Florida Bird Photography Locations

New Pass Grill

City: Sarasota

GPS: N27 19.924 W82 34.841

New Pass Grill is a small outdoor restaurant you will pass on the way to the Ken Thompson Park area. There is a small outdoor eating area, bait house and boat docks. Pelicans and various waders will hang out there waiting for tidbits from the fisherman. Most of these birds are very approachable. Some of the Great Egrets are so bold as to walk into the bait house and help themselves. This is a good location to stop for a while with a small telephoto lens. There are numerous opportunities for close-ups here.

Be very careful when pulling in as some of the Egrets may be standing right in the parking lot and are slow to move. The food here is very good (and a bit pricey), should you get something to eat here make sure not to leave it unattended as the birds will be right on it.

Directions: Exit I-75 on Fruitville Road in Sarasota. Head west on Fruitville until it ends at RT 41. Take a left on RT 41 and then prepare to make a right onto John Ringling Blvd. This is the bridge / causeway that will take you over Sarasota Bay to St. Armonds Circle. Once coming over the bridge continue till you enter the traffic circle, keep in your right lane and follow the signs for Longboat Key. Watch your speed once coming off the bridge, the area including the circle is heavily enforced. The road coming off the traffic circle to Longboat Key is North Blvd of Presidents which will turn into John Ringling Parkway. Continue here until you approach a drawbridge. Just before the drawbridge is a road to the right which is Ken Thompson Blvd. Pass-a-Grille is just on the left once you make the turn .