Florida Birding Guide

As a floridian I have been looking for more and more places to take pictures. Please post some information about the location, the time you visited, and other information necessary. Please don't post information about your back yard unless it's open to the public

November 12, 2013

I finally decided to venture out of my backyard and go to Fort Desoto Beach. I read many articles that said Desoto was productive all year, so I decided to give it a go. I traveled about one hour and payed the toll and then the five dollar gate fee. I drove down the road and turned right at the flag poll and drove to the end. This is north beach. You should park where you can see the beach. There is bathrooms around here, which is great. I assembled my gear at the car and walked down the path.

There was a lagoon with bait fish trapped in it. This lagoon is very productive. You should be prepared to get into the lagoon if you want the best angles. I wore quick dry shorts and a quick dry shirt. For lenses I only brought my 500mm and a 1d IV. This was the only lens I needed, but you can use a shorter lens (you just have to get closer to the birds which is really easy because they were tame). I used a tripod, but also a ground pod to get those small sandpipers on the beach.

I went to Desoto on a tuesday, so the beach only had a couple of people on it. My biggest mistake was not getting there early enough. I arrived roughly one and a half hours after sunrise and I missed the spoonbills (their feathers were everywhere on the ground). Even though I did not get to see the spoonbills this time, I saw the tricolored heron and the reddish egret do a dance while fishing for food. Desoto was a great success and I saw twenty two different kinds of birds.

Around lunch I packed my gear up and went to The Hurricane. Food was great, and they have a friendly staff. I can't wait to go back. Remember to bring a lot of memory cards!

Images:

Reddish Egret:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/108486735​24/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/108274830​73/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/108485966​66/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/108275277​44/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/tc202/108304888​53/

Ft desoto by far is one of the best locations in the area. Other places to consider, John chestnut park (all year), area around brooker creek park (fall, winter, spring), cockroach bay in hillsborough (don't go in summer on trails as insects will carry u away). All are good for photography. If info on what's going on locally www.pinellasbirds.com. For the entire state check listserv birdbrains.

At ft desoto always check the east beach turnaround and walk the beach north of pier. Best spot for snowy and piping plovers

I've been to Ft DeSoto twice on separate visits from MI. It was great. If your looking for places to either bird or bird photog, this book will be well worth the investment.

ABA Birdfinding Guide: A Birder's Guide to Florida, Fifth edition by Bill Pranty.

Also, on the final stretch of road going into DeSota there are ponds on the right hand side that occasional will have nesting Osprey. You'll need 500mm or more since the nest I've seen active is on the opposite side but it's not a very wide pond. The birds will fish the ponds so you might get lucky and get some nice action. There's a pull off where you can park to walk up to the ponds. I've seen wild Parrots(Conures) as well on that stretch.

Check out the Ding Darling Refuge on Sanibel Island if you havent already. Diverse range of species...

Try the Viera Wetlands near Melbourne on the East a Coast.

http://www.wildlifesou​th.com …lorida/VieraWet​lands.html

Circle B Preserve in Lakeland