Been to Ding Darling and Cypress Swamp.
Ding Darling is best at low tide.
Swamp has gators.
Len
JCam
Loc: MD Eastern Shore
We found that the Corkscrew Swamp which is not state controlled to be one of the best for viewing and photos. They have a wooden 'bridge' just a few feet over the water level for easy and safe walking and most of the birds and animals are so used to people that I doubt that you will need that 600mm lens. I was using a 70-300 and it was more than adequate.
Enjoy your trip.
JCam wrote:
We found that the Corkscrew Swamp which is not state controlled to be one of the best for viewing and photos. They have a wooden 'bridge' just a few feet over the water level for easy and safe walking and most of the birds and animals are so used to people that I doubt that you will need that 600mm lens. I was using a 70-300 and it was more than adequate.
Enjoy your trip.
The 70-300 will do a nice job on the 2 mile plus boardwalk. I had a 200-500 and a couple times it was too long, but I managed to survive!
Geegee
Loc: Peterborough, Ont.
If you're going to be near Jacksonville they have an alligator farm and rookery. The rookery is fantastic and you will get all the pictures that you ever dreamed of. I highly recommend it.
I have never seen a burrowing owl so a chance to photograph one is great. Thanks for the website, it looks like a great help.
My wife and I were in South Florida recently. We went to Fakahatchee Strand, Big Cypress Boardwalk,
Ding Darling sanctuary, Shark Valley, Clyde Butcher Gallery and missed out on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
A few thoughts;
Shark Valley is wonderful but you either walk, bike or ride the tram. No cars are allowed. We rode our bikes but you can rent them there. I don't think the tram is a good option as it doesn't stop when you want to. Honestly if you walk 1 or 2 miles going counterclockwise on the loop you will see a bunch of birds and gators. Give the gators a wide berth. They can be right by or in the road. We did the whole loop and saw over 100 gators.
Ding Darling was great too but you do need to go at low tide to see maximum amounts of birds in my opinion. We drove this as there are ample places to pull over. We biked it on a previous trip.
If possible, when going to Shark Valley you should also go to Clyde Butcher Gallery. He is a fabulous large format photographer. Here are a few examples from our trip. I think these were all shot with Canon 7D and 100-400 L series one lens. Enjoy your trip!
Get on TripAdvisor.com and put in those areas know you will find the birds
chuck
Sarasota celery fields
Venice rookery
Not more birds. What is it with photographers and birds?
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Meadwilliam wrote:
Not more birds. What is it with photographers and birds?
Haven't you hear, UHH is for the birds.
You take photos of what's at hand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Len
Meadwilliam wrote:
Not more birds. What is it with photographers and birds?
To each his own. Some people like to photograph nature and some could’nt care less. What do you like to photograph? Post some photographs when you can.
Re: Billnikon-great egret. Your image of a great egret is beyond great. Congratulations! Davidb1879.
I went to the Ding Darling and the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive a few weeks ago. Lake Apopka was 10X better. The rookery in Venice is nice also.
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