St. John, USVI
Francis Bay Trail

A good birding trail in winter months.

9. Francis Bay Trail

Length: 0.5 miles. Time: 30 minutes. Difficulty: 1. Trailhead: At the intersection of the Leinster Bay and Maho Bay Roads, near the stone building.

An especially good trail for viewing bird life, particularly during winter months.

First, the path goes through dry scrub forest and past the ruins of the Francis Bay Estate House. Note the old floor tiles but don't try to enter the rickety ruins.

This must have been a very popular place: the kitchen had 5 ovens.

After climbing a small hill, you'll enter a mangrove forest and cross a brackish pond by boardwalk. This where you're apt to see birds, such as mangrove cuckoo, white-cheeked pintail and smooth- billed ani.

The trail then takes you out to Francis Bay Beach, a popular snorkeling spot.

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