Update for Ft. Myers area, Venice & Sarasota

[Steve Shapiro]

Ding Darling- was there 2/2 and there were not nearly as many birds as last year and the birds I saw were far away for the most part which I guess is "luck of the draw" I was there at 7:30 am

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve- was there the 2/2 early afternoon- quite diverse bird population and other wildlife. It is about a 1.5 mile board walk.

Corkscrew Swamp- Saw a number of warblers, Red Shouldered Hawk, just missed two Barred Owls, and the usual cast of birds. Again not as many as last year though but still worth the trip. Get there near opening time (7 am) as about 10-11 am the casual tourist come that will scare away the birds!!

Venice Rookery 2/2 late afternoon- my first trip there to I can not judge it from other times but it was excellent with a very number of birds, it appeared that many were nesting and getting their nest ready. Should be there near sunrise (preferred) or sunset

Celery Fields Sarasota- 1/19 disappointed many of the small ponds were dried up, and not many birds around the larger lakes.

[Roger Clark]

Ding Darling- was there 2/2 and there were not nearly as many birds as last year and the birds I saw were far away for the most part which I guess is "luck of the draw" I was there at 7:30 am

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve- was there the 2/2 early afternoon- quite diverse bird population and other wildlife. It is about a 1.5 mile board walk.

Corkscrew Swamp- Saw a number of warblers, Red Shouldered Hawk, just missed two Barred Owls, and the usual cast of birds. Again not as many as last year though but still worth the trip. Get there near opening time (7 am) as about 10-11 am the casual tourist come that will scare away the birds!!

Venice Rookery 2/2 late afternoon- my first trip there to I can not judge it from other times but it was excellent with a very number of birds, it appeared that many were nesting and getting their nest ready. Should be there near sunrise (preferred) or sunset

Celery Fields Sarasota- 1/19 disappointed many of the small ponds were dried up, and not many birds around the larger lakes.

Steve,
Thanks for the report. At Ding Darling,was the tide low or high? In my experience, it is best in the morning when the tide is on the low side.

Roger

[Steve Shapiro]

Low tide

[PeterGruener]

Hi,
We have been to Ding Darling early this morning. The 5 spoonbills quickly disappeared and besides several white pelicans and the usual birds it was very slow - more like disappointing. The afternoon round was more or less empty with plenty of water in the pools. We took for the first time ever: 0 pictures

Peter

[Marina Scarr]

Unfortunately, I heard that Estero Lagoon is quiet as well.

[PeterGruener]

Hi,

We skipped the final round for Ding Darling and Estero Lagoon after the little depression that moved in with cooler temperatures and some rain yesterday. We spent some time in the Myakka River State Park where some roseate spoonbills are around. The Venice Rookery is pretty busy with plenty of chicks and still some nesting and breeding activities.

Peter