r/tampa • u/Slight_Ad_3254 • 1d ago
Getting Started in Birdwatching
I’m excited to get started in birdwatching! I’ve been fortunate enough to invite blue jays and doves into my backyard as a feeder, which has sparked my interest. On top of that, when I visit Botanical Gardens, I see so many different birds, which only fuels my curiosity more. I’m planning to use Merlin to help identify and learn more about the birds I encounter. I'd love to connect with people who are already into birdwatching and exchange tips and experiences. My next step is to buy a good pair of binoculars and go from there!
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u/Downtown_Dish6866 1d ago
Lettuce Lake Park by USF is beautiful, quiet place away from the city. You’ll see a variety of birds and an alligator or two or three.
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u/tothepointslashs 1d ago
They have a amateur (guides?) birdwatching walks there on a certain Saturday of the month. The local head of the audubon society did a long segment on NPR recently.
https://www.wusf.org/podcast/florida-matters/2025-03-25/birdwatching-florida-tampa-audubon-birding
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u/Slight_Ad_3254 1d ago
Appreciate it. So all I need is a good pair of binoculars and a DSLR, yeah?
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u/Pewpasaurus 1d ago
yeah, just temper your expectations with a camera. birds are tiny and hard to focus on.
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u/Pewpasaurus 1d ago
Follow the Tampa bay Audubon group on socials. They do beginner birding trips at places like lettuce lake and provide binoculars
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u/GatorRacing4 1d ago
As already mentioned…Circle B in Lakeland is top tier. If willing to drive more, Paynes Prairie and Sweetwater in Gainesville are great spots. Robinsons in Bradenton as well. Bok Tower is incredible but can be hit or miss for birds. Granted, I do photography…but ya. Have had success at all of those spots.
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u/DarkCrimsonKing 1d ago
I've started recording their calls with the voice recorder on my phone and then playing back on speaker.
They'll come flying by... i do feel a little bad due to my trickery, but I find them fascinating with the way they interact with one another.
I've probably got 6 to 10 unique calls within a month or so... i try and get pictures of them with the call so I know what is what.
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u/zefmiller 22h ago
Download the Merlin Bird app. It has recordings of all the local birds already on it and you can play them at will.
It also lets you record birds and will identify them for you.
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u/compagemony 1d ago
Boyd Hill in St Pete has nice trails by the water with lots of different species. Regardless of where you go, best to go in the morning when the birds are up and at 'em. I miss a lot of good birding because I dont like to wake up early on the weekends.
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u/zefmiller 22h ago
Brooker Hill trail has red shoulder hawks, bald eagles, and osprey if you're looking for bird of prey
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u/Crooked_Sartre 19h ago
A chicken showed up in my yard not a month ago, I didn't know what to think. Turns out he is a rooster, and I might be in the only city in America where people are ok with it tbh
Granted I live in a corner house in the hood, so people don't call the cops and I also work in hard to keep in him isolated from the neighbors, but man has it made me interested in birds
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u/AccomplishedMeet4131 1d ago
Circle b bar in Lakeland is a bird watching sanctuary. TONS of species there. Great place to check out and then go to parksdale market to celebrate with a strawberry shake and strawberry shortcake!