Birding Holiday: Spending Presidents’ Day at Fort DeSoto
Roger Simmons,
Since I was off from work on Presidents Day, I decided to make the daunting trek to Fort DeSoto Park near St. Pete Beach. The daunting part, of course, was traveling to Tampa on Interstate 4, which is never fun.
But I have to say, even getting stuck in I-4 traffic was worth it for the shore birds I was able to photograph as sunset approached on the Gulf of Mexico.
And those birds included a very photogenic Reddish Egret, who was parading around in the lagoon on North Beach as the sun set.
Wilson’s Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Snowy Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Ruddy Turnstone, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Piping Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Semipalmated Sandpiper, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Piping Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Semipalmated Plover, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.Reddish Egret, Fort DeSoto Park, February 2024.
I visited the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge hoping to see some Florida Scrub-Jays and some Bald Eagles. I was fortunate enough to see both, as well as some other birds
I saw my first Eastern Towhee at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge back in March, but I’ve seen many more send then at the UCF Arboretum. The scrub bush landscape there is perfect for these colorful orange and black birds.
Between clouds and rain showers, I was able to visit my three go-to spots for birding – Orlando Wetlands, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive – in the first two weeks of January.