If you want a quick spot for a birding outing, but which still gets you away from all the craziness of Fort Myers traffic, then visit Six Mile Cypress Slough. This boardwalk takes you deep into the slough, and makes it difficult to imagine the millions of people which live nearby. Given this wildlife preserve is right in Fort Myers, the best visits will be right at sunrise. As the day progresses the preserve fills up with people.

I followed my own recommendation and was the second visitor to arrive yesterday morning. Thus, birds had not been flushed by the hordes of visitors who will come later in the day. Having said that, many of our feathered friends are people tolerant at this spot. For those of you who like to bicycle, I feel the best cycling which avoids the most car traffic but also allows for nature viewing opportunities in the Fort Myers area is bordered by Six Mile Cypress Road on the east, John Yarbrough Linear Bike Trail on the West and then Daniels Parkway and Colonial Boulevard to the south and north.

Here are just a few of my sightings at Six Mile Cypress …

Black-Crowned Night Heron (video link for email subscribers)

Great Egret (video link for email subscribers)

Pileated Woodpecker