Questions for birders
Nov 3, 2016 10:50:14 #
markngolf wrote:
Thanks Mark for the link. I've glanced through it and will give it a more thorough look this evening. I am suffering from information overload.
Nov 3, 2016 10:58:52 #
JCam wrote:
That would be my recommendation too. It is about 20 minutes east of Naples and you can "do it" in a 1/2 day.
Thanks JCam! Time will be an important consideration because I want to visit as many as possible without rushing past some great opportunities.
Nov 3, 2016 11:07:50 #
nimbushopper wrote:
In my area my favorite spot is the Circle B preserve in Lakeland. Merritt Island on the East coast is great, Ding Darling on the west coast fantastic, and all the way down south is the penultimate everglades. So it really depends on where you are going in FL and how much time you will have !
Thank you nimbushopper! I would dearly love to visit all of these and others as well. I have heard great things and seen wonderful photos posted here about all these and hope to visit at least a couple of them. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Nov 3, 2016 11:14:55 #
I understand.
Thanks for the reply.
Mark
Thanks for the reply.
Mark
Sugar'sDaddy wrote:
Thanks Mark for the link. I've glanced through it and will give it a more thorough look this evening. I am suffering from information overload.
Nov 3, 2016 11:16:53 #
Super photo of the Rosetta Spoonbill.
Mark
Mark
imagemeister wrote:
This was shot in January ......full breeding colors .......different birds slightly different times
Nov 3, 2016 11:17:57 #
I have been to the sites you mentioned but the one I would choose in a heartbeat is Merritt Island. I was there last December on there were literally hundreds of egrets (snowy and great), wood storks, herons of all types, spoonbills and others. Not to mention hawks and eagles.
Nov 3, 2016 11:19:30 #
Madman wrote:
A number of Hogs including myself, Ol' Frank, gregoryd45 and hopefully many others will be meeting up in Everglades City, probably in January of 2017. This has become an annual event. We would love to have you and any other members join us. I promise that you will have a great time.
Thank you Madman! I don't know about the timing yet, but that would be a wonderful experience. I've always wanted to meet fellow UHH members. If I can't make it, I still wish you all the best.
Nov 3, 2016 11:27:27 #
cjeisch wrote:
Try Gatorland near Orlando. They have a nesting area with lots of different birds and you can get very close to them.
Thank you cjeisch! I recently lost my best photography friend, and it was his wish to go to Gatorland. I would very much like to go there as a tribute to him. If he had lived, we wanted to make that trip together.
Nov 3, 2016 11:29:35 #
The Anhinga Trail outside of Homestead is wonderful. Depending on time of winter, you can even see young Anhingas on the nests being fed. Also herons and other wading birds along the boardwalks. Shark Valley is really good for Wood Storks, Roseated Spoonbills and Anhingas. Go to visitors center right on the highway first. They put me on to a boardwalk where I got to photograph a lazy coiled up Cottonmouth Water Moccasin in the wild. Ding Darling is good but lots of people on that little island.
Nov 3, 2016 11:42:56 #
backroader wrote:
The Anhinga Trail outside of Homestead is wonderfu... (show quote)
Thanks backroader! Shark Valley has been recommended several times, so I will research it. Before now, I was completely unaware of it, and that was the basic reason for the post.
Nov 3, 2016 11:51:28 #
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your responses. I think I have plenty of information now to sift through over the next couple of months. I'm so looking forward to this trip, and hopefully I'll have some good photos to share with you. To all member Hogs, have a very good day, and happy shooting!
Nov 3, 2016 13:15:56 #
Just one other thought about Merritt Island if you happen to fer there. The Blackpoint Wildlife Drive here is excellent and not to be missed. But there is one other road in that vicinity that in my opinion is just as good if not better at times. This is the Biolab Road, one that runs along and parallel to the open water of Indian River. Here you have the open water and mudflats to your east while to the west Wetlands and ponds. Gives you a great selection of lots of different species. You can gain access to this road just before the Biolab boat ramp (to the right) just off of Courtenay Pkwy North on the island. Like I say, it follows the coast and hooks up at the south end on the Playalinda Beach Road. You can either exit here or go back north to do more birding. I have described doing the road from north to south as if you come the other way you must stop at the beach pay station before you get to it. Coming the other way you don't. This kinda shows a bit of my Scots heritage. 😜 Hopefully this hasn't changed since I was there 2 years ago.
Ron
Ron
Nov 3, 2016 13:25:03 #
LittleRed wrote:
Just one other thought about Merritt Island if you... (show quote)
Thanks again Ron. I have a Scots/Irish heritage myself.
This area is looking very intriguing.Nov 3, 2016 19:11:08 #
Dont forget the Venice Rookery (Venice Fl )
Close is the word
Took all of these there
The reason no one is shooting the big Blue is their long lenses wont focus that close
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNBicxEJvE
Close is the word
Took all of these there
The reason no one is shooting the big Blue is their long lenses wont focus that close
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNBicxEJvE
Nov 3, 2016 20:47:42 #
Sugar'sDaddy wrote:
Thanks MTG44! You guys are making me dizzy with all the great locations, but that is the great thing about the UHH, more help than one can handle! 
That's the thing about Florida, almost anywhere you go near the water you will find birds of all kinds and shapes. Don't be surprised if a Sand hill comes up and pecks at the front of your lens. It has happened to me several times.
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