Winter wildlife adventures along Alabama’s Gulf Coast—all you need to know + how to go

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Wintertime offers rich experiences outdoors along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, where year-round wild inhabitants welcome migratory species, all putting on quite the show along beaches and in the waters, marshes and grasslands of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

This all-natural art show is one you simply won’t see anywhere else. Low winter light illuminates everything in sharp color and contrast against 32 miles of white sand, and fewer people around means there’s more open space to take it all in.

Read on to learn why it’s worth the drive to Alabama’s Beaches from Birmingham this winter.

The wildlife you’ll see

Many shorebirds and seabirds rely on Alabama’s Beaches as a habitat year-round or for stopovers and wintering, enjoying the comfortable climate and refuge for foraging. (Aren’t we so lucky to do for leisure what they do for survival?)

Decorating the tide line, look for a variety of plovers, several different kinds of terns, American oystercatchers, short-billed dowitchers and more.

More species that delight birders + wildlife watchers on Alabama’s Gulf Coast include:

🦅 Raptors, like osprey, hawks + eagles
🦆 Waterfowl, including gadwalls, American wigeons, brown pelicans + ring-necked ducks
🎶 Colorful warblers, other songbirds + the occasional rufous hummingbird
🐦 Shorebirds like nelted kingfishers + great blue herons
🐬 Playful bottlenose dolphins
🦌 White-tailed deer
🐊 Alligators

Best places to find wildlife

Lands where wildlife is protected naturally offer the best opportunities to observe them, and we’ll start with two locations that stand out for this on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

🌊 Gulf State Park

• What: A wildlife + nature paradise that connects Gulf Shores and Orange Beach with 6,100+ acres of beaches, freshwater lakes, a fishing + education pier, nature center + nine distinct ecosystems linked by the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, which is among 28 total miles of trails
• Where: 20115 State Park Road, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
• When: Daily, 10AM-4PM, excluding federal holidays
• More Info

🛶 Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

• What: A refuge covering over 7,100 acres in Fort Morgan, established in 1980 to protect threatened and endangered species and migratory songbird habitats and offering four trails, with the most accessible and popular being the Jeff Friend Trail
• Where: 12295 AL-180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
• When: Trails are open year-round during daylight hours | Visitor Center is open Mon.-Fri., 9AM-1PM, excluding federal holidays
• More Info

More top spots for winter wildlife watchers include public beaches, piers, boat launches and marinas.

😮 Want to vastly expand your range? Check out Alabama’s Coastal Birding Trail, which includes six loops that include over 50 sites throughout Baldwin and Mobile counties.

Guide to local experts + eco-tours

Once you know where to go and what you may see, then comes the question of how you want to go about it.

Just take your pick among the many excellent local guides, tour operators and outfitters to suit your preference:

✅ Biking resources + rentals
✅ Kayaking resources + rentals
✅ Boating resources + rentals
✅ Activities on the water
✅ See all guided tours

Local trip-planning experts with Alabama’s Beaches are on standby to help you craft the perfect itinerary.

Make it a wildlife weekend

Exploring nature on Alabama’s Gulf Coast is such a low-key and customizable way to vacation, making it perfect for friend group getaways, couple’s retreats or family adventures. Depending on the company, here’s how a typical day can play out:

💞 Couple: Sunrise shore walk, mid-morning café date for breakfast, a guided nature tour, dinner at a local seafood spot
👯 Friend Group: Power brunch, group biking or kayaking, casual dinner + signature Bushwackers for dessert (or mocktails!)
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Family: Quick breakfast, pier birdwatching, easy trail hike, hearty lunch, dolphin cruise + dinner (don’t forget dessert!)

Ready to escape for a winter wildlife adventure on the coast? Visit Alabama’s Beaches to book your stay. 

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