San CarlosBay / BuncheBeach Preserve

Description: San CarlosBay – Bunch Beach Preserve is located in LeeCounty on the mainland off of San CarlosBay. The eastern shore of San CarlosBay is unique in southwest Florida since it has a low energy shoreline including a wide, shallow intertidal zone with sea grass beds, mud flats, sandbars and a narrow coastal strand area that includes a sandy beach. The beach areas are low profile with flat dunes and coastal berm vegetation, which is seaward of an extensive tidal swamp that transitions into a coastal grassland community before the developed upland areas occur. The two major tidal creeks that flow through the Preserve are Terrapin Creek and Rock Creek. Type 1 habitat extends along the entire shoreline that stretches from Sanibel causeway to the eastern end of BuncheBeach and along the shoreline of Rock Creek.

LeeCounty owns and manages the Preserve. A land stewardship plan is under development for the Preserve. Typically a large portion of the Preserve is underwater and all of it lies within LeeCounty’s coastal high hazard area. Various private groups own the remaining western portion of the shoreline, which includes the majority of mud flats that are beyond the Preserve’s boundaries and an unnamed beach to the west of BuncheBeach. Parking is available at the southern end of John Morris Rd. on a small sandlot with a few additional sandy spaces located along the entrance/exit roadsides. All other areas must be accessed by foot. The shoreline along Rock Creek of the western part of BuncheBeach is best accessed via kayak or wading.

Bird Patrol volunteers presently monitor the beaches and mud flats for birds on a bimonthly basis year round. Bird monitoring data from local birdwatchers has been collected and combined into a data set for an 8-year-period. According to Roger Clark, shorebird species that migrate through the Preserve are: BBPL, PIPL, SEPL, SBDO, MAGO, LBCU, WHIM, REKN (300-500), RUTU, SAND, LESA, SPSA, DUNL, GRYE, LEYE. Shorebirds that breed in the area and may or may not migrate through are: SNPL, WIPL, KILL, AMOY, WILL.

Survey Method: Ground surveys at low to mid tide when mud flats are exposed in the morning or evening. Visibility is good with a spotting scope.

Selection Bias: All areas within the preserve are accessible, but Type 1 shorebird habitat likely extends past the preserve’s western boundaries, which is privately owned land and may not be accessible.

Measurement error: *

Measurement bias: *

Pilot Studies: If permission can be granted to access the shoreline to the west of the preserve, this area should be surveyed for Type 1 habitat.

Local Contacts: Roger Clark, Land Stewardship Manager, Lee Co. Div of Land Management; Claire and Bev Postmas, volunteer monitors.