Tierra Verde Trip Overview
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.
Additional Info
Duration: 5 hours
Starts: Tierra Verde, United States
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Tierra Verde Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Tierra Verde, Florida, United States
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.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715-2529
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.
Duration: 5 hours
