Bird photography opps near Sandestin, Fl

I learned about this forum from the Artie Morris seminar in Little Rock last weekend. Good stuff!
Anyway I look forward to learning from some of you. I am new to photography but I am a wildlife nutt. After looking at some of yalls(yes I'm from Arkansas:)) pics, I'm out of my league here but I hope you can put up with a rookie.

Anyway, I am heading to Sandestin, Fl for a week. Are there any places I should visit for good bird opportunities. I'm going on a dolphin cruise so I hope to get some good shots there but I would really like to find some neat birds.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I've got my new Sigma Bigmos ready but my 7D got delayed:( so it won't be with me.

Thanks and Artie I've got your disk handy for advice!

You may want to post this question in the southeast regional forum.

Big Warm Welcome !! Can learn a lot around here and ... there ain't but forty two ways about it :)

Haven't been around that area for a while, between PC and Fort Walton Beach, I'm sure someone from the area will say something. There should be lots of shorebirds in most beaches !!

... btw send me a pm with your name so I can do the change, we all use actual names here !!

Thanks guys. You can change my name, it's Bob Barnett.

Welcome Bob and good luck with the Florida trip.

I used to live in Arkansas -- many great places to shoot landscapes and wildlife.