulls in warmer months, and gannets plunging near the shore in winter. At the peninsula’s east end, beaches north of the jetty fishing area are productive for shorebirds like Snowy Plovers and Willets; Black Skimmers occasionally loaf here. Gator Lake hosts a heron rookery in spring (Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets). Check the Buttonbush Marsh Overlook adjacent to the boat parking for Least Bitterns and Wood Ducks. Pine flatwoods are home to Brown-headed Nuthatches, Loggerhead Shrikes and Eastern Towhees. Visitors can also snorkel the rock jetty reef to see coral, rays, angelfish and octopus. Watch for dolphins on the reef or from shore.