Florida information needed

[Lana Hays]

I have June and July free to travel. If I were to come back to Florida:
1) when would be an interesting/good time for birds
2) where would be the best places to visit
3) what birds would be available

Suggestions to other parts of the country during these 2 months would also be appreciated.
Thanks

[Harold Davis]

lana, go out with james on the hooptie deux!! just get plenty of rest the day before!:eek: early june will have nesting birds on the beaches of the west coast from tampa to marco island. all types of shorebirds.

i sure hope someone else chimes in with ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lana Hays]

Thanks, Harold. I just booked a trip to come down for almost 2 weeks the first of June. I'll try someplace different next year.

[ericbowles]

One of the best opportunities in early June is to observe and photograph wading birds raising chicks. It's late in the breeding season, and nests have been built, but chicks are hatching and being raised. There are several locations - consider the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Gatorland, or Venice Rookery. Because of the cool winter, the season is running a little later than normal. I'm planning to make a visit to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm in early June to focus on chicks.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Lana Shore birds are the best !! Hope the skimmers will be around, haven't checked them out but will and give you a heads up !!

.. number one would be out with James ... always a sensory overload !!! :)

[canyonlight]

Hi Alfred,
I am in the Fort Myers area for a few days 5/14. Any recommendations for shorebirds - or other birds - in this area would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Stan

[Adams Serra]

I would go to Estero lagoon and Bunchee Bch

[canyonlight]

Thanks Adams. Bunche Beach was a bit disappointing last night. A few birds were there, but the evening light didn't cooperate. I'll give Estero Lagoon a try.

Stan

[Michael Pancier]

Thanks Adams. Bunche Beach was a bit disappointing last night. A few birds were there, but the evening light didn't cooperate. I'll give Estero Lagoon a try.

Stan

try out ding darling too. check my earlier post re: coordinates for spoon activity. you might luck out

[David Stephens]

I have June and July free to travel. If I were to come back to Florida:
1) when would be an interesting/good time for birds
2) where would be the best places to visit
3) what birds would be available
...

I just had a fruitful visit to Guana Park (formally known now as Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, since it's management was nationalized in 2004) which is located between Ponte Vedra Beach and St Augustine on the coast highway, A1A. There's a large rookery of wood storks and roseate spoonbills just off the Eastern trail (about a two-mile walk in). There are tons of shore birds, gators, white tail deer and other interesting stuff.

Everything in the following Set was taken within one-hour of shooting and two-hours of hiking:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcstep/...7624058777858/

Admission is $3 per car.

We walked in at dawn and didn't see anyone else during our entire visit on a Thursday morning. It's steamy hot and chock full of mosquitoes and May flies, so spray up and dress for the conditions.

Dave

[Hernan Enriquez]

Just a few days ago Estero Lagoon was highly recomended to me over Ding Darling, have not had a chance to go yet, enjoy!!!

[AJ Witt]

I went to Estero and Ding last week...I would say that Ding was much better than Estero. We saw two groups of Spoons at Ding with feeding pelicans, reddish egrets adn the usual Ibis, commorants, etc.

Estero, we only saw a hand ful of birds in the morning and sunset last Saturday.