Ding Darling and Roseate Spoonbils
Feb 15, 2022 18:07:10 #
billnikon wrote:
When habitat is taken over by new homes, things happen, and not good things for wildlife.
Very true, and that's going on big time here.
Feb 15, 2022 18:56:38 #
a6k
Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
Birds generally feed early in the day and near the end of the day. They usually roost or rest in mid-day. For that reason, the best times at DD will usually be when the tide is low at the start or end of the day. There were at least two RS's there yesterday. Their bodies were pink and their necks were white. They get even more deeply colored a little later in the season.
Feb 15, 2022 22:58:39 #
Ding Darling is hit or miss. I have been there numerous times. Myakka River Park has always worked well for me. There are great spoonie rookeries on that location some one mentioned above in Tampa Bay but they are off shore and you need a boat or kayak or go with a photography tour group.
Feb 15, 2022 23:18:20 #
oconnortf wrote:
Finding Spoonbills can be tough when travelling a ... (show quote)
I have kayaked out of the Alafia River and around that island. There are concrete barriers around part of it and even where there aren’t you’re not allowed within 50ft of the high tide line. You’d need a 600mm lens at minimum and really need to learn the best time and locations. There are a few photo tours that get you there by boat. I was just in Florida to kayak a couple of weeks ago but this time I spent the entire time in the Cape Coral area but never made it to Ding Darling because the low tides never jibed with time I was t kayaking. I have actually paddled to Ding Darling from St. James City. The problem is you can’t paddle far enough in at low tide when the birds are there.
Feb 16, 2022 08:54:52 #
Indi wrote:
Where is Ding Darling?
Ding Darling is on the Southern Gulf Coast area of Florida on Sanibel Island. It is a National Wildlife Refuge and a beautiful area to visit.
I recently move to Estero, which is very close to Ding Darling and I'm looking forward to recommendations when to visit as well.
Feb 16, 2022 12:43:45 #
a6k
Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
It's closed on Friday's. Otherwise heed the advice regarding time of day and tides.
Feb 16, 2022 14:11:46 #
a6k wrote:
It's closed on Friday's. Otherwise heed the advice regarding time of day and tides.
Yes, good point. During my recent kayaking trip one friend opted out of our Friday paddle because it was windy and a lot of open water. She planned on going to Ding Darling instead but found out they were closed. I didn’t think to tell her about Corkscrew but she found a couple of places in Cape Coral. That day we launched from a causeway island and paddled into Tarpon Bay and then into Commodore Creek. I wish I’d brought more than my TG-6, but the birds in the creek are obviously used to people. I got within 5 feet of a yellow-crested night heron and a juvenile little blue heron.
It was windy and choppy on the open water but I’m used to the wind down there. Twice I’ve paddled to Cayo Costa from Pine Island in 20+ knot winds.
Feb 16, 2022 17:13:06 #
Last visit to Ding Darling was a year ago. Biggest attraction on that visit was a vast number of white pelicans. We didn't see spoonbills on that visit, but planning a return visit soon. We did recently visit Mayakka State Park outside of Sarasota and saw a good sized flock of spoonbills there along with lots of other wildlife. Here's a picture of one from thre.
Feb 17, 2022 11:43:19 #
GOOD INFO:
I know this is a little late in this post. But I now have the best conditions at Ding Darling along Wildlife Drive to shoot. Just talked to a photographer friend of mine who lives there and works there and he said Low tide early in the morning is the Photographers best time to shoot. For those times Google: Cape Coral Bridge Drive for the tide charts. The chart you want is: USHARBORS which is the same for Ding.
I know this is a little late in this post. But I now have the best conditions at Ding Darling along Wildlife Drive to shoot. Just talked to a photographer friend of mine who lives there and works there and he said Low tide early in the morning is the Photographers best time to shoot. For those times Google: Cape Coral Bridge Drive for the tide charts. The chart you want is: USHARBORS which is the same for Ding.
Feb 18, 2022 16:35:18 #
Fotoartist wrote:
GOOD INFO:
I know this is a little late in this post. But I now have the best conditions at Ding Darling along Wildlife Drive to shoot. Just talked to a photographer friend of mine who lives there and works there and he said Low tide early in the morning is the Photographers best time to shoot. For those times Google: Cape Coral Bridge Drive for the tide charts. The chart you want is: USHARBORS which is the same for Ding.
I know this is a little late in this post. But I now have the best conditions at Ding Darling along Wildlife Drive to shoot. Just talked to a photographer friend of mine who lives there and works there and he said Low tide early in the morning is the Photographers best time to shoot. For those times Google: Cape Coral Bridge Drive for the tide charts. The chart you want is: USHARBORS which is the same for Ding.
Not late at all! I've been watching this thread as I will be visiting Ding Darling again sometime in the next few weeks. and this helps a bunch. Thanks for sharing :-)
Feb 19, 2022 15:13:55 #
Just an fyi for some, if you have a national parks pass it will get you on the wild life drive for free.
Of coarse you are free to donate however much you wish!
Also getting there very early like 7:00 am is pretty important as the toll booths, bridge and causeway can get very backed up with traffic before mid morning.
Of coarse you are free to donate however much you wish!
Also getting there very early like 7:00 am is pretty important as the toll booths, bridge and causeway can get very backed up with traffic before mid morning.
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