Corsair Photog Loc: Southeast WI

This month I am vacationing in the Ft Myers area. Planning on nature walks and air boat ride. Have D2x and 18-200 lense. Figure that this lens should handle majority of shots ans might miss a couple of possible shots were a longer zoom would have "been nice". With your knowledge of the area, any recommendations for the location of walks? Would you take your rig on the air boat ride or are there possible scenes/views that are must have? Thanks for your input and reading my first post

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

You didn't say how long you'll be there! Certainly visit the Ding Darling bird sanctuary as it's right there. Airboat rides in the Everglades is about 1.5 hours away. Corkscrew bird sanctuary is also close. IMHO 200mm isn't nearly enough reach, maybe you could rent a longer lens from an outfit like lensrentals.com.

Corsair Photog Loc: Southeast WI

Will be there 4 full days for exploring. (Don't want to miss tooooo much single digit weather ; - ) )Will checkout lens rental. Thanks!!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

You will see alligators from the airboat but it is sooooo loud that most birds will be long gone...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Take a look at Google's app called Trips. It shows you what's available in any given area.

Some nature walks -

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nature+walks+in+Ft+Myers

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

Try the JN "Ding" Darling nature reserve on Sanibel Island. Great opportunity for bird photos!

Corsair Photog Loc: Southeast WI

Thank you Jerry. I could have added above that I had already done the Google search. I thought that if any one already visited the area they might share first hand recommendations.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary near Immokalee ( http://corkscrew.audubon.org/ ) is pretty close and offers a boardwalk through varying terrain with views of birds other native species.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I live in the area and I think you will be happier if you do your airboat ride on Lake Trafford in Immokalee. I have always had better pic opportunities there than on the various rides in the Everglades, and the alligators and birds seem to be used to the noise. You will get really up close. By all means walk the 2 mile boardwalk in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, also near Immokalee, and it does not get any better than the Ding Darling nature reserve for birding. For flowers and history don't miss the Thomas Edison/Henry Ford estates near downtown Ft Myers. And Naples has a wonderful Naples Botanical Garden that is not to be missed and be sure you have your best close-up lens with you that day. Have fun. I bet this visit will not be your one and only visit!

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Walking around downtown Ft Myers will reveal many works of art from Europe on the streets. Also there is the nearby zoo in Naples. Ft Myers and air boat rides. The Shell Factory in North Ft Myers is a trip and a half. Largest area of stuff to buy I've ever seen. An evening in Ft Myers is not complete without viewing the sunset from the Firestone bar near the river. Also a nature preserve off Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. About a 2 1/2 mile walk through swamps. Although not in Ft Myers, a road trip to Salibel and the fishing pier with beaches full of shells is not to be missed. Further along a dinner at the 'Mucky Duck' is enjoyable near their beach. THe Edison Estates is great for historical info and the gardens are good also.

I've been here in Ft Myers for 4 years and see new stuff all the time.

Sarge69

Corsair Photog Loc: Southeast WI

Thank you everyone for your responses. I am contacting a local brick and mortar photo store on a lens rental: Tamron zoom 150-600 VR. If that does not work out I will contact lensrentals.com. Enjoy February!!

fran120

You should check out this site. Lots of links.
http://www.floridarambler.com/

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

I believe you meant Sanibel. I concurr with your sightseeing guide.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

After reading a lot of the responses, they've pretty well covered the high points. Since you are going to be there for 4 days, you are going to have your plate full. The wife and I moved to Clearwater, Fl. 3 years ago last November and have traveled a lot of the state and haven't even come close to scratching the surface. We lived in Pennsylvania and had plenty of nature, historical, etc. shots there but nothing compared to Florida. And, the west coast of Florida (and to a lesser degree the Keys) are covered with nature habitats. Especially from Saint Petersburg, Fl. - north into the Panhandle. The part from roughly Clearwater to big bend is called the Nature Coast as there are so many sanctuaries etc. In fact, Honeymoon Island (Dunedin, Fl) has about 120 Osprey nests with couples incubating their eggs (they are supposed to start hatching in about a week). There are also Bald Eagles at Honeymoon Island, Salt Springs (near New Port Richie) and several other areas near by. There are also plenty of nature preserves down there.

My point is that you may want to consider scheduling some more trips.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Look up Bruce Hitchcock for Everglades photo tours out of Everglades City. He has a flat bottom boat that we used a few years back. He is a certified naturalist and brought us to great photo ops for all types of birds. I highly recommend him.

http://www.nofreelunchcharters.com/

I used a Sony 70-400 with a crop sensor for my shots from the boat. 200mm will be disappointing.