Birding Trips

Upcoming Birding Trips

​​

Downloadable and Printable Calendar

​

September 2024

 

September 24, 2023 (Tuesday) Field Trip: “Late Fall Migration:” Fort De Soto County Park.  Directions.  We will meet our leader, Mark Cudney, and will be searching for Fall migrating Warblers, etc. The beach is always always exciting with a large variety of shorebirds. Bring snacks, drinks, bug spray, sun screen. Lunch items, ice cream, etc. are available for purchase at concession at the Fort. Picnic area (usually additional birds there) where we can eat lunch. Bathrooms available.

 

September 26 (Thursday) Field Trip: Coehadjoe Park (pronounced “Co-a Had-jo”), 4225 NE 35th St., Ocala. Followed by Marshall Swamp, 8282 SE Hwy 314, Ocala. Leaders: Tami Reece (Marion Audubon) and Alice Horst. Meet 8:00 AM at Coehadjo Park. Half day easy walk on dirt paths.

 

October 2024

 

October 3 (Thursday) Field Trip: Mead Botanical Gardens, 1300 S. Denning Dr, Winter Park. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:00 AM at venue. Easy walk on paved & dirt paths.

 

October 10 (Thursday) Field Trip: Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area Public Boat Ramp, located off Emeralda Island Rd, Leesburg. Directions. Leader: Alice Horst. Meet 8 AM just past venue entrance. No restrooms. Walking on gravel road. Optional lunch to follow at Gator Bay Bar & Grill, 10320 CR 44, Leesburg approx. 1.5 miles away.  (352) 365-2177.

 

October 16 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Orlando Wetlands--Tram Tour, 25155 Wheeler Rd, Orlando. LIMTED TO 20 PEOPLE-VILLAGE BIRDERS MEMBERS ONLY. Advanced registration fee $10, which will be donated to Orlando Wetlands. Leader: Alice Horst. Meet 8:00 AM at venue, bring picnic lunch.

 

October 19 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speakers: Christine Wildemuth with short video on the short life of “Miracle”, the baby Sandhill Crane in 2023. Second speaker to be announced.

 

October 23 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Venetian Gardens, 109 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg. Leader: Jerry Bell. Easy walk on paved trails. Meet 8:00 AM at venue south parking lot located on Lake Harris Drive.

 

October 28 (Monday) Field Trip: Sunnyhill Restoration Area, 19561 SE Hwy 42, Umatilla. Leader: Liz Stackenborg. Meet 8 AM at venue. No restroom. Walking on grass and dirt paths.

 

November 2024

 

November 6 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Ocala Wetlands Recharge Park, 2105 NW 21st St, Ocala. Leader: Tammy Martin. Meet 8:00 AM in the venue parking lot. Restroom. Walking on paved trails.

 

November 11 (Monday) Field Trip: Ponce Inlet. Leader: Beth Sharlow. Details TBA.

 

November 16 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Paul Nistico: Birding Texas-The Spring Circuit.

 

November 20 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville. Directions. Leader: Tim Hardin. Meet 8:00 AM in the venue parking lot. Parking Fee $5 per car. Restroom. Walking on paved trails and boardwalk.

 

December 2024

 

December 2 (Monday) Duck Day in The Villages: For fun let’s see how many species of ducks are spending their winter in The Villages. Details TBA.

 

December 11 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Ocala National Forest Scrub Jay Trail. Leader: Alice Horst. Driving a 12-mile-long dirt road through the Ocala National Forest.   Meet 8:30 AM at Sunnyhill Restoration Area, 19561 SE Hwy 42, Umatilla, to park cars and carpool through forest.

 

December 14 (Saturday) Christmas Bird Count (CBC): Marion County

 

December 20 (Friday) Christmas Bird Count (CBC):

Emeralda Marsh Count Circle.

 

December 21 (Saturday) NO Monthly Club Meeting

 

January 2025

 

January 2 (Thursday) Christmas Bird Count (CBC):

Villages-Lake Panasoffkee Count Circle. Coordinators: Brownwood Birders - Liz Stakenborg & Stan Lavender.

 

January 8 and 9 (Wednesday and Thursday) Overnight Field Trip: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, 1255 Lighthouse Rd, St. Marks, FL. Leader: Mark Cudney. Two-day driving and walking refuge. Overnight details to follow.

 

January 18 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Tammy Martin: Birding Panama.

 

January 23 (Thursday) All Day Field Trip: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1963 Refuge Headquarters Rd,Titusville. Directions. Leader: Tammy Martin LIMTED TO 5-6 CARS. Late lunch at Dixie Crossroads Restaurant in Titusville. Details TBA.

 

January 29 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area, 7910 SE 137th Avenue Rd, Ocklawaha. Directions. Leader: Marlene Armstrong. Meet 8 am in venue parking lot. No facilities. Walking grass & dirt paths. Following optional lunch at Gator Joe's Beach Bar & Grill, 12431 SE 135 Ave., Ocklawaha 352-288-3100.

 

February 2025

 

February 5 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Fort Island Gulf Beach, 16000 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River. Directions. Leader: Alice Horst. Meet TBD AM in beach parking lot at venue. Walking on sand and pavement. Optional lunch at Shrimp Landing.

 

February 12 (Wednesday) All Day Field Trip: De Leon Springs State Park -- Pontoon Boat Ride (~50 minutes). 601 Ponce Deleon Blvd, De Leon Springs. Reservations and prepayment required. Followed by lunch at Old Sugar Mill. Stopping at Lake Woodruff NWA, 2045 Mud Lake Rd, De Leon Springs on way back to The Villages.

 

February 15 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Mark Cudney: Birding Alaska.

 

February 20 (Thursday) Field Trip: TBD

 

February 26 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park—La Chua Trail, 4801 Camp Ranch Rd, Gainesville. Directions. Leader: Tammy Martin. Meet 8 AM in venue parking lot. Park entrance fee $6.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Porta Potty only. Walking on multiple surfaces – pavement, boardwalk and mowed grass.

 

February 28 and March 1 (Friday and Saturday) The Villages Outdoor Expo: Everglades Regional Rec Center, 5497 Marsh Bend Trail, Wildwood. Coordinator: Susan Pepper.

 

March 2025

 

March 6 (Thursday) Field Trip: Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. Leader: Jan Mercer. Meet 8 AM in venue parking lot. Restroom.

 

March 12 (Wednesday) Field Trip: TBD

 

March 15 (Saturday) Monthly Club Meeting: Lake Okahumpka Recreation Center. 9:00 AM. Speaker: Pete Helmuth, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in the Withlacoochee State Forest.

 

March 19 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Chinsegut  Wildlife and Environmental Area (pronounced "Chin-SEE-gut"), 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:20 AM at venue. Trip starts at 8:30 a.m. with brief introduction by FWC about the area. Restroom.

 

March 26 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Half Moon Wildlife Management Area, 8640 Sumter County Rd 247, Lake Panasoffkee. Leader: Liz Stackenborg. Meet 8 AM in parking lot at WMA Entrance Gate. Car pool for a drive through the area. Restroom.

​

April 2025

 

April 1 (Tuesday) All Day Field Trip: Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Key. Leader: Beth Sharlow. Meetup in The Villages to carpool. Drive to multiple birding locations in and around Cedar Key throughout the day. Eating lunch in downtown Cedar Key. Details TBA.

 

April 9 (Wednesday) Field Trip: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell. Leader: Susan Pepper. Meet 8:30 AM at venue in the parking lot off to the right after park entrance. Entrance fee $3.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Restroom.

 

April 12 (Saturday) Annual Member Only Picnic: Lake Griffin State Park, 3089 US-441, Fruitland Park. Coordinator: Barb Peterson. Meet 9:45 AM at venue for a bird walk followed at 11:00 AM with lunch. Entrance fee $6.00 per vehicle or a Florida State Park pass. Restroom. Details TBA.

 

April 16 and 17 (Wednesday and Thursday) Overnight Field Trip: Fort De Soto County Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde. Leader: Mark Cudney & Alice Horst. On Wednesday, meet 8:30 AM at the park headquarters, located at the intersection of Pinellas Bayway and Anderson Blvd (huge U.S. flag pole). Entrance fee $5 paid at park kiosks, credit cards only, license plate number required. Details TBA.

 

April 19 (Saturday) NO Monthly Club Meeting

 

April 24 (Thursday) Field Trip: Moss Bluff North Park, 16298 SE 95th Street Rd, Ocklawaha. Leader: Bob Smidt. Meet 8:00 AM at North Park. From SE Hwy 464C go past Dam Diner, across bridge over Ocklawaha River, turn right on first road. Park entrance fee $5. Restroom. Go to Moss Bluff South Park. Optional lunch at Duck's Dam Diner.

 

May 2025 – no events

 

June 2025

 

June 1 through 30 (All Month Long) is the June Challenge. Coordinator: Alice Horst. Details TBA.

​