Ft. DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Ft. DeSoto is one of the best places for bird photography in the state of Florida. It is a county park located at the southernmost "lands end" part of St. Petersburg, which mean that it is also the northernmost landing point of Tampa Bay. With over 7 miles of white-sand beaches, it has been voted "America's best beach" multiple times, including in 2008. This, along with the fact that it has a camping area, makes it a great vacation destination for those with families who can enjoy the beach while the nature photographer photographs the birds.
The primary spots for bird photography are:
North Beach
To get to North Beach, when you reach the visitor's center after entering the park, you will be at a "T" intersection. Take a right and follow the road until almost the very end (it ends on a cul-de-sac). Take the last left into the parking area before the cul-de-sac and then take a right to the end of the parking lot. You can park pretty much anywhere on the beach side.
As you get out of your vehicle, look for the wooden bridge that spans the drainage area, and cross over. As you come out onto the main beach area (the ocean will be directly in front of you), there are several good spots for bird photography more or less to your right. There is often a Reddish Egret in this pond, and in past years, there was a pretty reliable Long Billed Curlew. Other wading and shore birds are often present as well.
If you walk straight out to the ocean and go left down the beach, you will come to one of the best places for Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Red Knots, Skimmers, Pelicans, and other shorebirds.
The best time to go is in the early morning where the sun is coming up at your back as you face the ocean.
The Oak Grove
This area can be birded at the same time as the North Beach. Parking in the same place, just head 180 degrees away from the ocean. There is a large wooded area of oak trees that are very good for warblers such as Black and White as well as Hooded. Swainson's Warbler was also seen and photographed there. Along the edge of the woods there is a running stream where Louisiana Waterthrushes are seen.
The Mulberry Trees and Water Fountain
To reach the water fountain, take a right at the visitor's center as before, but take the very first left into the parking area by the ranger's house (the signs also say "Fishing Pier" and "Dog Park"). Park close to the house, and walk around the other end of the house from the parking lot. Here you will see several Mulberry trees with benches as well as a permanent water fountain (for animals only!), also with benches.
This spot is one of the best for migrating birds in the spring, and is a major destination for people from all over the country (note that it can get quite crowded in April!). Regular species seen here include many species of warblers (notably Prothonatary) as well as Indigo Buntings, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Cedar Waxwings, Vireos, and more.
The East Beach Woods
To reach this, take a left at the visitor's center, and then take the 2nd right into the parking lot. Drive all the way down to the other end and park there. In this area there are lots of oak trees that often have warblers reported. I have also seen nesting Yellow-Crowned Night Herons back on these paths.
When To Visit
Because of its location, there is good birding to be had here year around, but the best months to visit are spring migration in April and May.
Summary
Of course, this is a very brief introduction to the birding at Ft. DeSoto. There are other areas of the park that can also be productive, such as the Arrowhead picnic area, but I have tried to concentrate on those that offer the best opportunities to bird photographers.