Good sites near Jacksonville, Florida, in January?

It's not in Jacksonville but close by -- the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
Great for birds and gators.

Gee, I'll be in gloomy Europe in January but only a short stopover on my way
to northern India.

Cate
The Nest Box
http://nestbox.com


Richard wrote in message
...
Will be spending a week birding and photographing around Jacksonville
next January.

Any recommendations for good sites for birds and wildlife?

TIA,

Richard

(Escaping from a gloomy Europe)

Richard,
First, I must state yet again; winter in Florida pushes most birds to the
southern parts of Florida, like the Everglades, Wachodahatchee, Ding,
Corkscrew.... Even the St. Augustine Alligator Farm which is one of my
favorite rookery sites will likely be DEAD during January. April is good for
the Gator Farm. A couple of months DOES make all the difference.

With that being said, here is a good link for Bird Spots around
Jacksonville:

http://members.aol.com/sjaudubon/hotspots.html

Yes I know birders use a different set of values to make hotspots (just
identifying a warbler is good enough for them) but usually a photographer
can make good use of the same places.

Hope that helps.
--
PWW (Paul Wayne Wilson)
Over 1,000 Photographs Online at,
http://PhotoStockFile.com


On 12/15/03 6:43 AM, in article ,
"Richard" Richard wrote:

Will be spending a week birding and photographing around Jacksonville
next January.

Any recommendations for good sites for birds and wildlife?

Yes, good advice from PWW -- I forgot that my visit to Jacksonville was in
April. We usually go to FL in winter but this was the one exception.

Cate

"PWW" wrote in message
...
Richard,
First, I must state yet again; winter in Florida pushes most birds to the
southern parts of Florida, like the Everglades, Wachodahatchee, Ding,
Corkscrew.... Even the St. Augustine Alligator Farm which is one of my
favorite rookery sites will likely be DEAD during January. April is good
for
the Gator Farm. A couple of months DOES make all the difference.

With that being said, here is a good link for Bird Spots around
Jacksonville:

http://members.aol.com/sjaudubon/hotspots.html

Yes I know birders use a different set of values to make hotspots (just
identifying a warbler is good enough for them) but usually a photographer
can make good use of the same places.

Hope that helps.
--
PWW (Paul Wayne Wilson)

About 130 miles south Jacksonville down I-95 is the Merritt Island
National Preserve. I was out there a week ago saw plenty of Ducks,
Egrets, Herons, Ibis, Spoonbills, Ospreys and gators on Wildlife Drive
and Biolab Road. Many other birds too. Also saw a Bald Eagle on
Biolab Road. Also butterflies as thick as mosquitos.

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 11:43:53 +0000, Richard wrote:

Will be spending a week birding and photographing around Jacksonville
next January.

Any recommendations for good sites for birds and wildlife?

TIA,

Richard

(Escaping from a gloomy Europe)

I just noticed this thread. My apologies if this has already been suggested.

North of Jacksonville, along the coast road is a privately run bird
sanctuary called Beaks. (If you make it to Amelia Island you have gone a bit
too far.) They have injured birds on the mend, imprinted birds, and a lot of
other birds just seem to pop by.

We often visit when we are in the area. One time, they had just received an
ostrich. Seems it was being transported in the back of a truck and was
tossed out / jumped out on the big Jacksonville bridge. The police took the
ostrich to Beaks, where they treated it for some pretty decent road rash. I
don't think anyone came forward to claim it.

The place is worth a visit.

Frank

Richard wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestions.

Can't wait to get there, birds or no birds :-)

Richard.

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 11:43:53 +0000, Richard wrote:

Will be spending a week birding and photographing around Jacksonville
next January.

Any recommendations for good sites for birds and wildlife?

TIA,

Richard

(Escaping from a gloomy Europe)

Great, Lets see some images. :-)
--
PWW (Paul Wayne Wilson)
Over 1,000 Photographs Online at,
http://PhotoStockFile.com



On 1/31/04 9:27 AM, in article ,
"Richard" Richard wrote:

Hi all,

Back in rain-sodden Ireland.

Had a great trip and made it to the Alligator farm. What a great spot.
It was raining at first and then around 3,0 PM the sun came out and
all the soggy birds livened up and many more dropped out of the sky,
providing great activity.

Having been to the Venice rookery , I can only imagine what a superb
place it must be in a couple of months time.

Wish it wasn't so far!

Thanks for all your help.

Richard.


On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 15:07:52 GMT, PWW
wrote:

Richard,
First, I must state yet again; winter in Florida pushes most birds to the
southern parts of Florida, like the Everglades, Wachodahatchee, Ding,
Corkscrew.... Even the St. Augustine Alligator Farm which is one of my
favorite rookery sites will likely be DEAD during January. April is good for
the Gator Farm. A couple of months DOES make all the difference.

With that being said, here is a good link for Bird Spots around
Jacksonville:

http://members.aol.com/sjaudubon/hotspots.html

Yes I know birders use a different set of values to make hotspots (just
identifying a warbler is good enough for them) but usually a photographer
can make good use of the same places.

Hope that helps.