Originally Posted by
DavidEccleston
I've only been down the once, and only to a few select locations, and too late to catch most of the migratory birds, but yeah, more variety on the east coast like Mike says. Spoonbills, egrets, cormorants, various herons, pelicans and gators on the east. On the west, add in terns, and far more osprey, but lose the spoonbills, and most of the egrets, herons. Didn't see any gators on the west either.
There was a spot going from St. Pete's beach down to Fort De Soto that there seemed to be an osprey on every second post, so if you're after Osprey, that would seem a better location. It was also easier to get closer to the Pelicans at St. Pete's dolphin boat rental area. For anything else, go east coast.