sergio

My spouse and I intend to go to Florida in December-January. Last year we went to the East coast and it was awesome. Attached are a few pictures.
We would like -this time- to go to Fort Myers. It seems well located and with easy access to places like JN Darling NWR/Sanibel, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary etc.
We live in Washington DC and usually travel by plane, rent an apartment and a car and keep doing bird photography.
Your advice would be much appreciated. Also, do you think that the present algae problem would hinder our visit?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

There are many places on the Gulf Coast near Fort Myers, here are a few:

You mentioned two, Ding Darling and the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary a few others are the Everglades= https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm the Naples Botanical Gardens= https://www.naplesgarden.org and Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lettuce_Lake_Park and Gulf Coast sunsets are always fantastic. I am sure others will offer more suggestions. Have fun.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

The Venice Area Audubon Rookery is just south of Sarasota in Venice Fl. on the west coast. This is a little writeup of those who have visited. " The rookery - the Venice Area Audubon Rookery - is an island centered in the middle of a small lake. About 70% of the lake is surrounded by vegetation and native plant growth. The remaining area is open to viewing, and has a well worn path, obviously trod by many feet in an effort to view this wonderful spectacle. Only minutes after our arrival, other bird lovers began to arrive, all carrying some array of cameras and tripods. The mood was somewhat reverent in testament to the foggy mists surrounding the island, with everyone speaking softly and moving quietly and quickly to position themselves for what they believed would be the best picture ever ". I have not visited personally and am not really a birder but have heard wonderful things about the image opportunities esp. during the winter months... Google it for more info.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Also Fort deSoto

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

From the photos you included it appears you appreciate owls. In Ft. Myers you'll be just across the Caloosahatchee River from Cape Coral. That is a sprawling town with more Burrowing Owls than any other place in Florida. They are not particularly shy and for some reason their burrows tend to be near the roads, allowing great photos from your car, without spooking them. The burrows are mostly marked by PVC poles installed by the city and Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife so that the large grass mowers operated by the city do not run over and collapse the shallow burrows. There are literally thousands of burrows throughout the city. If you are so inclined, contact me and I will give you some specific areas of the city to look.

I most heartily agree that the Venice Rookery is an absolute must for your visit. You will need a long lens, I think 400mm would be a minimum. Many use 600mm with telextenders. There are fantastic opportunities for Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and several other species who nest and raise young on the island.

By the time you arrive the blue-green algae issue should be less of a problem with the cooler temperatures. Make no mistake, it is a tremendous ecological disaster with a lot of the blame to be laid at the feet of our legislature and our governor in gutting environmental protections for the last 8 years or so. I do not believe it will affect you by this winter.

MTG44 Loc: Corryton, Tennessee

Honeymoon Island is great.Lots of Osprey and there is a bald eagle nest and an owl nest that are active.

Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY

The red tide is killing the west coast from Sarasota on south. I would watch the news carefully and if the outbreak continues I would head to Merritt Island and the Everglades and avoid the stench. All of the spots listed in previous spots were my favorites but birdlife will be disrupted by the tide and the area will be very unpleasant or impossible for you.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

There are tons of places in Western Florida to photo birds and wildlife. I live in Clearwater (moved here from Oklahoma, Connecticut, then Pennsylvania (Warminster just outside of Philly). while Pennsylvania and Connecticut had good northern photos (deer, birds and seascapes)… From Clearwater, I have 8-10 places within a 30 minute drive, and that is without going to Tampa, Orlando or many of the other "near by" locations. Cross the Sunshine Bridge (Saint Petersburg, Fl.. by the way, Fort DeSoto is a great birding spot) and you've got everything down to Ft Meyers (including the Everglades) within about a 2-3 hour drive. You can go north to Chrystal River and pass 6 or 7 wildlife refuges on the way.. to see manatees.. or just go to Tampa (30 minutes east of Clearwater to the Manatee Center. The Clearwater area also has a lot of nature preserves (many surrounded by homes) where birds, gators, and fish thrive. Or you can go to Clearwater Marine Aquarium and see a plethora of aquatic animals (including Winter, Hope, Rufus, and others that were in the 2 Dolphin Tale movies. (the entrance fee is a little pricy but worth it as a day trip). Disney World is about 1.5 hours north and Wild Animal Kingdom, especially the safari, is a great photo shoot. The rest of Disney and the other parks, Universal, and Sea World are excellent. And of course if you are going to Orlando, you may as well go the Kennedy Space Center... I know that's on the east coast but most of Florida is fairly close east to west.. its north to south that is a long haul.

wtmarks

Ding Darling is an excellent spot for birding. I would recommend staying on Captiva or Sanibel so you can get to Ding Darling early in the morning or at sunset.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

I have been very satisfied with trips to the Everglades City area during the March time frame. Very nice loops off of the Tamiami Trail, one I like is Turner River Rd near Ochopee.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Btw terrific photos!

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I would suggest you visit http://floridabirdingtrail.com/ and look at locations north of the Tampa area. The Red Tide is very bad and it's progress is well documented.
If you get up in my area, around Crystal River and north, there is no Red Tide. This area is coastal tide grasslands and there are many FL Birding sites with parking and trails out into the edges of the flats.
One very interesting spot is the Homosassa Wildlife Park. It's not too expensive and has animals, birds, snakes, alligators, manatees and even a Hippo(official made a Florida resident).
One site for eagles and osprey is the county dump which is great for carefully framed BIF....................

crazylarry

I lived in Sarasota for 35 years, now in Colorado. Myakka State Park near Sarasota, has lots of water birds and alligators.

JJ Young

Circle B in Lakeland, Fl

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I would first think of the environment for me. City/Suburban would be Sarasota and rural/suburban would be Crystal River. Once that was decided I'd look for spots close to there. Sarasota has some great spots but lots of people. Crystal River, especially in this heat (96 feels like 100), not crowded. You may be alone on many of the birding sites along the water.