Wind & St. Pete's
- Barbara Seith
- Feb 23, 2023
- 2 min read
Fort DeSoto – my first day at Fort DeSoto was very windy. I mean so windy that I couldn’t walk out on a pier, so it was all car birding all the time. I did ok, but really wanted to get to see the Reddish Egret which required walking. The next morning I was there when the park opened and did a bee-line for North Beach. I struck out on the road that went out to the far point and the first bird I saw was the Reddish Egret. It was an easy walk out a dirt road a little over a mile out and back. Got some time with Nanaday Parakeets on the way back and saw a Snowy Plover while I was out at the point. Also ran into a lovely woman who runs the Best of Fort DeSoto facebook page who’s photographs I had been admiring. I also hit the East Beach Turnaround which had lots of birds, but nothing outstanding.
On the windy day - American White Pelicans amassed on a Sandbar
Sanderlings
Semipalmated Plover
Wilson's Plover
Sanderling expressing its opinion
Ruddy Turnstone
Osprey
Short-billed Dowitcher
Black Bellied Plover
Day 2
Reddish Egret
Red-breasted Merganser -- the fish finder of Fort DeSoto
Snowy Plover
American Oystercatcher
Snowy Plover
Birds
Reddish Egret
American Kestrel
Nanaday Parakeet
Duck Ponds in Tierra Verde – after a windy morning at Fort DeSoto I hit this spot on the way back. LOTS of ducks and an easy bird. No reason not to stop here. Also had Nanaday Parakeets in the Hotel parking lot - Go Figure
Redheads
Lesser Scaups
Redheads
Nanaday Parakeets
Dunedin Causeway (Honeymoon Island) – The Dunedin (Pronounced DUN-eden not Dune-DIN) Causeway was a perfect setup for me. Wide dirt roads and parking on BOTH sides of the Causeway – wide enough for two way traffic, so I could drive with my driver’s side to the sea (and the birds) – got some great shots. Comparatively, Honeymoon Island was a bust, but I did not get out and walk. It was pretty hot when I got there and seemed crowded even though the parking lot wasn’t full. $10 – they had restrooms, but I did not use them.
American Oystercatcher
Marbled Godwit
Plovers
Black-bellied Plover
Forster's Tern
Wilson's Plover
Fred Howard County Park – I only did a quick checkout, seemed like good potential and (a rare thing in Florida) an easily assessable beach. $5 but has good restrooms. Also got to see Black Skimmers lying flat on the ground -- I had heard tell but never seen it before.
Black Skimmers
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