Half-Day Private Bird Tour of Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg - 2 person max
Description
Fort De Soto Park has a unique location on the Gulf of Mexico, making it one of the top birding sites in the state of Florida. It's especially diverse in the months of April and October for spring and fall migration. This patch of land is the first area birds will arrive at as they make their migratory flight across the gulf. Not only will you see shorebirds, wading birds, and resident songbird species, but you'll see neotropical migrants and they pass through our state on their way to/from the Caribbean and Central America. As for the rest of the year, you can count on ducks and loons if you book your tour in the winter months and breeding bird species in the summer. This area is also known for rare species and vagrants that pass through Florida. Photographers will love the morning lighting on the beach as small shorebirds forage in the rack line.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll be taking a 5-hour birding tour of Fort De Soto Park. We'll drive to each stop within the park then get out and hike around in different habitats including forest, beach, and grass picnic area. There is also a paved area around the fort itself. Starting with the north shore beach at sunrise, we should see plenty of shorebirds ie Piping Plover, Snowy Plover, American Oystercatcher, Reddish Egret, and Marbled Godwit to name a few. We'll then move on to the fort area itself to check the beach for Common Loon, Whimbrel, and Red-breasted Merganser. The forested area adjacent to the fort is a hotspot for migratory songbirds, especially warblers. The rangers house and hiking trail usually boasts the best songbirds in the park. We'll stop here and look for Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, warblers, buntings, and vireos that are attracted to the fresh water fountains and Mulberry trees. We'll finish up with a stop at the East Beach to view the Nanday Parakeets.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You'll be picked up in at orange Honda Element with our company logo on the sides.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(4)
Guide (Rebecca) was very knowledgeable and kind to us beginning birders. It was a generally wonderful experience and my daughter (whom this trip was for) is looking forward to doing more activities like this as a result!
I'm so glad the 2 of you enjoyed the tour! June isn't the easiest time of the year to look for birds (or to be outside in the heat!), so I'm glad they were obliging. Thank you for the kind review! Rebecca, Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours
You will be doing a lot of walking. I had a great time. Was hoping for the oyster catcher but its ok. Just had a great time walking and bird spotting with Rebecca. It was a fantastic trip.
Cindy, thanks for the review. I had a great time looking for birds with you at the fort! It was nice to find the 5 species of plover and get some photos of the white pelicans in the city. I'm glad you had a great birthday week! -Rebecca, Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours
Easy booking, great communication, and wonderful tour guide! Alex was amazing and so smart. I learned so much more about birds. He is a talented young man and made it so fun!
We're so happy to hear that you had a great day of birding with Alex! Thank you so much for the great review and kind words. -Rebecca, Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours
Great birding trip at Ft De Soto with Rebecca! We saw tons birds, some dolphins, and even a few interesting insects. Learned so much!
Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm so glad you had a nice time on the tour. -Rebecca, Archaeopteryx Birding and Nature Tours
