Fort De Soto Park, Florida
Fort De Soto Bird Photography Workshop
This Fort De Soto workshop puts you in the field with award-winning wildlife photojournalist Ronen Tivony to photograph reddish egrets and shorebirds on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Overview
Location
Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde/St. Petersburg, Florida. Part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, with more than 330 recorded bird species across its five interconnected keys, mangroves, and beaches. Shorebirds and wading birds are present year-round, with spring migration (April) and fall migration bringing the greatest diversity.
Why Fort De Soto
Why Fort De Soto Park Is Perfect for a Bird Photography Workshop
Fort De Soto sits where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, a five-key barrier island that Pinellas County lists among its most biologically rich parks. Well over 300 recorded bird species use its beaches, flats, and mangroves, and shorebirds and wading birds are present in some number every day of the year.
This Fort De Soto workshop puts you right where North Beach’s shorebirds meet the tidal flats’ wading birds, so a single morning can put you in front of both. Spring migration in April and the fall push later in the year bring the widest variety, but a well-timed morning at any season can put you in position for a strong session. Read more on Pinellas County’s Fort De Soto Park page.
Why Ronen
Why Choose Wildlife With Ronen, LLC
- Learn from a photographer published in National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, and more
- Private 1-on-1 sessions or small groups
- Immediate in-field feedback to help you improve in real time
- Years of experience teaching photographers from beginners to professionals
- Florida resident with deep local insight into the best photography locations
- Certified by the University of Florida as a Florida Master Naturalist
Highlights
Every Fort De Soto bird photography workshop is built around what actually changes your photography, not just camera theory:
01
Hands-On Instruction
Accelerate your learning with hands-on instruction and real-time field feedback on both camera technique and animal behavior.
02
Behavior in Action
Techniques for photographing birds in flight, hunting behavior, and nesting.
03
Technical Skill
Expert guidance on exposure, focus tracking, and composition.
04
Personal Attention
Enjoy personalized, in-the-field instruction through private one-on-one sessions or small-group workshops.
Wildlife
Birds of Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto is home to an outstanding variety of shorebirds and wading birds, including:
Shorebirds
American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Willet, Least Tern
Wading Birds
Reddish Egret (including the rare white morph), Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Great Egret, Green Heron
Who It Is For
Who Should Attend
- Beginners who want structured guidance in a rich wildlife setting
- Intermediate to advanced photographers looking to sharpen field technique
- Nature lovers and birders who want to document their sightings beautifully
Rates
Fort De Soto Workshop Rates
Available year-round. Exact pricing depends on session length and group size.
Private One-on-One Instruction
Fully personalized to your pace and goals
Half-day (up to 4 hours)
Full-day (up to 8 hours)
Per person
Group Sessions
Up to 5 participants
Half-day (up to 3 hours)
Full-day (up to 8 hours)
Per person
Instructor
Led By Ronen Tivony
Ronen Tivony is an award-winning wildlife photojournalist whose work has been published by major global outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, The Guardian, CNN, and BBC. With decades of experience, Ronen designs wildlife photography workshops that connect participants with Florida’s iconic species and habitats. He is certified by the University of Florida as a Florida Master Naturalist.
Gear
What to Bring
- DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Telephoto lens (100-400mm or 200-600mm)
- Tripod or monopod (optional)
- Extra batteries, memory cards, water, sun protection
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fort De Soto Bird Photography Workshop
Fort De Soto is one of the best birding locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with shorebirds like the American oystercatcher, marbled godwit, and willet, alongside wading birds like the reddish egret, roseate spoonbill, and great blue heron. More than 330 species have been recorded on the park’s five keys.
Shorebirds and wading birds are present year-round, so a workshop is worthwhile any season. Spring migration in April brings the highest diversity, and fall migration is close behind. Winter offers calmer crowds and strong light for the resident wading birds.
No. A DSLR or mirrorless camera paired with a telephoto lens in the 100-400mm to 200-600mm range is enough to get started. The workshop focuses on settings, timing, and technique, which matter more than having the newest gear.
Yes. Sessions are built to meet you where you are, whether that means learning the exposure triangle for the first time or refining flight-photography technique you already have. Instruction is always hands-on and in small groups or one-on-one.
Private one-on-one instruction is $375 for a half-day (up to 4 hours) and $700 for a full-day (up to 8 hours), per person. Group sessions of up to 5 participants are $250 for a half-day (up to 3 hours) and $450 for a full-day (up to 8 hours), per person.
A private session is built entirely around your pace, your camera, and the species or technique you want to focus on. A small group tour keeps the same personalized coaching but is shared with a few other photographers, which lowers the cost per person.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera, a telephoto lens, extra batteries and memory cards, water, and sun protection. A tripod or monopod is optional but helpful for longer lenses.
Fort De Soto is one of the more reliable places on the Gulf Coast to find the rare white morph reddish egret, and Ronen tracks recent activity before each session. Sightings depend on the bird’s movements that week, but the location and timing are chosen to give you the best chance.