Florida's Birding & Photo Fest official guide 2019 | Page 29

PHOTO: ST. AUGUSTINE ECO TOURS Sunset Birding Eco-Boat Tour from Marineland Late Afternoon Birding Delight Eco- Boat Tour from Marineland Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours WEDNESDAY 5:30 TO 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY 3 TO 5 P.M. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding Explore the far reaches of some of the best birding habitats in the Northeast Florida on the “Ripple Effect 1”. This unique vessel has no propeller as you glide across the water with an ease of mind knowing wildlife is safe from propeller strikes. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding This ecological trip explores birds and the biodiversity of the National Estuarine Research Reserve and the 40,000 acres of pristine coastal habitat in the Matanzas Basin south of St. Augustine. Traverse otherwise unreachable areas like tidal creeks of the Pellicer Flats, the natural coquina rock outcroppings and the very shallow Matanzas Inlet, a stopover for migratory birds, sea turtles, the Florida Manatee and the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. High Noon Wings Over Florida Eco-Boat Tour from Marineland Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours THURSDAY NOON TO 2 P.M. Good Morning Birding by Boat Ecotour from Marineland Birders Evening Eco-Explorer Boat Tours from Marineland Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding Explore the far reaches of some of the best birding habitats in the Northeast Florida on the “Ripple Effect 1,” an alternative “super yacht tender.” This unique vessel has no propeller as you glide across the water with an ease of mind knowing wildlife is safe from injury by propeller strikes. Bring your tri-pod and set up for the morning glory and your birding paradise. Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding This ecological trip explores birds and the biodiversity of the National Estuarine Research Reserve and the 40,000 acres of pristine coastal habitat in the Matanzas Basin south of St. Augustine. Traverse otherwise unreachable areas like the tidal creeks of the Pellicer Flats, the natural coquina rock outcroppings and the very shallow Matanzas Inlet, a stopover for migratory birds, sea turtles, the Florida Manatee and the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. SATURDAY 10 A.M. TO NOON Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours Twilight Birding Ecotour from Marineland Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours THURSDAY 5 TO 7 P.M. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding The ambient twilight as the sun begins to approach the horizon unveils a natural landscape void of human development. Point your cameras at the wonders of nature under best natural lighting of the festival or just enjoy some of the most natural landscapes in coastal Florida aboard the “Ripple Effect One.” This unique vessel has no propeller as you glide across the water with an ease of mind knowing wildlife is safe from injury by propeller strikes. SATURDAY 5:30 TO 7:30 P.M. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding The ambient twilight as the sunsets unveils a natural landscape void of human development. Point your cameras at the wonders of nature under best natural lighting of the festival or just enjoy some of the most natural landscapes in coastal Florida aboard the “Ripple Effect One.” Potential to view lots of great birds when paddling including Black-crowned Night Herons, Northern Harriers, Owls and Clapper Rails in the marsh as the sunsets. Matanzas Inlet Explorer Boat Ecotour from Marineland Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours Mid-Morning Birds in Flight Boat Eco-tour Meeting Location: Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Lane Guide: Ripple Effects Ecotours FRIDAY 9 TO 11 A.M. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding Explore the dynamic habitats of the Matanzas Basin. Your Florida Master Naturalists guide and US Coast Guard licensed captain will introduce you to the only natural inlet on the east coast of Florida, the Matanzas Inlet. Get your cameras ready; this one is a crowd pleaser. SUNDAY 9 TO 11 A.M. Price: $60 | Min/Max No People: 3/5 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding This ecological trip explores birds and the biodiversity of the National Estuarine Research Reserve; 14 miles of pristine coastal habitat in the Matanzas Basin south of St. Augustine: Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Great Horned Owl, Osprey, Whimbrels, Black Bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Piping Plovers, Wilson’s Plovers, Spotted Sandpipers, Willets, Dunlin, Sandpipers, Yellow Legs, Roseate Spoonbills, Seaside Sparrows, Terns, Red Knots and many other species. 29