San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve

This protected mangrove/beach system offers some of the best shorebirding in Lee County. Walk the beach for a mile in either direction from the parking area, scanning the mangroves as well as the sand. Plovers abound – Wilson’s, Piping, Black-bellied and Semipalmated – and waders at low tide include Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets and White Ibises. Watch the birds cruising above and spot Least Terns, as well as possible Bald Eagles. Low tide is the best all-around time to be here, but early morning and late evening offer a special treat as the birds come or go from their roosts in the salt flats farther inland.