The Oystercatcher Trail, Withlachoochee Bay Spoil Islands is a boat-only accessible trail. It is a ten mile long open water trail around the islands created by the building of the barge canal. There are ten islands stretching out into the Gulf. The best birding is on the near islands to the mainland shore. The islands are a mix of scrub trees, brush, and sand dunes. This is a must trail for any birder who is birding Citrus County. See list of boat operators who run tours to the islands and their schedules in Citrus County Bird Guide.

The best place to put in and the shortest route to the islands is the public boat landing under the US19 bridge on the barge canal. Another is at the end of SR40 in Yankeetown, 5 miles west from US19 at SR40. The trail can also be reached from Crystal River. It is a long boat ride but worth it because you will be birding on the beautiful Crystal River and the Gulf. WARNING: stay clear of Progress Energy's Plant.

There are no hours of operation, weather will be the deciding factor. Recommend dawn as the best time to bird the islands. Low tide is always a good time to look for shore birds. The trip will take about four hours to complete.

This trail gives the birder a mix of open Gulf waters opportunities for sea birds. The islands are nesting grounds for least terns, gulls, terns, oystercatchers, Wilson's plovers. The islands are off limits during the breeding season and are posted off limits. Dress in layers, it can get quite cold and windy especially in the winter. Sun screen is also a must. This trail is accessible year-round, but the best months are October trough March.

Oystercatchers and cormorants roost by the hundreds on these islands. Gulls, terns, skimmers and shore birds are common. The wooded areas on the eastern islands are landfall for passerines, warblers, orioles and thrushes in the spring. Northern gannets, magnificent frigate bird, bald eagles and rafts of white pelicans and common loons are some of the birds seen on this trail. It is not unusual to see forty to fifty species on the trail during the winter months.

Photography by Bill Garvin

The Spoil Bank