photoartflightBailey Tract – J.N. Ding Darling NWR
Most people that go to J.N. Ding Darling NWR do not know of, or go to the Bailey Tract in Sanibels’ Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The tract is on Tarpon Bay Rd., not in the main Refuge and Wildlife Drive. The major feature of the Bailey Tract is a series of impoundments and dikes built years ago to attract waterfowl, including ducks, grebes, coots and moorhens. It still does, but as part of the J.N. “Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge it also creates a perfect place for hikers and bikers to see them. It’s a great place to take a peaceful walk or hike on its 100 acre grounds. We just took a leisurely walk though one afternoon when we were in Sanibel. We did not see a lot of Wildlife, but that was probably because it was in the afternoon when things quiet down. It seems like it is not visited much like the main Refuge. So you can feel quite alone here. It was rare to see another person walking the trails as you walk through. Also there are no staff here. I was traveling light with just an Olympus OM1 with a 14 – 140mm lens. We were just enjoying the beautiful day and a nice walk.
Information Signs along the way to help visitors ID or give information for what they might see.
2 image panorama @ 14mm, m43 format
2 image panorama @ 14mm, m43 format (very slight overlapping of images)
3 horizontal images stacked @14mm – m43 Olympus
Single Image @ 41mm
Bailey Landscape – 2 image panorama @14mm
2 image Panorama @ 14mm
Single Image @ 28mm
Lizard @ 140mm
Small Pond with Alligator Submerged @ 48mm
Same as above 14mm view
Landscape w/ hidden Alligator @ 32mm (2 img pano) – above this plant in the water on left
Another Lizard @ 140mm
So nice to visit a reserve when there are few people about. Nice landscape and lizard photos Reed!
Thanks Belinda! It was a fun place to explore! But seemed strange to be so alone on the trails!
Beautiful captures, Reed! We visited JNDD NWR, gosh 6-7 years ago. We were on a business trip, it was August, it was hot. The wildlife drive was closed for some reason, which I was majorly disappointed, so we walked the Bailey Tract. I wish it hadn’t been so hot, but I remember getting some pretty photos none the less. JNDD NWR is still on my bucket list!
Thanks Donna! When we visited this year, we were there for 5 days. But only 1 or 2 were fairly productive! I had a job come in so I had to delay our trip. So we got a late start. Years ago it was much better.