Corkscrew and Big Cypress in Florida

Angelmia wrote in post #15642537
Lots of activity going at the Venice Rookery ., I was there the weekend before Valentines . I was able to capture some decent images with my 70-200 along with the extender . I don't think you'll be disappointed .
As for Corkscrew I was disappointed ., not much was going on the day I went though I think the cold front we recently had may have been a factor .

Thanks very much for the report. Venice is on my growing list, eventually I'm going to have to narrow it down. If only I had two weeks, but then I'd probably want three.


Have you been to Celery Fields Park near Sarasota or Myakka State Park?

Nighthound wrote in post #15643027
Have you been to Celery Fields Park near Sarasota or Myakka State Park?

Hi Steve, I did a quick drive through Myakka State Park. Stopped for some spoonbills off a bridge, along with some gators, and some armadillos, but all from a distance. They have some large airboats that take 40-50 people out at a time, but they were packed when i was there so I didn't go. It's a nice drive through the park with overhanging trees, but I didn't stop enough to get a good feel for it, I was just on my way back from looking for Caracaras, which are found in that area (according to the Gate Keeper, they're more just on fenceposts along SR72 between the park and Arcadia, but I didn't see any that day.
Here's a link to a short Youtube video I uploaded in Myakka River State Park. There's two or three more on my same Youtube site.
Here's another short video clip from Ding Darling at one of the roadside lookoffs.

Steve: Corkscrew can be very nice this time of year. Have been out of the country recently so I haven't been up there lately. The only problem you might have there is if the water gets too low. (We're in the dry season now and sometimes this happens.) Usually it doesn't get really dry until later in the spring and summer. Am sure you'll enjoy it.

Wallace River wrote in post #15643054
Hi Steve, I did a quick drive through Myakka State Park. Stopped for some spoonbills off a bridge, along with some gators, and some armadillos, but all from a distance. They have some large airboats that take 40-50 people out at a time, but they were packed when i was there so I didn't go. It's a nice drive through the park with overhanging trees, but I didn't stop enough to get a good feel for it, I was just on my way back from looking for Caracaras, which are found in that area (according to the Gate Keeper, they're more just on fenceposts along SR72 between the park and Arcadia, but I didn't see any that day.
Here's a link to a short Youtube video I uploaded in Myakka River State Park. There's two or three more on my same Youtube site.
Here's another short video clip from Ding Darling at one of the roadside lookoffs.

Thanks Ian, that gives me an idea of the landscape of these two locations. I took a look at the satellite view of Myakka as well. Right now Ding Darling looks more appealing.

bettyn wrote in post #15645338
Steve: Corkscrew can be very nice this time of year. Have been out of the country recently so I haven't been up there lately. The only problem you might have there is if the water gets too low. (We're in the dry season now and sometimes this happens.) Usually it doesn't get really dry until later in the spring and summer. Am sure you'll enjoy it.

Thanks very much for the info Betty. I'm not sure how to get info on water level other than calling their office so I'll have to do that before committing a morning or evening. We've had a bunch of rain this winter up here in South Carolina but I guess much of it has missed south Florida. Did you doing shooting in your travels?

Steve,

If you need another spot for your list, consider Bunche Beach on the way to Sanibel Island. I've have good success there with waders, eagles, etc.

4 months to pave that ROAD!!!??? What are they using-- wheelbarrows and hand picks and hand shovels?? That is ridiculous -- leave it to the federal govt -to screw this up -along with everything else they are in charge of doing.

G3G4G5 wrote in post #15648082
Steve,

If you need another spot for your list, consider Bunche Beach on the way to Sanibel Island. I've have good success there with waders, eagles, etc.

Thank you Chris. I'll look into that. I guess mornings are best there? Any place off the beach that might be of interest on that property?

Steve,

Here's a quick shot of Bunche Beach from Google Earth. From the parking lot, turn right and head along the beach. Eventually you'll hit the canal leading into the mangroves. I've seen BEs, osprey, herons, skimmers, numerous shore birds, hawks, passerines.

Chris

G3G4G5 wrote in post #15658819
Steve,

Here's a quick shot of Bunche Beach from Google Earth. From the parking lot, turn right and head along the beach. Eventually you'll hit the canal leading into the mangroves. I've seen BEs, osprey, herons, skimmers, numerous shore birds, hawks, passerines.

Chris

Thanks very much for that Chris. The location looks good for water shots. The low tide area looks like it might be nice to get some ground level shots that include the shore line to the west as a background.