Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel, 2 Feb 2026 (Google Map)
The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel) comprises 7,700 acres (about 6,500 of them on Sanibel Island). The area is fringed by the largest undisturbed mangrove forest in the United States. The refuge was established as Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945 through an executive order by President Truman. In 1967, it was renamed for Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling (1876-1962). Darling, an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, had a winter home on Captiva Island and championed establishment of the refuge. He was a Pulitzer-Prize-winning editorial cartoonist who was tapped by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1934 to lead the agency that became the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Darling only stayed in that position for about a year, but led efforts in establishing "duck stamps," the first federal licenses for hunting migratory waterfowl. He illustrated the first one (1934), which raised funds for the purchase and leasing of wetlands. Over the years, these funds have helped to purchase about 2,600,000 acres that have been protected as National Wildlife Refuges. In 1936, Darling led the first meeting that resulted in establishing the organization that became the National Wildlife Federation, was elected its president, and is considered the founder of that non-profit organization.
To reach Ding Darling NWR, once you reach the first major island intersection from the causeway, take a right turn (W) on Periwinkle Way and continue until it becomes Sanibel-Captiva Road. Follow it N for about two miles to the entrance of the refuge. There is a Visitors' Center with restrooms that opens at 9:00 am. The refuge is closed on Fridays. Typically, we will take the Ding Darling Wildlife Drive, which costs $10.00/vehicle. It's a four-mile drive that goes one-way through mangroves, marshes, and subtropical hardwood hammocks. There is an observation tower along the drive. If time allows, we may also visit the Bailey Tract of the refuge (see the Nov 24, 2025, field trip overview) or the Lighthouse area on the far E end of the island, but parking at the lighthouse is often a hassle.
Users of eBird have reported 265 bird species from the Ding Darling Wildlife Drive. There is a wide variety of ducks and waders in the area. According to eBird users, common February sightings of ducks include: Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Mallard, Mottled Duck, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, and Red-breasted Merganser. Likewise, February common to infrequent wader sightings include: Common Gallinule, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover, Marbled Godwit, both dowitchers, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Willet, both yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, Limpkin, and the typical egrets and herons and birds of prey that one would expect. February eBird user warbler sightings include: Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Prairie Warbler. And, everyone wants to see that possible Mangrove Cuckoo!
Often on Sanibel, we eat our BYOL lunches and tabulate our findings, including choosing a "trip bird," at the Visitors' Center area of the NWR or at Bailey Homestead Preserve (1300 Periwinkle Way), where picnic tables also are available.
Bay Street Park/Shamrock Park, Sarasota County, 9 Feb 2026 (Google Map)
Bay Street Park (300 E Bay St, Osprey, FL) is a 19-acre Sarasota County Park with amenities that include restrooms, picnic facilities, a playground, and a dog park. There is no admission fee and parking is free. The park is basically rectangular in shape and is bisected into north and south sections by a swale/stream "canal." There are both woodlands and open wetlands on the property. The park features unpaved walking trails that connect to the paved 18.5-mile Legacy Trail between Venice and Sarasota. For more information on the park's layout, see the web pages of Sarasota Audubon Society Guided Bird Walks.
Bay Street Park is about 62 miles NW from the Palm Beach Blvd/I-75 Intersection. Take I-75 N to Exit 195 toward Nokomis/Laurel. Turn left onto Laurel Rd E and continue for 3.2 mi. Turn right onto N Tamiami Tr (US-41 BYP N) and continue for 3.2 mi. Turn right onto Old Venice Rd and continue for 1.1 mi. Turn left onto E Bay St and continue for 0.2 mi to the park entrance on the right.
Users of eBird report a total of 195 species from this small park. February posters on eBird report a wide variety of waders, including most of the charismatic herons and egrets. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Mottled Ducks, and Wood Ducks are noted. Many birds of prey, including: Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and Short-tailed Hawks have been seen in February. February warblers include: Black-and-White Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler (rarely), Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
Once we finish birding at Bay Street Park, we will head S for about 12 miles to Shamrock Park and Nature Center (Google Map, 3900 Shamrock Dr, Venice, FL). The directions are relatively simple: Head toward E Bay St, turn right (W) onto E Bay St for about 0.3 mi, then turn left (S) onto S Tamiami Tr (US-41 BYP S) for about 10 miles, then turn right (SW) onto Shamrock Dr. Continue for 2 mi on Shamrock Dr until you reach the park entrance.
Shamrock Park and Nature Center comprises about 82 acres of primarily remnant scrub with scattered wetland areas, and is bordered on the west by the Intracoastal Waterway. It has modern restroom facilities near the parking lot. There is a 2.3 mi multi-use paved trail with numerous bicyclists providing potentially hazardous conditions to birders and vice-versa.
Users of eBird have reported 175 bird species here. Its avifauna differs from Bay Street Park in having fewer warblers, and perhaps a stronger coastal influence. The avian superstars of the park are Florida Scrub-Jays! Gopher tortoises also are often seen in the park's scrub. In addition to the Scrub-Jays, one highlight of the 2025 CBC field trip was a Groove-billed Ani, which was relatively cooperative as a photographic subject.
Once we complete our birding at Shamrock Park, we will consume our BYOL lunches at a picnic area near the main restrooms, where we will tabulate our bird list and choose a "trip bird."
Larry Taylor Kiwanis Park, Port Charlotte, 16 Feb 2026 (Google Map)
Larry Taylor Kiwanis Park (501 Donora St, Port Charlotte) is primarily a woodland hardwoods area that includes a nice, level hiking trail in a one-mile loop, with some short segments of boardwalk. The park was established as Kiwanis Park in 1977 and renamed for a long-time local Kiwanis member, Larry Taylor, in 2019. There is a small lake, Kiwanis Lake, which seems more like a moat around a human-made peninsular "island." Modern restroom facilities are available as are picnic shelters, the latter available for rental at a rate of $20.00 per hour plus tax. There is no mention of parking charges on the park's website.
Larry Taylor Kiwanis Park is about 34 miles NW from the Palm Beach Blvd/I-75 Intersection. Take I-75 N to Exit 167, Harbor View Rd. Turn left on Harbor View Rd and continue for 3.6 miles until you reach the Tamiami Tr (41) intersection and Harbor View Rd becomes Edgewater Dr. Continue past 41 on Edgewater Dr for 2.2 mi. Continue on Edgewater drive for another 1.5 mi, going straight through three traffic circles, until you reach the fourth traffic circle, where you take the first exit (right) onto Midway Blvd. Follow Midway Blvd for 0.6 mi before turning left onto Victoria Ave NW for 0.2 mi. Then turn right onto Donora St. Turn right to the park entrance on the left.
According to users of eBird, 193 species of birds have been observed in the park, including 90 species in February that include common egrets, herons, and birds-of-prey (even Swallow-tailed Kites). Warblers reported in February include: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler. Although, we're unlikely to be there in time to see or hear them, both Eastern Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-will's-widows are reported from the park in February.
After we bird at Kiwanis Park, we are likely to visit a nearby birding location that is only a 7 min (3.3-mile) drive away. Ollies Pond Park (Google Map, 18235 Avon Ave, Port Charlotte) lacks modern restroom facilities, but does have a porta-potty and scattered picnic tables and benches. It is an eight-acre park with two ponds, an observation deck, and a one-mile-loop hiking trail that passes through some nice woods. It is an eBird hotspot with 226 species reported from the site. One way to reach Ollies Pond Park from Kiwanis Park is to head S on Donora St for 0.2 mi to its intersection with Victoria Ave. Turn left onto Victoria for 0.2 mi and turn right (S) onto Midway Blvd for 0.6 mi. When you reach the traffic circle, take the first exit (right) onto Edgewater Dr. Continue on Edgewater for 0.6 mi before turning right (N) onto Pellam Blvd. Continue on Pellam for one mile, then turn left (W) onto Wintergarden Ave. Take Wintergarden for 0.5 mi before turning left (S) onto Gobron St. Continue on Gobron (it changes names) for 0.2 mi until you reach the entrance to Ollies Pond Park.
We may eat our BYOL lunches, tabulate our bird lists, and choose our "trip bird" at picnic tables at Ollies Pond Park. Otherwise, if the situation seems unsuitable, we have the option to head back to Larry Taylor Kiwanis Park.
It is doubtful that we will have enough time, but the Praise Tabernacle Church Pond (Google Map), presumably located at the church (18350 Edgewater Dr, Port Charlotte) is another nearby eBird hotspot that we might wish to visit. It is only a 4 min (2 mi) drive from Ollies Pond Park. Users of eBird report 123 bird species from the site. Go about 200 ft N from the Ollies entrance to York Ave. Take a left (W) onto York and continue 0.4 mi to Collingswood Blvd. Turn left (S) on Collingswood and continue for 0.9 mi. Turn left (E) onto Edgewater Dr and continue for 0.7 mi to reach the church on the left (N) side of the road.
Celery Fields, Sarasota, 23 Feb 2026 (Google Map)
At about 450 acres, Celery Fields (6799 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota) is Sarasota County's largest storm water control facility. In the 1880s, it was a sawgrass wetland that was drained for agricultural production. By the late 1920s, celery was the major crop in the area. In the mid-1990s, wetland restoration was undertaken. Much of the soil removed by digging the water reservoirs was piled in a mountainous hill, which from a distance resembles an abandoned landfill. The area is an extremely popular birding location. Sarasota Audubon has a nice Visitors' Center that includes a wonderful native plants demonstration garden and abundant bird feeders. Nanday Parakeets, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and both Indigo and Painted Buntings are commonly seen at the feeders. There are Martin houses near the parking lot, which are often occupied, and a hike up the hill might yield unusual birds. In 2024, members of the CBC were treated to an Ash-throated Flycatcher. For more information on birding at this, and other Sarasota County Parks, see the web pages of Sarasota Audubon Society Guided Bird Walks.
Celery Fields is about 71 miles NW from the Palm Beach Blvd/I-75 Intersection. Take I-75 N to Exit 210, the FL 780 E/Fruitville Rd ramp. Turn right on Fruitville road for 0.3 mi and make a right turn on Lakewood Branch Blvd. At the traffic circle, take the first exit (right) onto Apex Rd. Follow Apex Rd for 1 mi, and then make a left turn onto Palmer Blvd. Continue on Palmer Blvd for 0.6 mi until making a left turn at the Celery Fields entrance. Parking is free. Restrooms and picnic tables are available.
Across Palmer Blvd from the parking lot is a retention lake with a boardwalk to an observation station. Wading birds, including common egrets and herons, are generally abundant. Birds such as Soras, Wilson's Snipes, Purple Gallinules, and Gray-headed Swamphens, often give great looks for photography.
Users of eBird report 261 bird species from the Celery Fields. February sightings include 27 species of ducks and 14 species of hawks/owls/falcons. Crested Caracaras are often seen. Fifteen species of warblers have been reported in February.
We likely will eat our BYOL lunches, tabulate our bird lists, and choose our "trip bird" at Celery Fields, but sometimes we continue on to Myakka River State Park (Google Map; 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL), which is about 12.5 miles away, for these activities.
To reach Myakka River State Park, turn left onto Palmer Blvd and continue for 2.8 mi. Turn right onto Lorraine Rd and continue for 1.1 mi. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit (straight) and stay on Lorraine Rd for an additional 2.8 mi. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit (left) onto FL-72 E and continue for 5.6 mi. Turn left onto Myakka State Park Rd for 0.1 mi until you reach the main park entrance on the left. The entrance fee is $6.00/vehicle (up to eight persons) or $4.00 for a single-occupant vehicle. Users of eBird report 204 bird species from the park. There are restrooms and picnic tables available at the park.