Venice and Fort Desoto

[holger cremer]

Hi all,

I am traveling in the Venice area currently and was thinking to go over to Fort Desoto for a day or two.
Somebody been there recently and can give an update or advice!
Also any Tip for the Venice area is very welcome!

Thx in advance!
Cheers
Holger

[allanrube]

I was there in February so I do not know current conditions. North Beach last parking lot is a definite. The area of the beach by the North Beach snack bar is good too. There was a great horned owl nest roped off in orange plastic. The owlets should be pretty large by now - I just saw a tiny head at teh end of last month. Also, sunrise images that I posted show what can be seen from east point.

[Marina Scarr]

One owl left in nest very good in the morning. LOng-billed Curlew normally at lagoon behind snack bar as well as Ibis in breeding colors. Reddis Egret in north marsh area in full breeding plumage. White morph also in breeding but elusive this year. A Few Marbled Godwit and Red-breasted Mergansers on north marsh as well. Oystercatchers usually out on north beach. Good luck.

[David Pugsley]

A large colony of black skimmers has just returned to Ft. D. They can be found on North Beach behind the snack bar. They spend most time behind the ropes of the sanctuary, but some break-off from the group and hangout in accessible beach area.

Oystercatchers and a variety of terns, mostly royal, are starting to get frisky and will be mating soon.

[Marina Scarr]

Both the royal terns and sandwich terns were mating last week out on north beach. I got some great pics in the morning against the water of some sandwich terns mating, and I was even able to isolate them...not an easy talk b/c there are quite a # of them. There should be a lot more activity in the coming month.