Florida advice please!

My wife and I are heading down from the North-east to southern Florida next week for a 2 week vacation. Birds are our main photography target although I hope for some other general travel images. We are spending 3 days based near Boca Raton, then down to the Keys for 4 days and finishing with a week in the Sanibel Island/Fort Myers area (which we have visited before).

There is one bird I want to at least see - Snail Kite, a bird I have missed a few times before...any ideas on where to go within easy distance of Boca Raton?

I would also like to see Limpkin again (20 years since I last saw one!) and its a life bird for my wife - will Green Cay be good for them this time of year or is there anywhere else? Obviously photographing them would be nice too

Has anyone any other ideas on that bit of the atlantic coast or the Keys?

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Cheers

Mark (and Vanessa).

Mark, Try the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee area. Also try Audubonofflorida.org. They have more information. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Mark, please call me (561-945-2074) or send me a note with the dates!

I live in Boca and would be happy to help. I'll take you around and show you the good places at Green Cay, Wacodahatchee, and Loxahatchee.

Check out my site...you'll see snail kites and limpkins.

Hey, just came back from Sanibel a few weeks ago. You probably know the path you can drive on through there; but not on Friday's I think (have to walk or bike it). I shot sunset and sunrise. Sunrise was the key time due to where the birds were sleeping to give a frontal light. Sunset will give sihouettes. Not too sure you'll find those special birds there, but certainly were the normal wading birds and also the Roseates were there in numbers. Also, take a body with a "normal" lens or zoom to catch birds flying across the roadway just over your head (hope you have good hendholding techniques!!). Need LONG lens for those in the water as you probably already know. Go earlier than the sineage states and walk around the gate to get in and be onsite for the sunrise light. Can put money ($1.00) in the money box at the gate with your name attached to it. It doesn't really look like they care if you come early if you are walking in and will not disturb the birds with a motor vehicle (can't anyway becasue the gate is locked!!). Also, watch for herons and ibis along the sides of the road in the little ditches before you walk up and spook them. Chances for some VERY good closeups!

Enjoy your trip!! Troup Nightingale http://www.southeasternphotography.com
Shots from Ding Darling Nature Preserve http://www.southeasternphotography.com/gallery/3666673

Thanks for the info! Lance, I'm sending you an email.

The Anjinga Trail in Everglades National Park. Also at the begining of the Florida Trail at The Oasis Visitor Center.