Field Trips & Special Events 2010
All our field trips are open to everyone, members and
non-members alike. There are No pets Allowed and smoking is
prohibited when you are with the group. Preregistration is not necessary
unless otherwise noted. That being said, we like to know if you plan to come
along. we make every effort to leave on time, however, We will wait a few
extra minutes if we know that you are coming. Please call or e-mail the
contact person for any questions regarding the trip. We usually meet at a
local spot where car-pools can be arranged. please keep in mind that if
you ride with someone it is courteous to share in the cost of gas, Park Fees and/or tolls.
Our leaders:
Bill Lamoureux, Field Trip Chairman - 813-839-2742 -
wlamoureux@aol.com
Pat Lewis, 813-907-6542
-plewis8216@aol.com
Roger Sheets, 813-677-6577
-rwsheets3@gmail.com
Mary Keith, 813-935-6115 -keithma1@juno.com
Saturday, Sept 11 -
Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders -
Pat Lewis - Meet at 9 am at
the visitors center. We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for
water birds, local residents and migrants. Finished by 11:30
Saturday, Sept 25 - Coastal Cleanup -
Ann
Paul (apaul@audubon.org)
County wide event. Contact Ann or watch the news for more information
For a Clean and Healthy Bay
Join us at the Sunset Sanctuary Saturday September 25, from 8:30 to 11:30
am.
Saturday, Sept 25 - Saddle Creek Park -
Mary
Keith. Meet at 7 am at the IHOP at Fowler near I-75. This
is one of the best places for fall warblers, 19 or 20 species in a day is
not unusual. Bring water and insect repellant. About 1.5 mile east
walk. You can lunch in Lakeland or bring your own. In the afternoon
we will travel to
Circle Bar B Reserve and look for more birds.
Sunday, Oct 3 - Fort
De Soto Park - Bill Lamoureux. Meet 7 am at the visitor center.
We will walk the trails looking for fall migrants and the beaches for migrant
shorebirds. Bring water and repellant and lunch if you want to picnic.
We should be finished by no
Saturday, Oct 9 - Lettuce Lake Park
for beginning birders. Roger Sheets. Meet at 9 am at the
visitors center. We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for water
birds, local residents and migrants. Finished by 11:30.
Saturday, Oct 16 - Cockroach Bay. Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 8 am at the McDonalds on Rte 60 near I - 75.
We will check the sod farms for shorebirds and we will take a buggy ride around
the ELAPP property wetlands. Good chance for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
Bring water and repellant. Very little walking.
Saturday, Oct 23 - Violet Curry Nature
Preserve.
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at the parking area on Sinclair Hills Rd about 3
blocks west of Livingston Rd/ (N of Bearss, E of I -275) Easy one mile
walk around the lake looking for fall migrants and local residents.
Sunday, Nov. 7 - Blackwater Creek.
Dave Goodwin (dgood389@aol.com) -
Meet at 7:30 aM at McDonalds on I-4 and Macintosh Rd. Blackwater Creek is
an ELAPP area north of Plant City with a large expanse of woodlands, wetlands
and old Florida terrain. Flat walking for several hours. Bring water
and repellant.
Saturday, Nov 13 - Lettuce Lake Park for
beginning birders. Mary Keith. Meet at 9 am at the visitors
center. We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for water birds,
local residents and migrants. Finished by 11:30.
Sunday November 21 - Honeymoon Island Park.
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 8 am at the McDonalds on Rte l9 and Curlew Rd.
(northwest corner) After a short stop for shorebirds on the
causeway, we will walk the trail in the park looking for shorebirds and
wintering landbirds. About 2 hours walking. Bring water, repellant
and lunch if you want to picnic at the park.
Holiday Birding in Costa Rica ~ November 26 - 30, 2010 Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Santa Elena Reserve and Palo Verde National Park $895 pp double occupancy, $100 SS, plus air and lunch and dinner, Daily breakfast buffet included, try local cuisine for lunch and dinner at Hotel Arco Iris Lodge. Check out their website and print out the bird list: Hotel Arco Iris Lodge Reservations: call Mary Keith at 935-6115 or keithma1@juno.com Itinerary below
Saturday, Dec 4 - Al Lopez
Park - Bill Lamoureux
- Meet at 8 am at pavilion 302 just inside the
entrance on the right. We will walk around the lake looking for water
birds, rails and wintering landbirds. About one mile of easy walking.
After birding those who wish will gather at the Village Inn for brunch.
Saturday, Dec 11 - Lettuce Lake for Beginning
birders Bill Lamoureux
- Meet at 9 am at the visitors center. We will walk
the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds and winter residents.
Finished by 11:30.
Sunday, Dec 19 - Alafia Christmas Count -
Dave Bowman (813-948-8576
dsbowman4@verizon.net ) Call Dave to arrange to be part of this event to
count all of our south county birds. Any amount of time you can spend will
be great.
2011
Sunday, Jan 2 - Tampa Christmas Count -
Dave
Bowman dsbowman4@verizon.net (813-948-8576
Call Dave to arrange to be part or our team in
counting all the birds of Tampa. Any amount of time you can spend will be
great.
Saturday, Jan 8 - Lettuce Lake Park for
beginning birders. Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.
We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and
wintering residents. Finished by 11:30.
Saturday, Jan 15 - USF area duck ponds
and Cypress Point park.
Mary Keith. Meet at 8 am at the Burger King on the
southeast corner of Fowler and Nebraska Ave. We will travel to several
local ponds looking for ducks, waterbirds and wintering residents. Then we
will head to Cypress Point Park near the airport to scope the bay for more waterbirds.
Very little walking. Finished by noon.
Saturday, Jan 22 - Mosaic Phosphate Mines -
Bill Lamoureux - Meet at McDonalds on Rte 60 near I 75 at 8 am.
This is 100 species day! We will be led to the best spots on mine lands in
Polk Co for winter birds, shorebirds and ducks. Lunch, snacks and drinks
are provided by Mosaic. Rough driving on dirt roads. Very little
walking.
Sunday, Jan 30 - Myakka River and Oscar
Scherer State Parks.
Mary Keith - Meet at the McDonalds on Rte 60
near I - 75 at 7am. We will look for ducks and wintering residents at
Myakka and for the Florida Scrub Jay at Oscar Scherer. Bring lunch.
Some walking on park trails.
Saturday, Feb 12 - Lettuce Lake Park for
beginning birders.
Pat Lewis - Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.
We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for wintering waterbirds,
waterfowl and landbirds. Finished by 11:30.
Sunday, Feb 13 - Merritt Island and Vieira
Wetlands.
Mary Keith.
Meet at 7 am at the IHOP on Fowler near I - 75. Very little walking.
Bring lunch and drinks. This is a 100 species day! All the winter
water and shorebirds, plus lots more. Call Mary if you are interested in making it an overnight trip.
Sunday, Feb 27 - Manatee Viewing Center,
Apollo Beach and E.G. Simmons Park -Bill
Lamoureux. Meet 8 am at McDonalds on Rte 60 near I-75. We will look
for shorebirds and waterfowl at Apollo Beach and then proceed to the viewing
center. Then we will go to Simmons park for more birding and for a picnic
if you want to bring your lunch.
Saturday, March 5 - Circle Bar B
Preserve
Bill Lamoureux
and Mary Keith Meet at 8 am at the McDonalds at Rte 60 near I-75. We will walk the trails
at the ranch looking for wading birds, rails and waterfowl. Quite a bit of
walking on paved roads. Bring water.
Saturday, March 12 - Lettuce Lake for
beginning birders.
Mary Keith.
Meet at 9 am at the visitors center. We will walk the
boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds and wintering residents.
Finished by 11:30.
Sunday, March 20 - Weedon Island
Preserve and Sawgrass Lake Park. Mary Keith. Meet at 7:30 at Borders Books on
S. Dale Mabry or 8 am
at the visitor center on Weedon Island. Easy but extensive walking on
boardwalk and trails on Weedon Island, then on to Sawgrass Lake Park in St.
Petersburg for more easy
walking. Bring water and repellant.
Saturday, March 26 - Lake Kissimmee Air Boat
Ride and Joe Overstreet Rd.
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 7am at the IHOP on Morris Bridge Rd.,
right off Fowler Ave near i-75. Please let me know if you intend to go on the
air boat ride which costs $30.00 plus tax. It is an exciting event where
you will get close up views of Snail Kites, Purple Gallinules and many more
species. Joe Overstreet road birding is done along a dirt road mostly from
the cars with very little walking. There is a snack bar and picnic area at
the end where we will stop for lunch.
Saturday, Apr 2 - Flatwoods Park
Bluebird Hike -
Mary Miller
(limpkin1945@verizon.net)
- Meet at 8 am at the visitor center at the park off Morris Bridge Rd.
Easy walking to see bluebird boxes and spring Nesting activity.
Saturday, Apr 9 - Lettuce Lake for beginning
birders.
Roger Sheets. Meet at 9 am at the visitor center. We
will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for wintering waterbirds and
landbirds. Finished by 11:30.
Sunday, Apr 10 - Fort De Soto Park.
Bill Lamoureux.
Meet at 8 am at the visitor center. We will visit various sites looking
for spring migrant warblers, tanagers, orioles, buntings, etc. Quite
a bit of easy walking with one possible wet spot. Bring water, repellant
and lunch for a picnic at Arrowhead.
Saturday, Apr 17 - Chinsegutt Nature
Center and USDA
research farm.
JoAnn Hartzler (usarealty@msn.com) We
will meet at 7am at the shopping center on the northwest corner of Dale Mabry
and Van Dyke Blvd. Check back closer to the event for specific details. We will enjoy a birding festival with wildlife presentations and we will walk
around the lake looking for resident land and water birds. We might also
see borrowing owls, Sandhill cranes, cuckoos, red-headed woodpeckers etc.
Bring repellant and lunch, or buy lunch at the festival.
Saturday, Apr 23 - Honeymoon Island -
Jason Guerard
(jay_bird519@yahoo.com )
Meet at 8 am at the McDonalds near the north west corner of Rte 19 and
Curlew Rd. After a short stop for shorebirds on the causeway, we will go
on the park to walk the trails and beaches looking for spring migrants and
resident species. Quite a bit of walking on easy trails. Bring
water, repellant and lunch for a picnic if you wish.
Saturday, May 7 - Babcock Ranch and Venice
Rookery,
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 8 am at McDonalds on Rte 60 near
I-75. We will take a
swamp buggy ride around a working ranch looking for wildlife such as wild
pigs, Florida Cracker Cattle, panthers and Sandhill cranes. The ride costs
$19.95 for adults and $12.95 for Kids (plus sales tax). The price is less
if we have a group of 20 or more, so bring your family and friends. This
is a great trip for kids. We will also make a short visit to
the famous Venice Rookery
for a close up look at nesting colonial birds. We hope to have lunch at the
restaurant at the ranch, or you cold bring a picnic. Very little walking
on this exciting day. Please let me know how many will be coming for the
buggy ride so I can reserve your seats.
Saturday, May 14 - Orlando Wetlands -
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 7am at the IHOP on Morris Bridge Rd.
that is right off fowler Ave near
I-75. You must preregister for this trip. The first 8 persons will
have a tram ride around the area. Those who wish can do the trip on foot -
It is A two mile walk usually in
the hot sun (click here for more info on the park.) the birds are great -
purple gallinules, sandhill cranes, least bitterns, black-neck stilts, whistling
ducks, purple martins and many more. Bring sunscreen, water and lunch.
Don't forget your floppy hat!
Sunday, May 15 - Lettuce Lake for beginning
birders.
Roger
Sheets. Meet at 9 am at the visitor center. We will
walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds and spring migrants.
Finished by 11:30.
Sunday, May 22 - Fort De Soto.
Mary Keith.
Meet at the visitor center at 8 am. We will visit various
sites looking for spring migrants, warblers, tanagers, buntings etc. We
will also check the beaches for waterbirds and shorebirds. Quite a bit of
easy walking. Bring water, sunscreen, repellant and lunch for a picnic at
Arrowhead.
Sunday, June 4 - Lettuce Lake for beginning
birders.
Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 9 am at the visitor center. We will walk
the boardwalk and trails looking for spring migrants, waterbirds and residents.
Finished by 11:30.
Saturday, June 11 - Dragonflies and
damselflies. -
JoAnn
Hartzler (usa realty@msn.com)
Saturday, July 9 - Lettuce Lake for
beginning birders.
Pat Lewis.
Meet at 8 am at the visitor center. We will walk the boardwalk and trails
looking for resident waterbirds and landbirds. Finished by 11.
Sunday, July 17 - Coquina Beach -
Mary Keith,
Meet at 7 am at the McDonalds on Rte 60 and I-75. We will visit various
sites looking for shorebirds and waterbirds. Bring sunscreen, water and
repellant. Don' forget your hat.
Saturday, Aug l3 - Lettuce Lake for beginning
birders.
Roger
Sheets - Meet at 8 am at the visitor center. We will
walk the boardwalk and trails looking for resident waterbirds and landbirds.
Finished by 11,
The Ultimate Field Trip for Birders! Costa Rica
ONLY 2 SPOTS contact Mary Keith for details
- Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose and drive 5 hours to Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve.
- Day 2 - Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. Centered atop the continental divide this region features many birds that we are unlikely to see elsewhere in Costa Rica. In the afternoon enjoy some free time exploring Santa Elena’s butterfly garden, cheese factory, coffee plantation, orchid garden, ranarium (frogs!), serpentarium, Insect World, or canopy tour.
- Day 3 - Santa Elena Reserve. Continue exploring Costa Rica’s cloud forest by visiting this exquisite reserve where wildlife viewing is plentiful.
- Day 4 - Palo Verde National Park. This park has the greatest concentration of waterfowl and shorebirds in Central America, and over 300 different species. Specifically, herons like Black-crowned night heron, storks like jabiru stork, spoonbills, egrets, ibis, grebes, ducks, scarlet macaws, keel-billed toucans, and parrots.
- Day 5 - Return home.
In Florida, every day is a great day to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature around us. As a child, we were told to stop, look, and listen. As an adult, we say stop and smell the roses. Both of these finally make sense when we have the chance to get out and enjoy more than 200 species of birds, numerous mammals, reptiles and native plants in Hillsborough County alone.
This year, again, we have made an effort to vary our field trips to include outings where you can see shorebirds on some trips while warblers on another. We’ve included a variety of locations and habitats so that each trip is unique. This year we’ve added a senior bird walk for those who would prefer a very easy terrain with several places to sit and relax while enjoying nature. In addition, a junior beginning bird walk is included to introduce school age children to the joys of birding.

- Photo Credit: Roger Sheets
Early risers can enjoy nature trips where we'll see various insects including butterflies in addition to spiders, plants, reptiles and birds. Don’t miss the end of year frog trip with the opportunity to not only see and hear the frogs but learn to recognize their calls and maybe learn to sound like one.
Tampa Audubon field trips are open to the public and unless noted otherwise are free. If you have any ideas for trips that you would like to see added in the future, please e-mail Mary Keith at Keithma1@juno.com or call (813) 935-611.
-- Jo Anne Hartzler
NOTE: Any person participating in a Tampa Audubon Society Field Trip does so at his or her own risk, and acknowledges that Tampa Audubon Society has made no warranty or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the safety of conducting this activity at this site.
All participants will be required to sign a form waiving and releasing Tampa Audubon Society and its officers, directors, Field trip leaders, assistants and employees from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damage, costs and expenses resulting from any injury to me or damage caused by my failure to follow instruction.
Field trip leaders click here to print out the Tampa Audubon Society Trip Release form.
Leaders click here to print out the Tampa Audubon Society Field Trip Report Form
President: Pat Lewis
Past Presidents: Carolyn McKinney/ Ann Paul/ Rob Heath
