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the United States. Jay Darling was a famous
cartoonist and the instigator of the duck stamp
scheme that helps finance the network of wildlife
refuges. It is an area of controlled and tidal
lagoons with mangroves. Most of the herons are
well represented here and we should also expect
White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. Wintering
wildfowl and shorebirds are present and
Ospreys are very much a feature of the area and
nest on platforms erected on poles. At low-tide
Racoons are sometimes seen along the edges of
the mangroves searching for crabs, where we
will also look for Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
The Gulf Coast shores of Sanibel and
neighbouring Captiva provide beachcombers
with a rich harvest of shells at every high tide,
where parties of Fish Crow join them at this time
of the year. Wintering shorebirds, Laughing Gull,
Royal and Forster’s Terns are used to people and
often provide good photographic opportunities.
Offshore Magnificent Frigatebird and Northern
Gannet can also be seen as Brown Pelican ply
between roosting and fishing sites. We may also
see Bottle-nosed Dolphins along the Gulf Coast.
We also birdwatch on the mainland to look for
Wilson’s and Piping Plovers, Short-billed
Dowitcher and American Oystercatcher on the
beaches near Fort Myers. Six Mile Cypress
Preserve often holds flocks of warblers and
perhaps we may find Black-and-white and
Yellow-throated amongst the commoner Yellowrumped.
The Lee County Manatee Park on the
Orange River provides us with a chance to see
the endangered West Indian Manatee; if
conditions are favourable in the Gulf we can
watch these gentle giants at close range.
Days 9 & 10
This morning we transfer to the Sebring and
Lake Placid area for a two-night stay, visiting
Myakka River State Park en route and where, if
the water levels are favourable, we may see a
variety of waders along with Blue-winged Teal
and Pied-billed Grebe on the open water.
Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle are regularly
seen hunting the duck. Birds to be looked for
include Red-shouldered Hawk, Mottled Duck,
Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird, Rubycrowned
Kinglet, White-eyed Vireo and Blue Jay.
Pairs of Sandhill Cranes often strut around the
orchards and gardens and with luck we should
see Whooping Crane, which are part of a reintroduction
programme currently being carried
out in the eastern United States. We visit a variety
of habitats during our stay, including the cattle
rearing prairies where we may find Crested
Caracara, Wild Turkey and perhaps Burrowing
Owl. It is a good area for woodpeckers and we
can expect to see several species ranging from
the tiny Downy to the very large Pileated. The
striking Red-headed occurs as does the Redcockaded
Woodpecker but the latter can be
difficult to locate at this time of the year. In the
open pine woods Pine Warblers and Eastern
Bluebirds are found. It is also likely we can see
our first Florida Scrub-Jays.
Days 11 & 12
After breakfast we head eastwards, birding en
route around Kissimmee and St. Cloud, to
Florida's Atlantic coast for some birding and
exploration of Merritt Island National Wildlife
Refuge from our base for the next two nights at
Titusville. This refuge, adjacent to the Kennedy
Space Centre, covers 34,000 hectares of scrub,
marsh and lagoons, where many wintering
wildfowl and, to a lesser extent, shorebirds
occur. The network of roads along embankments
offers excellent vantage points to look for such
species as Reddish Egret, Little Blue and
Tricolored Herons, Wood Stork, Canvasback,
Redhead, Hooded Merganser, American Coot,
Willet, American Avocet, Glossy Ibis, Caspian
Tern, Clapper and King Rails and Savannah
Sparrow. With its large numbers of wintering
waterbirds and close proximity to our hotel this is
a great place to end the tour.
Days 13 & 14
We have time for some last birding around the
Merritt Island area before heading west to
Orlando to catch our afternoon scheduled flight
to London, where we arrive early in the morning
of the next day.
Barred Owl
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Miami and transfer
to Florida City
Days 2-3 Florida City
Days 4-5 Naples Park
Days 6-8 Fort Myers
Days 9-10 Sebring
Days 11-12 Titusville
Day 13 Depart Orlando
Day 14 Arrive London
Party Size
Maximum of 14 clients (two leaders with
more than eight clients).
Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double
and single rooms, with private facilities in
good quality motels and lodges.
Transport
By minibuses driven by the leaders.
Includes
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,
entry fees, services of the leaders, airport
taxes and tips.
Gradings
U S A – F LO R I D A
Good
150
Warm
Low
Normal
Relaxed
Excellent
Easy
Scheduled
Florida Scrub-Jay
Roseate Spoonbills
To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445
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