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