Advice on a visit to Stuart/Lake Okeechobee/FLL in January? (1 Viewer)

[mtar925]

I live in California, and will be visiting family near Stuart Beach in mid-January. Martin County Audubon has kindly allowed me to join two of their field trips that are scheduled to occur during my visit: to the Scrub Jay habitat at Dickinson SP, and to Lakeside Ranch STA at Okeechobee. I'm hoping to squeeze in a little more birding, too, and would appreciate some local advice! I have very little experience in Florida and want to visit as many different habitats as I can, in the limited time I have for birding on this trip.

First off---is there a regional emailing list that I might follow, to read local updates and perhaps find locals who'd enjoy birding with a visitor from out of state?

Is there a hotspot near the Scrub Jay habitat at Dickinson SP that would be worth a quick visit before that event begins at 9AM? Sunrise is at 7:15AM... I hope I'm not too jet-lagged to get out early.
How about a quick stop on the way up to Jensen Beach, after the event ends at 10AM?
Is it worth scoping the ocean, from any particular spots? I'll have a little 50mm spotter with me, which is decent up to 39x.

Any favorite hotspots within ~20 minutes of my dad's condo, which is on the west side of the barrier island, I believe near Virginia Forrest Beach? Especially easily-accessible spots, as my dad might want to join me here, and while in good health he doesn't get around as actively as he used to.

The Okeechobee field trip is on Saturday, from 3pm-sunset. Any suggestions for a spot or two I should visit on the way out to Lakeside Ranch from Stuart, or in the Okeechobee area, before the official trip starts? That would be productive at mid-day? Or if there's a great spot out there that I really must visit in the morning, I'd try to make it.

On departure day, which is a Sunday, I plan to take the scenic route down to FLL. Any suggestions where I might stop along the way that afternoon, taking either an inland or coastal route, for an hour or two of birding? Especially if it would bring me into habitat I will not have previously visited.

Thanks for any suggestions! I am aware that there's a birding festival happening near FLL on the weekend of my departure, but unfortunately I won't have that amount of time to dedicate to birding on this trip.

 

[PaperPusher]

Regional guides that may be helpful:

Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail

Scrub jay hikes

 

[PaperPusher]

I’ve stayed in the campground at Jonathan Dickinson before I was interested in birding, and can say the habitat for scrub jays is certainly there in the area west of the main park road. The bird list for the park lists them as uncommon, “usually present but not always seen”. The park ranger can point you to the specific trails. I’ve only seen them in my neck of the woods, with is central Florida (Ocala National Forest), the Yearling Trail, off Hwy 19, south of Salt Springs.

 

[mtar925]

I’ve stayed in the campground at Jonathan Dickinson before I was interested in birding, and can say the habitat for scrub jays is certainly there in the area west of the main park road. The bird list for the park lists them as uncommon, “usually present but not always seen”. The park ranger can point you to the specific trails. I’ve only seen them in my neck of the woods, with is central Florida (Ocala National Forest), the Yearling Trail, off Hwy 19, south of Salt Springs.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Maptwister]

Hello, across the street and a little north of the Jonathan Dickinson SP is this little preserve: Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. It is very sweet, and the trail takes you down to the inland waterway. In Jensen Beach I love Hawk’s Bluff and Walton Scrub Preserve. If you want to get out on the water, a friend of mine gives great kayak tours and rents out kayaks paddlewithme dot com. Your dad lives near the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, which is great.

 

[Maptwister]

For your drive to the dreaded Ft Lauderdale airport, an inland option could be the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge if you decide to stay inland (I have not been there, but I hear it’s interesting.) If you drive down the coast there’s Juno Dunes Natural area and the nearby Loggerhead Marinelife Center right on the beach. Grassy Waters Preserve in Palm Beach County is also very lovely.

 

[mtar925]

Thanks for these suggestions!