Field Trip & Holiday Lunch Social – TM Goodwin WMA

David Simpson, co-owner of Birding with David Simpson, will lead us on a field trip to TM Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area. The property features extensive freshwater marshes managed for diverse wetland wildlife. This field trip will include birding to three areas: 1) boat ramp at the end of Fellsmere Grade Road, 2) TM Goodwin Original Area, and 3) Broadmoor Unit (which can only be accessed by vehicles on Thursdays). Following the field trip we’ll have a late lunch at Marsh Landing restaurant in Fellsmere. Lunch festivities will include holiday cheer and bird activities with prizes. Lunch is optional – kindly RSVP to host (Rochelle Hood) if you plan to join for lunch so we can provide a headcount to the restaurant. Please bring snacks as it will be a long day prior to our lunch. Birding will end approximately 1:30pm, lunch is planned for 2:00pm.

*****If this is your first trip to the property please allow plenty of extra time to reach the parking lot by 0830am. From Babcock Road it is 6.5 miles to the parking area where we meet. It can take up to 17 minutes from the time you leave Babcock St SE and travel down Fellsmere Grade Rd. It is a dirt road and often bumpy so cars go slow. Allow enough time to stop to use the restroom at the boat ramp along the way, if needed.*****

Winter visitors include American Bittern, Snail Kites, White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills and several species of ducks. The group will start birding around the boat ramp before crossing over the bridge to visit several sections around the vast property. Radios will be provided for each car to announce sightings. During the driving portion of the trip the leader will also announce places the group will pull off. Lots of amazing photo opportunities.

Logistics: Follow Fellsmere Grade road all the way (west) until it dead ends at the boat ramp (6.5 miles from where you turn off Babcock Road). Drive until you can’t drive any further without going into the water…you’ve arrived. Park in the dirt lot next to the bridge. While you’re driving down Fellsmere Grade road you will pass multiple boat ramps, each of them have a restroom. I’d suggest using these bathrooms. The bathroom by the last/final boat ramp, where we will meet, is poorly maintained and is very gross (bring hand sanitizer). Enjoy the view as you drive down Fellsmere Grade Road as there are often great bird sightings on the way. There are no bathrooms once we depart from the parking lot and cross the bridge.

The trip will include very little walking (just around the boat ramp) and primarily driving with short stops around the cells. The walking portion is optional so the entire trip is suitable for anyone with limited mobility. The back section of property we will visit (Broadmoor Unit) is only open to vehicles on Thursday. The bridge open opens at 9am and the gate is unlocked at this time. Cars are not allowed to enter before 9am. If you cannot stay for the entire trip, you are welcome to depart at any time.

Please bring: Water/drinks, bug spray, binoculars, and hearty snacks. The trip leader will check out a radio to each car to ensure everyone can hear or report sightings while driving, in between stops. Please message the host (Rochelle Hood) if you do not have binoculars and we will gladly bring you a loaner pair. The trip leader will set up a scope for everyone to view birds in the distance.