Going to Florida: I will be in Florida for a month (December). I am mostly but not exclusively interested in photographing birds. Could you advise on where to go? I shall be based in...

sergio

I will be in Florida for a month (December). I am mostly but not exclusively interested in photographing birds.
Could you advise on where to go?
I shall be based in Ford Lauderdale but I could travel from there by car.
Sergio

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

To the north is Merritt Island sanctuary and south is Everglades, can't get more birds than these two places. Google the Florida birding trail and you will come up with many more choices.

pbcbob Loc: Delray Beach, FL

Try Green Cay and Wakodahatchee twenty five miles north of you in Delray Beach. They are just over a mile apart and you can easily visit both in a morning or afternoon.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

Long Pine Lake in Everglades NP (Homestead Entrance) for sunrise or sunset. Pine Glade Lake for sunset, Pa-hay-o-kee for owls, and everglades view in the morning for vistas of the everglades and Flamingo for crocodiles and osprey building nests. Green Cay and Wakodahatchee and wonderful for birds.

SparkyNYC Loc: NYC & Coconut Creek,Fl

Besides Green Cay and Wakodahatchee,which I love, check out:
The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach
Butterfly World in Coconut Creek
Flamingo Gardens in Davie
All of these are no more than one hour away
Broward County and Palm Beach County have park systems that will keep you busy for the month.Enjoy

Hessie

Try Viera, FL. It is about 30 miles south of Merritt Island. Lots of birds there. Google the place. Viera is a very interesting community, completely self contained.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Thanks, all, for the wonderful suggestions on where to go to photograph birds. I've been to Florida once for that purpose, but with a tour guide, and want to go back on my own. I've put all these suggestions on my list.

SparkyNYC Loc: NYC & Coconut Creek,Fl

My problem going to those places to shoot birds is that I do not know what to look at first
Birds and other animals,or other peoples photographic gear!

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

sergio wrote:

I will be in Florida for a month (December). I am mostly but not exclusively interested in photographing birds.
Could you advise on where to go?
I shall be based in Ford Lauderdale but I could travel from there by car.
Sergio

I try to make it to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at least once a year. The Blackpoint Wildlife Drive is really great and there are other trails as well.
The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp near Naples is very good, as is Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa.
The Everglades of course, but some of the Everglades entrances are better than others so do your research.
The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Citrus County.
To be honest, Florida has so many National and State Wildlife reserves, preserves, and refuges you will never run out.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

sergio wrote:

I will be in Florida for a month (December). I am mostly but not exclusively interested in photographing birds.
Could you advise on where to go?
I shall be based in Ford Lauderdale but I could travel from there by car.
Sergio

Here is the book that gives you a number of locations for birding. Many of them near where your staying.

Florida Birding: A Guide to the Best Birding Locations In the Sunshine State https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546409076/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mBtiAb6T8EYRP

My favorite is the Merritt Island wildlife refuge.

http://www.stateparks.com/merritt_island_national_wildlife_refuge_in_florida.html

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Just a few miles away is Butterfly World https://www.butterflyworld.com/ It is a nice spot for photography.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

If you're traveling and happen to be in the Orlando area, the Orlando Wetland Park at Ft Christmas is a target rich environment for birds, especially in winter...free tours on Fri/Sat and easy walking dikes/trails

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Blaster34 wrote:

If you're traveling and happen to be in the Orlando area, the Orlando Wetland Park at Ft Christmas is a target rich environment for birds, especially in winter...free tours on Fri/Sat and easy walking dikes/trails

I second this suggestion. I go there almost once a week. Also if you’re in the Vierra Florida area which is kind of near Melbourne they have a great wetland as well.

sergio

Thank you (to all of you).
I see that somebody else already thanked (never happened to me) but I am the one who originated the question and I would like to express my gratitude.
Sergiu
PS I also bought the books.

Ira

I agree, Green Cay and Wakodahatchee are great places to photograph birds. They are both close to each other (a 5 minute drive) and are about 20-30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. They are both free. Then you can go to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge that is about 10 minutes from Green Cay. There is a small admission fee unless you have a Nation Parks Senior Pass, then it is free. I think the true address is in Boynton Beach, not Delray Beach.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34094-d1982882-Reviews-Green_Cay_Nature_Center_and_Wetlands-Boynton_Beach_Florida.html