Blue indicates trips on the water
Red indicates Dates, Times and Special Information
Black indicates trips on Land and Trip Leaders to be announced no later than December 10, 2023
Green is for Meet-up spots
American Birding Association Young Birders Space Coast Adventure
Sat. Jan. 27, 2:00pm-4:00pm; Limit 40 Registrants; $50 includes a snack.
Leaders: Laura Guerard & Jim Mc Guinity (American Birding Association), Jim Eager (Obsessive Compulsive Birding)
Meet Up at Kelly Park East, 2550 N. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island. Arrive by 1:45pm. Estimated 7 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
For ages 9 – 17 with an accompanying adult.
Sunscreen is recommended. Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BLUE DOLPHIN LAGOON BOAT TOUR IN 2020
Young Birders unite! Join the American Birding Association (ABA) for an outing designed especially for youth with an interest in birds and birding! While aboard Space Coast River Tour’s pontoon boat The Blue Dolphin, we will cruise on the Banana River, through the Canaveral Locks into Port Canaveral. This trip is designed to introduce the wonderful world of birding to a younger generation who have an interest and curiosity of birds. Along the way we will see many birds common to the area which will allow you to hone your identification skills and observe how the different species interact. There will be expert adult birders onboard to help with questions young birders might have and the opportunity to meet others who are equally as enthusiastic.
Airboat Birding Along the St Johns River
Sun. Jan. 28 10:00-11:30am Tom Ledford 2:00-3:30pm Betty Salter Barb Eager (SCBWA)
Limit 5 Registrants; $90
Leaders: Wed. Jan. 24 10:00-11:30am João Jara (Birds & Nature Tours Portugal) 12:00-1:30pm TBD 2:00-3:30pm TBD
Thur. Jan. 25 10:00-11:30am Kelly Smith (American Birding Association 12:00-1:30pm TBD 2:00-3:30pm TBD
Fri. Jan. 26 10:00-11:30am Kelly Smith (American Birding Association 12:00-1:30pm TBD 2:00-3:30pm TBD
Sat. Jan. 27 10:00-11:30am Serge Arias 12:00-1:30pm TBD 2:00-3:30pm Dave Goodwin (Florida Ornithological Society)
Sun. Jan. 28 10:00-11:30am Gabriel Lugo 12:00-1:30pm Tom Ledford 2:00-3:30pm Betty Salter Barb Eager (SCBWA)
Meet Up at the Highway 50 Boat Ramp, 28500 East Colonial Drive, Christmas. Estimated 29 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
You must be in reasonably good shape to get up into the high seats on the airboat. No restroom facility.
BIRDS SEEN ON The AIRBOAT BIRDING ALONG THE ST JOHNS RIVER TOUR IN 2020
You will enjoy the exclusive combination of Captain Mike, a fifth generation Floridian who grew up here on the river, and a professional birding tour guide and other birders on this exclusive small personal tour. You will glide along marshes and into a secluded cypress swamp to view an abundance of wading birds, waterfowl and raptors on this special adventure. This is optimal habitat for Snail Kites, Crested Caracaras, and Bald Eagles. In fact, 25 Bald Eagles were observed on just one trip in 2020. The St Johns River floodplain is only accessible by airboat due to the shallow depth. Your guides will point out the habitats and ongoing activity of the many species that are found here. Other wildlife, including alligators, may be encountered. This is a great opportunity for birders who prefer to avoid strenuous walking or hiking. Airboat Tours are hosted by A St. Johns River Airboat Tours LLC in Titusville, FL https://stjohnsairboatour.com/
Barrier Island Education Center and Pelican Island Boat Trip
Thur. Jan. 25, 9:30am-7:30pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $135 includes snack sack.
Leaders: Ray Mojica (Barrier Island Center Volunteer) & Gabriel Lugo (Wildside Nature Tours) & Forrest Rowland (Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
Bring money for a 2:00pm lunch at Blackfin’s Riverfront Grill at Capt. Hiram’s Resort – https://hirams.com/riverfront-restaurant/blackfins/Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BARRIER ISLAND CENTER AND PELICAN ISLAND BOAT TRIP IN 2020
This trip begins with a personal tour of the Barrier Island Education Center (BIEC) and a videofollowed by scoping for shorebirds and sea birds at the boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean. The BIEC is located inside the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR) on South Melbourne Beach. Continuing the bus ride to Sebastian, you will arrive at Capt. Hiram’s Resort for a late lunch and a boat tour to Pelican Island (our first National Wildlife Refuge) on the River King, a 45-foot USCG approved pontoon boat. 16 species nest on the 4.2-acre Pelican Island, including Brown Pelican, Wood Stork, Anhinga, American Oystercatcher, and many herons and egrets. On the water look for American White Pelican, Lesser Scaup, Mottled Duck, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser and many gulls and terns. Bottle-nosed dolphins are probable and sea turtles are possible.
In the event of inclement weather as determined by the captain, participants on the trip will view Pelican Island and the birds coming in to roost for the evening from the Refuge’s land-based location on the barrier island. https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/BarrierIslandSanctuaryhttps://hirams.com/things-to-do/riverking/
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island
Beach Birds Boat Trip on the Halifax River
Sun. Jan. 28; 12:00pm-4:00pm; Limit 36 Registrants; $85 Marine head on boat. Bring water, snacks and sunscreen.
Leaders: Adam Kent (Florida Ornithological Society), Gina Kent (Avian Research) & Conservation Institute), Michael Brothers (Marine Science Center Pelagic Adventures) & Laurilee Thompson (SCBWF Founder)
Meet Up at 116 North Causeway (FL Highway 44), New Smyrna Beach, FL. Park in the grassy field on the right directly across from the Volusia Medical Center.
Arrive by 11:45. Estimated 58 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BEACH BIRDS BOAT TRIP ON THE HALIFAX RIVER IN 2020
A 4-hour boat trip on the Coast Guard certified 40-passenger pontoon boat, Discovery, will target Disappearing Island on a falling tide, when large concentrations of gulls, terns and shorebirds will be congregating to feed on the exposed sandbar. Disappearing Island is located near the entrance to Ponce Inlet. Other exposed sand bars near the inlet and in the Halifax River will also be visited, if possible. Twenty species of shorebirds are possible here, including American Oystercatchers, Piping and Wilson’s Plovers, Purple Sandpipers and Red Knots. There is always a possibility of finding rarities such as a Glaucous or Iceland Gull among the many gulls that will be seen. Participants on this trip in 2020 saw 14 shorebird species, 5 gull species, 4 tern species, both night-herons and lots of bottlenose dolphins. The Saturday afternoon Beach Birds class will be a great introduction for this trip. https://marinediscoverycenter.org/ https://marinediscoverycenter.org/boat-tours/
Beginning Birding Field Trip at MINWR
Wed. Jan. 24 & Fri. Jan. 26, 8:00am-11:30am; Limit 12 Registrants; $35
Leaders: Kim King-Wrenn, Merritt Island NWR park ranger
Meet Up at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 1987 Scrub Jay Way Titusville 32782 to board a small bus at 7:45. Estimated 38 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Restrooms available at the Visitor Center and midway through the Black Point Wildlife Drive.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BEGINNING BIRDING AT MINWR TOUR IN 2020
Join Kim for an intimate morning of instruction and observation along the highly acclaimed Black Point Wildlife Drive where there will be birds galore. She will help you learn helpful hints for beginners on where to find birds and how to identify them, interesting behaviors, and identification tricks of the birding trade. We will see how the reddish egret dances for its food while the Little Blue Heron simply stalks its food. The large flocks of white birds will become familiar to you as Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, White Ibis, Woodstorks and White Pelicans. Shallow impoundments filled with wading birds will offer opportunities to differentiate between egrets and herons. Birding is far more than a hobby. It is an open door to the world of nature, a touch point that connects people to the outdoors.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Betty Salter Trail at The Great Outdoors
Sun. Jan. 28, 9:00am-12:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $35
Leaders: Betty Salter (The Great Outdoors Trail Master & Naturalist), Barb Eager (Executive Director Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival) & Robin Francis, TGO Nature Photographer
Meet Up at Golf Carts Unlimited, 880 Hospitality Way, Titusville, FL 32780. The Great Outdoors (TGO) is a gated community so the driver should be prepared to show the gatekeeper your ID and explain that you are there for a tour with Betty Salter. Estimated 30 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
This is a combination golf cart and walking tour. The walking distance is about 1 mile. Good hiking shoes & walking stick are recommended. No restrooms available on the trail.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BETTY SALTER TRAIL AT THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN 2020
On our way to the trailhead, we will be looking for our resident Sandhill Cranes, Great Horned Owls, Osprey and Red-Shouldered Hawks. As we enter the trail, there is a wet meadow on the right which in spring is covered in wildflowers. The first half of the trail has little shade as it passes between wetlands, ponds, and the Canaveral Marshes tract of St. Johns River Water Management District. Midway through the trail we will cross a 30-foot-long twelve-inch-wide concrete weir with a coated wire cable handrail. To the left is a borrow pond and to the right a streambed connected to the St. Johns River. The second half of the trail is shaded by pines, palms, cedars and oak trees. Egrets, herons, ducks and shorebirds as well as bobcats, deer and alligators have been seen on this trail. After the tour, consider having lunch at the Blue Heron Restaurant in TGO.
https://naturecenterattgo.org/ https://www.blueheronrestaurant.org/
Black Point Wildlife Drive & Cruickshank Trail
Sun. Jan. 28, 8:30am-12:30pm; Limit 20 Registrants; $35
Leaders: Charlie Venuto (Merritt Island Wildlife Association), Bert Alm (Space Coast Audubon
Meet Up at the Parrish Park Boat Ramp Parking Lot 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Pkwy, Titusville at 8:15 a.m. Estimated 33 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
This is a self-driving tour of the Black Point Wildlife Drive and a walking tour of the Cruickshank Trail. Restroom facilities are available at the trailhead. The expected duration of the walk is 2 hours.
Through Allan Cruickshank’s vision, enthusiasm, determination and influence, NASA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement in 1963 which created the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. To pay tribute to this man’s unique contribution to the National Wildlife Refuge System, a five-mile trail was dedicated to his memory. This easy 5-mile walk around the Cruickshank Trail will take participants through marshlands with the likelihood of observing wading birds, shore birds, wintering warblers and birds of prey. Along the way, Charlie will entertain you with stories of Allan and Helen Cruickshank’s influence on the environmental movement. While driving to the trailhead, stops will be made along the Black Point Wildlife Drive to look at concentrations of birds. Examples of the birds you may see include Great Blue Heron, Tri-color Heron, Osprey, Pied Billed Grebes, Reddish Egret, Little Blue Heron, Gray Catbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mottled Duck, Blue-wing Teal, Anhinga, and Double-crested Cormorant.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Black Rails at the St. Johns NWR
Wed. Jan. 24 & Thur. Jan. 25; 4:15pm-7:00pm; Limit 14 Registrants; $65 Includes a snack sack.
Leaders: Kim King-Wrenn, Merritt Island NWR park ranger
Wed. Jan. 24 David Simpson
Thur. Jan 25 (Zeiss)
Meet Up at Cracker Barrel Restaurant, 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville at 4:15pm in the south parking area. Estimated 25 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There are no restrooms at the site. You may be walking through water, mud, and grass. Old shoes, or ‘knee’ boots are advised.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BLACK RAILS AT ST JOHNS NWR TOUR IN 2020
A caravan of USFWS trucks will carry attendees into the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge which is a restricted access property. Preserved as the last home of the now-extinct Dusky Seaside Sparrow, these marshes west of Titusville are unique because here saline water seeps to the surface from a layer of salty water that lies above the Floridan Aquifer, creating marine-type habitats in the middle of a huge freshwater floodplain – perfect for secretive marsh birds. The Black Rail is one of the most elusive wetland birds and is on the state and federal endangered and threatened species lists. King Rails and Virginia Rails are also possible. As the sun sets on the marsh horizon and wading birds flock to their roosts, we will make stops and try to entice rails to call.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st-johns
Blue Dolphin Ultimate Boat Birding and Wildlife Journey
Wed. Jan. 24, & Fri. Jan. 26, 2:00pm-4:00pm; Limit 40 Registrants; $50 Includes snack.
Leaders: Mark & Michelle Anderson
Wed. Jan. 24 Giovani Ortiz (Icaro Birding Tours) & Mariah Hryniewich (Phone Skope)
Fri. Jan. 26 Adam Kent (Florida Ornithological Society) & Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet Up at Kelly Park East, 2550 N. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island. Arrive by 1:45pm. Estimated 7 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Sunscreen is recommended. Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BLUE DOLPHIN LAGOON BOAT TOUR IN 2020
Welcome aboard the Blue Dolphin, a 49-passenger Coast Guard approved pontoon boat operated by Mark and Michele Anderson. This two-hour adventure will start at Kelly Park East, which is just 6 minutes from the Radisson Resort. We will cross the Banana River, pass through the Canaveral Locks and into Port Canaveral where you may see the Space X fleet of rocket recovery ships and plenty of birds! In addition, you are likely to see dolphins. A flock of American White Pelicans is normally seen at the entrance to the locks and during the cruise you will see Ospreys and other raptors, Wood Storks, Northern Gannets, pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns and lots of egrets and herons. Past trips have produced such uncommon visitors as Common Eider, Magnificent Frigatebird Sabine’s Gull and Common Loon. We are looking forward to seeing you aboard the Blue Dolphin. https://www.spacecoastrivertours.com/index.html
Blue Dolphin Ultimate Boat Birding and Wildlife Journey
Thur. Jan. 25, 2:00pm-6:00pm; Limit 40 Registrants; $90 includes snack & light lunch from Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill.
Leaders: Mark & Michelle Anderson (Blue Dolphin), Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours) & Giovani Ortiz (Icaro Birding Tours)
Meet Up at Kelly Park East, 2550 N. Banana River Drive, Merritt Island. Arrive by 1:45pm. Estimated 7 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Sunscreen is recommended. Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE BLUE DOLPHIN LAGOON BOAT TOUR IN 2020
Welcome aboard the Blue Dolphin, a 49-passenger Coast Guard approved pontoon boat operated by Mark and Michele Anderson. This four-hour adventure will start at Kelly Park East, which is just 6 minutes from the Radisson Resort. The tour will take you through the Barge Canal to a popular wading bird rookery island in the Indian River Lagoon, where Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibises, and many species of egrets and herons will be nesting. We will cross the Banana River, pass through the Canaveral Locks and into Port Canaveral where you may see the Space X fleet of rocket recovery ships and plenty of birds! In addition, you are likely to see dolphins. A flock of American White Pelicans is normally seen at the entrance to the locks and during the cruise you will see Ospreys and other raptors, Wood Storks, Northern Gannets, pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns and lots of egrets and herons. Past trips have produced such uncommon visitors as Common Eider, Magnificent Frigatebird Sabine’s Gull and Common Loon. We are looking forward to seeing you aboard the Blue Dolphin. https://www.spacecoastrivertours.com/index.html
Blue Heron Wetlands Self-Driving Tour
Sat. Jan. 27 & Sun. Jan. 28, 7:00am-10:30am; Limit 16 Registrants; $35
Leaders: Al Brayton (Merritt Island NWR Volunteer)
Sat. Jan. 27 João Jara (Birds & Nature Tours Portugal)
Sun. Jan. 28 John Thomton
Meet Up at Cracker Barrel Restaurant, 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville FL 32780 at 6:45am in the south parking area. Estimated 25 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
No restrooms. Waiver must be signed.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE DRIVE AT BLUE HERON WETLANDS IN 2020
The Blue Heron Wetland Treatment System The wetland is divided into seven cells, one pond cell, three deep marsh cells, and three shallow marsh cells separated by earthen berms. A variety of waterfowl, wading birds and marsh birds congregate in the created wetlands at Blue Heron Water Treatment Facility. This is a 3-mile driving adventure on the dike road that surrounds the wetlands. Be prepared to move over and exit your vehicle at intervals in order to gain better viewing and to use your scope. American and Least Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Wood Duck, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Caspian Tern and Marsh Wren are just a few of over 100 species sighted at Blue Heron Wetlands.
https://titusville.com/509/Water-Reclamation-Facilities
Central Florida Specialties
Fri. Jan. 26, 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 32 Registrants; $145 includes a snack sack and box lunch.
Sun. Jan. 28, 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 11 Registrants; $145 includes a snack sack and box lunch.
Leaders:
Fri. Jan. 26: Jim Eager (Obsessive Compulsive Birding) & Dave Goodwin (Florida Ornithological Society) Chris Brown (Wildside Nature Tours)
Sun. Jan. 28: Jim Eager (Obsessive Compulsive Birding) & Dave Goodwin (Florida Ornithological Society)
Meet on the covered walkway to the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
Restroom stops will be made along the way.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE CENTRAL FLORIDA SPECIALTIES TOUR IN 2020
A pre-dawn start at Three Lakes WMA will target Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Bachman’s Sparrows, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Pine Warblers and Eastern Bluebirds. Next stop is Lake Marian Marina to look for Limpkins, night-herons and Bonaparte’s Gulls. Next destination is Joe Overstreet Road to search for Red-headed Woodpeckers. Along the road Eastern Meadowlarks, Savannah Sparrows, Sandhill Cranes, Wild Turkeys, American Kestrels and other raptors may be seen. Crested Caracaras and Bald Eagles nest in this area. At Joe Overstreet Landing on Lake Kissimmee, we’ll look for Snail Kites, Limpkins and Purple Gallinules in addition to the usual wading birds and inland gulls and terns. At Chapman’s Double C Bar Ranch large flocks of Sandhill Cranes are often found. Last stop will be at the Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge for Florida’s only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay. https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/three-lakes/ https://lakemarianresort.com/facilities/ https://www.doublecbarranch.com/ https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/HelenAndAllanCruickshankSanctuary
Dicerandra Scrub Preserve
Sun. Jan. 28 at 9:00 am-11:00 am, Limit 12 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Jim and Kay Stahl (Space Coast Audubon Board and retired biologists)
Meet Up at the Diceranda Scrub Preserve 4900 Melissa Drive, south of Route 50, in Titusville at 8:45 am. Estimated 28 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
No restrooms
See a delicate, fragrant mint, the Titusville Balm, found nowhere else in the world except in the Titusville area. In January it will be in fruit. Several species of pines, lyonias and other flatwood species will be seen – a few could be in bloom. The mile long trail passes by a large marsh, filled with water lilies, where wood ducks nest. Ferns are abundant. Florida Scrub-Jays, Eastern Towhees, woodpeckers and raptors might be seen. This is a very nice natural area surrounded by urban homes. https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/DicerandraScrubSanctuary
Enchanted Forest Sanctuary Day Hike
Thur. Jan. 25, 8:30am-10:30am, Limit 20 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Shelby Wood (Environmentally Endangered Land Program) & Serge Arias (Bird Watching in Costa Rica)
Meet Up at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, 444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville. Estimated 25 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Restrooms are available in the nature center. The nature center and the immediate area are handicapped accessible the trails are not.
Join the staff at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, where the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) program all started, to enjoy a guided hike through multiple habitats on and off the marked trails. Staff will be in front of the nature center for an introduction to the Enchanted Forest before the hike. There will be possible opportunities to see and/or hear different species of birds from Pileated Woodpeckers, warblers, flyover ducks and wading birds (Roseate Spoonbills, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, herons, egrets and more.), Red-shouldered Hawks, owls and more. You never know what you may see in the Enchanted Forest. https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/EnchantedForestSanctuary
Farewell Celebrity Walk with Kevin Karlson
Fri. Jan. 26, 8:00 am-12:00pm; Limit 20 Registrants; $50
Leaders: Kevin Karlson (Author & Professional Guide), Gabriel Lugo (Wildside Nature Tours) & TBD (Zeiss)
Meet Up at the Parrish Park Boat Ramp Parking Lot — 1 A. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville on the north side of the parking lot by the picnic pavilions. Estimated 33 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There are restrooms nearby at the east end of Parrish Park and halfway through the Black Point Wildlife Drive on Merritt Island NWR.
Kevin Karlson is an accomplished birder, author professional tour leader and wildlife photographer/instructor. He has been a regular at festivals in North America, where he gives keynote presentations, workshops on bird identification, and photo instruction. After 20 years of leading walks and giving talks at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, Kevin is retiring from this and most other events. Come along and share some last good times with Kevin at one of his favorite destinations, Merritt Island. This will be a casual walk with appreciation for all the birds we encounter along with natural history information and stories about their lives. Come and be part of this Last Waltz for Kevin at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Flora & Fauna of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Wed. Jan. 24 at 9:00 am-12:00pm, Limit 12 Registrants; $30
Leaders: Jim and Kay Stahl (Space Coast Audubon Board and retired biologists)
Meet Up at the Oak Hammock Trail parking lot on SR 406, approx. 1/2 mile east of the MINWR Visitor Center. Estimated 41 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
On this trip we will start with a hardwood hammock trail seeing oaks, maples, elms, palms, sub-tropical shrubs and the expected native species of woodland birds. Years ago a Townsends warbler spent the entire winter basically in a single large live oak. Then we will drive a short distance to a scrub/pine flatwoods habitat that borders a large marsh. There will be scrub oaks, lyonias and various scrub species. Florida Scrub-Jays are probable and Roseate Spoonbills, egrets, shorebirds and eagles are possible. Walking will be easy on a boardwalk and flat, dry trails. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Florida Scrub Jay Hike at Cruickshank Sanctuary
Thur. Jan. 25, 8:30am-10:30am; Limit 20 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Mike Knight (EEL) & Chip Clouse (Opticron)
Meet Up at the Helen & Alan Cruickshank Sanctuary, 360 Barnes Blvd, Rockledge, FL. Estimated 25 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
No restrooms at the site.
The Helen and Alan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge is considered to be one of the best EEL Sanctuary properties to observe Florida Scrub-Jays, a threatened species that is Florida’s only endemic bird. When the environment meets their needs, Florida Scrub-Jays will spend their entire lives on the same lands. The Cruickshank Sanctuary is located on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, a sandy relic maritime dune line that extends along the Florida East Coast from Jacksonville down to Miami. Patches of oak, sand pine scrub, and freshwater depression marshes add to the Sanctuary’s diversity. Since the EEL Program began land management at the 168-acre Sanctuary, the Florida Scrub-Jay population has increased from a few visiting birds to over 50 birds in 8 separate family territories. Gopher Tortoises, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and other species requiring scrub habitat are often observed in the Sanctuary. (Be sure to wear a hat, closed toe shoes, bring water, and sunscreen). https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/HelenAndAllanCruickshankSanctuary
Gull Fly-In & Marine Science Center
Thur. Jan. 25; 10:00am-7:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $150 includes box lunch.
Leaders: Michael Brothers (Marine Science Center Pelagic Adventures) & Sharon Stiteler (The Bird Chick)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
BIRDS SEEN AT THE GULL FLY-IN AT DAYTONA BEACH SHORES IN 2020
Tour the Marine Science Center. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Park and walk out to the jetty for shorebirds & gulls. Then board the bus to Frank Rendon Park which is known for the largest congregation of gulls on any beach in the US. This incredible dense array of gulls allows close approach to observe and photograph minute details on each species. Seen consistently here are species that are rare in Florida, including the only record of Vega Gull. Laughing, Franklin, Ring-billed, Herring, Bonaparte’s, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed, Glaucous, Iceland, Thayer’s and California Gulls have all been recorded here. Possible European Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull and a Slaty-backed Gull have appeared. This beach is also the best location in Florida to regularly see jaegers from shore. Each evening the gulls leave the beach and settle on the ocean just beyond the breakers. Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers regularly patrol these huge groups, harassing the gulls.
https://www.volusia.org/services/public-works/coastal-division/coastal-parks/frank-rendon-park.stml
Gulling Adventure for Landlubbers
Wed. Jan. 24 & Sat. Jan. 27; 8:30am-3:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $125.
Leaders:
Wed. Jan. 24 Tom Ledford & Forrest Rowland (Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures)
Sat. Jan. 27 Bert Alm (Space Coast Audubon) & Chris Brown (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
Bring money for lunch at Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill – https://irp.cdn-website.com/2ca0d7b1/files/uploaded/Main%20Menu%2009-23-744c7811.pdf
We will visit Brevard County’s Central Disposal Facility aka Cocoa Landfill where experts will help you learn to separate different species and age classes among the 20,000+ gulls that gather here. Hundreds of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls join the thousands of Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls. Among them we may find rarities such as Iceland, Glaucous, maybe California or others. In addition to the gulls we will see dozens of Wood Storks, hundreds of vultures, White Ibis, grackles, cowbirds, and blackbirds. Bald Eagles come in to feed on the various birds, offering excellent photo ops. We will continue to Port Canaveral to lunch at Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill where we can observe gulls, terns, pelicans, and more while dining on the waterfront. Jetty Park is our last destination where we will see what gulls have stayed on the coast and maybe also see Gannets, loons, an eider or Purple Sandpiper.
https://www.brevardfl.gov/SolidWaste/Facilities/CentralDiposalFacilityTour https://www.portcanaveral.com/Recreation/Jetty-Park-Beach-Pier
Gulls and Other Waterbirds at Jetty Park
Thur. Jan. 25, 7:30am-10:30am; Limit 20 Registrants; $60
Leaders: Kevin Karlson & Chris Brown (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet Up at Jetty Park: 400 Jetty Park Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Park at the east end of the park by the boardwalk to the beach. Estimated 6 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There is a fee to enter the park. Restrooms available
BIRDS SEEN ON THE GULLS & WATERBIRDS AT JETTY PARK TOUR 2020
Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity to spend time in the field with Kevin Karlson author and professional guide. Lush vegetated dunes give way to a wide shoreline where all types of beach birds gather. Several species of gulls and terns, shorebirds and even wading birds feed in the surf. This natural habitat provides a pleasant backdrop to compare plumages and age classes of several gull species. We’ll look for gannets, loons and other occasional visitors such as a jaegers, especially if shrimp boats are out. This is one of Kevin’s last walks for the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, as he is retiring from most guiding and speaking engagements going forward. https://www.portcanaveral.com/Recreation/Jetty-Park-Beach-Pier
Horseshoe Crabs Titusville Causeway – More than Just Shorebirds…
Sat. Jan. 27, 9:00am-11:30am; Limit 16 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Dave Grant (Shark Research Institute), Laurilee Thompson (Linked with Limulus Volunteer) & Jeff Bouton (KOWA)
Meet Up at the paved parking lot at the entrance to Merritt Island NWR, on the right 0.4 miles east of the A. Max Brewer Causeway bridge. Estimated 34 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Restrooms are available at Parrish Park Boat ramp.
The Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) is arguably the most interesting invertebrate on our coast. Horseshoe Crabs were first reported by Spanish explorers here in Florida. Now, development around the Indian River Lagoon watershed is severely impacting this keystone species. We will visit Florida’s most productive Horseshoe Crab nesting area – the Titusville Causeway and Gator Creek Dike on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We will talk about its lifestyle in our estuaries, threats and citizen science to protect it. We’ll review monitoring and restoration proposals for this critical habitat and discuss activities stakeholders have in horseshoe crab habitat protection, including NASA, who is trying to preserve beaches where Horseshoe Crabs nest at the Space Center. The unique conditions that occur in this part of the Indian River Lagoon may reward us with a spawning event. Even if horseshoe crabs are not actively nesting, there’s plenty to see at this very special place. https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/citizen-watch/
Lake Apopka Northshore
Wed. Jan. 24; 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 20 Registrants; $135 includes a snack sack and box lunch.
Thur. Jan. 25, 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $135 includes a snack sack and box lunch.
Leaders: Chris Newton (Local Naturalist)
Wed. Jan. 24 Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours)
Thur. Jan. 25 Robert Hershberger (Time & Optics)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
There are porta potties located throughout the restoration area.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE LAKE APOPKA NORTH SHORE TOUR IN 2020
This property is one of the premier locations in the southeastern United States to observe birds. The list of birds found here continues to grow, with over 370 species having been recorded. During the winter months, more than 150 species regularly use the property, from showy herons and egrets to ducks and shorebirds and numerous tiny warblers and flycatchers. Other wildlife found here includes alligators, turtles, bobcats, otters, raccoons, snakes and coyotes. Former farmlands make up the Lake Apopka North Shore restoration area. The St. Johns River Water Management District’s major activities include marsh and floodplain restoration and the creation of a marsh flow-way. Circulating lake water through restored wetlands filters Lake Apopka’s waters. If the weather allows, attendees will tour in the District’s bench trailer, starting with the dawn chorus at the most optimum spot and continuing on the wildlife drive, which will be closed to the public. https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka/
Manatees of Blue Spring and St. Johns River Cruise
Fri. Jan. 26, 6:30-2:00pm; Limit 22 Registrants; $120 includes a box lunch.
Leaders: Laurilee Thompson (SCBWF Founder), Serge Arias (Bird Watching in Costa Rica) & Al Brayton (Merritt Island NWR Volunteer)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
Marine head on the boat. Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE MANATEES OF BLUE SPRING & ST JOHNS RIVER CRUISE IN 2020
This special trip consists of a visit to Blue Spring State Park (BSSP). The morning will start with a walk along the shore of Blue Spring Run to observe Florida’s most charismatic megafauna, the West Indian Manatee, and bird the woodlands surrounding the spring run. What makes BSSP so unique and special is that during colder months its crystal-clear waters are one of Florida’s best places to watch the manatees. A box lunch will be provided on a river cruise onboard a U.S. Coast Guard approved pontoon boat that was specially designed to ply the shallow backwaters of this unique section of the historic St. Johns River. The captain is a licensed Coast Guard captain who knows the history of the area and the wildlife that abounds. It leaves from BSSP, passes through a historic cypress logging canal and into the Hontoon Dead River, where you will experience the wild and pristine Florida swamp as it has been over the centuries. Highlights from the trip in 2020 included more than a dozen Purple Gallinules, over two dozen Limpkins, more than three dozen Anhingas, both night herons and 5 species of woodpeckers. https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park
Nocturnal Nature Hike Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
Wed. Jan. 24, 6:30pm-8:00pm, Limit 20 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Shelby Wood (EELs Education Coordinator) & TBD (Zeiss)
Meet Up at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, 444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville, FL. Estimated 25 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Restrooms will only be available in the nature center prior to the hike. The nature center and the immediate area are handicapped accessible the trail is not.
Whhoooo… is ready for a nocturnal adventure at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary? Join Naturalists on a night of discovery and exploration on the trails! Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, bug spray and a flashlight. (Keep an eye and ear out for owls, bats, flying squirrels, and fireflies).
https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/EnchantedForestSanctuary
Offshore Birding and Wildlife Adventure (Sponsored in part by American Bird Conservancy Marine Program)
Wed. Jan. 24**; 7:30am-5:00pm; Limit 70 Registrants; $195 includes a box lunch & snack sack.
Leaders: Michael Brothers (Marine Science Center Pelagic Adventures), Sea McKeon & Brad Keitt (American Bird Conservancy), Bert Alm (Space Coast Audubon), Jim Eager (Obsessive Compulsive Birding), Dave Goodwin and Mitchell Harris, (FL Ornithological Society), Kelly Smith (American Birding Association)
Meet Up at the Canaveral Princess, 670 Glen Cheek Drive, Port Canaveral, FL
The Canaveral Princess docks between Rusty’s and Gator’s DocksideRestaurants in Port Canaveral. Estimated 4 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Please arrive 20 minutes early. Wear waterproof shoes!
Join us on the Canaveral Princess, an 85-foot, single-hull boat with excellentobservation areas on the upper deck, bow and stern. We will first visit working shrimp boats for the birds that follow them. Our chumming behind the boat will result in a crowd of gulls, terns, pelicans and gannets to watch from amazingly close quarters. Once we’ve collected some birds to follow our boat, if the weather permits, we’ll set out for the Gulf Stream. Our destination will be an undersea formation known as “The Steeples,” a productive setting of cliffs and seamounts that create upwellings and current edges along the western edge of the Gulf Stream.
Birds likely to be seen include Northern Gannet; Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger and several species of gulls and terns. Birds we hope to see include Audubon’s, Cory’s, Great and Manx Shearwater; Band-rumped Storm Petrel; Bridled and Sooty Tern; Brown Booby; Red Phalarope; Black-legged Kittiwake and Sabine’s Gull.
https://orlandoprincess.com/the-boats/
** If the trip does not go as scheduled on Wednesday, January 24th you will automatically be rescheduled for Monday, January 29th. If the trip is cancelled on both dates due to inclement weather as determined by the boat’s captain, only then will you receive a full refund. Please do not book this trip if you are not prepared to stay through Monday should the need arise due to schedule change. If the trip does not go as scheduled on Jan. 24th and DOES go on Jan. 29th, there will be NO refunds for anyone who cannot be on board on Jan. 29th!
Orlando Wetlands Park Trailer Tour
Fri. Jan. 26, Sat. Jan. 27, 7:30am-12:00pm; Limit 20; $90
Leaders: Orlando Wetlands Guide
Fri. Jan 26 João Jara (Birds & Nature Tours Portugal) & Jeff Bouton (KOWA)
Sat. Jan. 27 Chris Newton (Local Naturalist) & Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet Up at the Orlando Wetlands Park, 25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas.Estimated 39 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Restrooms are available at the parking lot but not out on the dikes. Handicapped Accessible
BIRDS SEEN ON THE ORLANDO WETLANDS PARK TRAILER TOUR IN 2020
This regional water treatment area, owned by the City of Orlando, began receiving reclaimed water in 1987, submerging the 1700-acre Sun Charm Ranch beneath millions of gallons of treated sewage. For 30 years the City closed the park during winter months so that the former owners could hunt waterfowl, until 2016 when it bought the hunting rights. Join us as we take a trip into the park where more than 220 bird species have been identified including Wood Storks, Bald Eagles, Crested Caracaras, Limpkins, Purple Gallinules, rails and spoonbills. Painted Buntings lurk in some of the dense vegetation bordering the 20 miles of roads and woodland trails leading through marshes, hardwood hammocks and along scenic lakes. Large numbers of waterfowl and wading birds are expected. Other wildlife found here includes alligators, turtles, deer, hogs, bobcats, otters, raccoons, opossums, snakes and coyotes. There will be multiple stops with walking to spy the best birds. https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Wetlands-Park
Owls and Rails of Merritt Island NWR
Sat. Jan. 27, 4:00pm-8:00pm; Limit 10 Registrants; $65 includes a picnic-in-a-box.
Leaders: Mitchell Harris (Florida Ornithological Society), Tom Ledford (Space Coast Audubon) & TBD (Zeiss)
Meet Up at the Parrish Park Boat Ramp Parking Lot — 1 A. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville on the north side of the parking lot by the picnic pavilions. Estimated 33 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There are restrooms nearby at the east end of Parrish Park. There will be no restrooms available out on the refuge dikes or trails.
Join Mitchell for an evening out in search of the denizens of the dark at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll search the marshes and hammocks for Great Horned, Screech, Barred and possibly Short-eared Owl. Before we begin our search for owls, we will spend some time along the marshes of Peacock’s Pocket a small bay-like feature of the Indian River Lagoon near where it joins with Banana Creek listening for rails. In the past we’ve had good luck with King, Clapper, Virginia and Black Rail in these marshes. So, if you are interested in nocturnal birds, just bring your sense of curiosity and a flashlight or two.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area Trailer Tour
Thur. Jan. 25 & Fri. Jan. 26, 6:45am-11:30am; Limit 26 Registrants; $30 includes snack sack.
Leaders: Tom Ledford (Space Coast Audubon)
Thur. Jan. 25: Bert Alm (Space Coast Audubon) & Chris Bensley (Spark Birding)
Fri. Jan. 26: Chris Newton (Local Naturalist). & Chris Bensley (Spark Birding)
Meet Up at Salt Lake WMA, 1590 Arch Rd., Mims. Estimated 36 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There is a porta potty located at the Salt Lake WMA main entrance. No restroom facilities are available during the trip.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE SALT LAKE WMA TRAILER TOUR IN 2020
Salt Lake WMA’s 8,000 acres border three large lakes and the St. Johns River in northern Brevard County. Don’t miss this chance to explore it in a bench seat trailer. Home to a spectacular range of natural communities, this beautiful property includes pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and oak scrub on higher ground. Oak and cabbage palm hammocks, swamps, freshwater marshes, wet prairies, and salt flats occupy the wetter locales. Numerous wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors can be found on the lakes and marshes and the river. Bald Eagles and Wild Turkeys are commonly seen. The flatwoods provide good habitat for woodpeckers and songbirds, such as the Eastern Bluebird and Bachman’s Sparrow. Gopher tortoises, deer, feral hogs, river otters, alligators and turtles may also be seen. This extraordinary opportunity to be able to ride through the management area rather than walk it, as well as the reasonable cost, is a benefit of the Watchable Wildlife Public Access Program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/salt-lake/
Sebastian Inlet State Park and Pelican Island NWR
Wed. Jan. 24: 7:30am-1:00 pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $125 includes a box lunch.
Leader: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson) & Chris Brown (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.Sebastian Inlet State Park has beach and Indian River Lagoon frontage, coastal strand, maritime hammock and mangrove habitats. A diversity of wading birds and shorebirds occur here along with offshore species that might be seen, such as gannets, jaegers, shearwaters and storm petrels. Mangrove margins and the interior hardwood hammock can host migratory songbirds. We will check the tidal pond for shorebirds, gulls, terns, and possibly Reddish Egret. Rarities such as Purple Sandpiper, Black-legged Kittiwake, and others have been known to be here. The beaches attract numerous gulls and Black Skimmers and Magnificent Frigatebirds are often floating overhead. After checking out the inlet, we will head to Pelican Island NWR looking for songbirds in the restored orange groves and waterfowl and shorebirds in the wetlands. American White Pelicans and many species of ducks and shorebirds overwinter here. Pelican Island itself can be scoped from an elevated observation tower. The refuge is famous for its Brown Pelican rookery but more than 15 additional species nest, feed, and rest on the 5-acre island, including Wood Stork, Double-crested Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, egrets and herons. While scoping the open waters of the Indian River Lagoon, we may see Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Red-breasted Merganser, and Lesser Scaup. https://www.floridastateparks.org/Sebastian-Inlet https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island
Shiloh’s Sharptails, Marshbirds and More
Thur. Jan. 25 & Sat. Jan. 27; 6:15am-11:00am; Limit 20 Registrants; $65 includes a snack sack.
Leaders: Mitchell Harris (Florida Ornithological Society
Thur. Jan. 25: TBD (Zeiss)
Sat. Jan. 27: John Thomton (Orange Audubon), & TBD (Zeiss)
Meet Up at 600r US Highway 1, Scottmoor. It is on the corner of US 1 and Magoon Ave. We believe it is currently a Circle K and not a Kangaroo Express. Estimated 38 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
There is a restroom at the Meet Up, but not after that.
This trip begins in the marshes where Turnbull Creek drains into the northern end of the Indian River Lagoon. There we will look for both Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrows, Sedge Wrens and Clapper Rails. Short-eared Owls are seen here occasionally as well. After ample time in the marsh we’ll walk east along the dike system that skirts the edge of Shiloh’s extensive marshes and impoundments looking for ducks, shorebirds and waders. This is an area of rich estuaries and ponds that teem with wildlife. Bring Muck Boots or shoes that you don’t mind getting wet for the sparrow search. You can change your shoes before starting on the walk, which will be 3-4 four miles long. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island
Shorebirds of the Carr Refuge
Fri. Jan. 26, 9:00am-2:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $105 includes a box lunch.
Leaders: Nichole Perna (EEL Land Management Specialist & Shorebird Alliance Surveyor) & David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the van.
Observe and Identify shorebirds from the Barrier Island Sanctuary overlook and along the adjacent beach (possibility of optional short beach walk). Learn about the Shorebird Alliance and how you can become a citizen scientist. On to the Sebastian Inlet State Park to observe wading birds. Species routinely observed include Brown Pelican, Ring-billed Gull, Willet, Sanderling, Wood Stork, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and possibly see American White Pelicans, Black Skimmers and many other species. Please bring shoes that can get wet/dirty, sunscreen/hat and bug spray.
https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/BarrierIslandSanctuary
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/archie-carr https://www.floridastateparks.org/Sebastian-Inlet
Smyrna Dunes Park
Sat. Jan. 27 & Sun. Jan. 28; 8:00am-11:30am; Limit 20 Registrants; $35
Leaders:
Sat. Jan. 27 John Kendall & Ed Carlson (Audubon) & Sharon Stiteler (The Bird Chick)
Sun. Jan. 28 John Kendall & Ed Carlson (Audubon)
Meet Up at Smyrna Dunes Park,2995 N. Peninsula Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Estimated 68 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Entry Fee is $10 per car (not included in registration fee). There are restrooms at the trailhead/picnic area.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE SMYRNA DUNES PARK IN 2020
This spectacular beachside park at Ponce Inlet offers panoramic views of the ocean, inlet and estuary as well as the opportunity to get close looks at gulls, terns and shorebirds. Take a leisurely two-mile walk via boardwalk over pristine coastal dune habitat (watch for Gopher Tortoises) and along the shoreline. Brown and American White Pelicans, Black Skimmers, Common Loons, cormorants and numerous species of gulls and terns are found here and there is always a chance to discover a rare gull. Up to twenty species of shorebirds are possible, including American Oystercatchers, Piping and Wilson’s Plovers, Purple Sandpipers and Red Knots. Bait fish activity at the inlet’s mouth attracts sea birds, especially Northern Gannets. Passerines are possible in the hammocks. https://www.volusia.org/services/public-works/coastal-division/coastal-parks/smyrna-dunes-park.stml
South Counties’ Specialties
Thur. Jan. 25; 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 12 Registrants; $120 includes a box lunch & snack sack.
Sat. Jan. 27; 5:00am-4:00pm; Limit 24 Registrants; $120 includes a box lunch & snack sack.
Leaders:
Thur. Jan. 25 David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson)
Sat. Jan. 27 David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson), Gina Kent (Avian Research & Conservation Institute) & Gabriel Lugo (Wildside Nature Tours)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
This trip features some of the best birding sites in southern Brevard and Indian River Counties. With an early start at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park we’ll see Red-cockaded Woodpeckers emerge from their roost cavities, see Brown-headed Nuthatches, hopefully see and hear Bachman’s Sparrows singing. Learn about RCWO and BHNU relocation efforts and other management projects while seeing these very special birds. After we get our fill of pinewoods inhabitants, we will cross over to the Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area to see the nesting Roseate Spoonbills, Gray-headed Swamphens, Purple Gallinules, and many more species. Snail Kites are possible here. On our way to the coast and historic Pelican Island NWR, we will make a stop to see the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay. The impoundments at Pelican Island NWR often host wintering waterfowl. Songbirds, including Painted Buntings, can be found along its dikes. The impoundments, Pelican Island, and the Indian River Lagoon can be scoped from an observation tower via a walk along the dikes. Finally, Sebastian Inlet State Park features a tidal pond, jetty and beach, which will round out our day nicely. Many shorebirds, gulls, terns, and sometimes Reddish Egrets are present, as well as rarities such as Purple Sandpiper, Brown Booby, Magnificent Frigatebird and others. You can anticipate a moderate amount of walking on this trip. https://www.floridastateparks.org/St-Sebastian https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/fellsmere/
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island
T. M. Goodwin Wildlife Management Area
Sun. Jan. 28, 5:30 am-3:00 pm; Limit 25 Registrants; $130 includes a snack sack and box lunch.
Leaders: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson), Chris Newton (Local Naturalist) & Kelly Smith (American Birding Association)
Meet on the covered walkway in front of the Radisson Pavilion to board the bus.
The Broadmoor Unit of T. M. Goodwin WMA has become a premier birding destination in central Florida for water birds. Our first stop will be at Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area where we will observe nesting Roseate Spoonbills and many other wading birds can be seen. Once at the Broadmoor Unit we may see 70 -80 species of birds including large numbers of waterfowl wading birds, and shorebirds. Ring-necked Ducks often number in the 1000’s. American White Pelicans regularly winter in the hundreds. Purple Gallinule and Gray-headed Swamphens are common. Black-bellied and sometimes Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are present. Snail Kites and other unusual birds often occur here. https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/fellsmere/
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area
Fri. Jan. 26; 6:15am-11:30am; Limit 18 Registrants; $65 includes a snack sack.
Leaders: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Fri. Jan. 26: Bert Alm (Space Coast Audubon) & Gina Kent (Avian Research & Conservation Institute)
Meet Up at Tosohatchee WMA 3365 Taylor Creek Road, Christmas FL 32709.Estimated 28 minutes from the Radisson at the Port. Entrance fee is $3 per car.
This will be a self-driving tour with stops along the way for short walks. There are composting toilets at the entrance but not out on the roads and trails.
BIRDS SEEN ON THE TOSOHATCHEE WMA TOUR IN 2020
The Tosohatchee marshes are feeding areas for wading birds and, during winter months, host large numbers of migrating waterfowl. Forested uplands support deer, bobcats, gray foxes, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, hawks, owls, and songbirds. Some of the threatened and endangered species found at the reserve include Bald Eagle, Wood Stork, Eastern Indigo Snake, and Gopher Tortoise. Birds of interest include Bachman’s Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Florida Sandhill Crane. Shaped by alternating cycles of fire and flood, Tosohatchee WMA is a mosaic of marshes, swamps, pine flatwoods and oak hammocks that borders 19 miles of the St Johns River. Deep inside the reserve, Jim Creek flows through some of the last remaining virgin cypress swamps in Florida. https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/tosohatchee/things-to-do/
Winter Waders, Warblers and Waterfowl at Sams House
Fri. Jan. 26, 8:30am-11am; Limit 20 Registrants; $25
Leaders: Rob Lane (EEL Naturalist & Space Coast Audubon Board), Chip Clouse (Opticron) & Mariah Hryniewich (Phone Skope)
Meet Up at Sams House at Pine Island Conservation Area, 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL. Estimated 33 minutes from the Radisson at the Port.
Closed toe shoes and mosquito repellant are advised. Restrooms are at Sams House.
Merritt Island is the wintering destination for numerous species of birds. From waders to warblers, the Sams House property offers birders a wide variety of habitats and bird species to be found. We will take a leisurely stroll around the property looking, and listening, for wintering songbirds like Warblers, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, then take a brief hike to the mangroves and Indian River Lagoon looking for gulls, terns, pelicans, and waterfowl. Join us as we experience the birding, the beauty, and the biodiversity of the Sams House property. Following our morning birding adventure please enjoy a brief personal tour of the 1875 cabin and 1888 house.
subject to change without notice