Hi all,

We are planning our November trip to South Florida. Sadly, we only have 5 days. I know that we will have to make a return trip to really get to see everything...but what we are stuck on right now is...do we spend 2 nights in Sanibel...or only one.

We are avid birders...not experts...yet....but we really are excited to experinece the natural side of FL. How long do you suggest designating for Corkscrew? WE originally thought Sanibel the day we arrive (4pm) D. Darling the next morning then on to corkscrew- and on to somewhere near Marco Island (or maybe Port of the Islands???) for day 2 lodging...so we can do 10,000 island on next day- but i fear we may want more time at Corkscrew and maybe another day at Darling? AFter the sW side we will head over to the other side...to spend 2 days.....hitting Shark Valley/ Big Cypress/ Anhinga/ and hopefully Flamingo...but we will see.....

Thanks for your thoughts and help...how long did you birders spend at Corkscrew? more than you expected?

November is not quite the right time for birding in Florida, IMO. If you can change things then later in the winter or early spring will be better because more birds are nesting, where they are easier to observe, and in better plumage.

Anyway, the key at Corkscrew is to be there when they first open up and hit the boardwalk right away; you'll see more early before the hordes arrive and stomp all over the walkways. Saw a black bear on the walkway once when I was first out, a nice thrill! Also saw deer at first light, but they slip away when many people are there.

Another tip is if you see volunteers ask them what they've seen recently. Several times a volunteer has shown us something like a nesting owl that you'd never notice if you didn't know exactly where to look, or a perched hawk just yards away, or a feeder where painted buntings were coming in at certain times.

Anyway, one long morning will be enough at Corkscrew if you only have 5 days total. Should see a lot at Shark Valley (you can arrive before they open and park on the highway and go in and have it to yourself ... best area early is the paved road staight ahead) and a lot at Anhinga Trail, but not as much as you'd see a couple months later when birds are nesting.

For Ding Darling, check the tide schedule. The water birds tend to feed at low tide. There have been times when we've seen hundreds of birds there. What kinds depends on what is visiting when you are there, but we always have seen some. There are also alligators, and crocodiles there as it has fresh water as well as salt water. There also were pileated woodpeckers on Sanibel when we visited.

In Corkscrew we saw an alligator grab a heron for supper. There also were little fish that ate the mosquito eggs there so we didn't get eaten.

I agree about the timing mentioned above. I also think trying to see that much in 5 days is spreading yourself thin. I did all the areas you mentioned last month in ten days and still did not think I had enough time. My choices for that short a time would be Corkscrew and Everglades NP.

Just a few miles from Corkscrew on the road to Immaloke, there is an amazing roadside rookery on the north (left) side of the road. I don't know how active it will be in November but it was great last month.

I have a photo report on the web for my trip to that area. If you'd like to see it, it's at http://www.worldisround.com/articles/371654/index.html.

Enjoy your trip, whenever you take it.

Port of the Islands is in the middle of nowhere, and I don't mean that in a positive sense. Look at it on Google Maps in satelite view. It a bunch of condos in the middle of a swamp.

Scroll up toward I75 and look at the grid of roads laid out but never built on. You are looking at one face of the Florida real estate bubble. Depressing.