We made two trips to South Florida for birding, and our first stop in March was Cape Coral to see Burrowing Owls. A light rain was falling, which often coaxes them out during the day, though dawn and dusk are usually the best times to check the neighborhoods near the Public Library. On our second trip, we were thrilled to find more Burrowing Owls on Marco Island. It’s so cool that the city offers grant money to homeowners to create starter burrows, helping to sustain the owl population. It almost makes us want to move there!
Our next destination was Harns Marsh, a reliable spot for Snail Kites. We arrived during the Wings Over Water Festival, which featured exhibits, nature walks, and even a farmers’ market. As we explored the stormwater facility, we tallied 28 species, including both Snail and Swallow-tailed Kites. Another birding hotspot, Oil Well Road, produced our target birds: a Western Kingbird and a Crested Caracara.
We found our kind of “glamping” at Trail Lakes Campground. We stayed in a screened-in Chickee Hut with a plush bed and outdoor decks. While there was electricity, the lack of running water was a constant reminder that we were truly camping. After a glass of wine and a beautiful sunset, we took a short drive to Everglades City, the stone crab capital of the world. Just when we thought life couldn’t get any better, we heard a Chuck-will’s-widow singing outside our hut. We stayed here again on our second trip in April and can confirm it was both buggier and “birdier.”
Always keep an eye out for birds along the Tamiami Trail, as they tend to gather in specific wetland areas. We lucked into a fantastic mixed group of herons, egrets, ibis, spoonbills, and stilts, all mingling with American White Pelicans. We had attracted quite a crowd of other birders by the time we left.
Miami Exotics
On our second trip, we joined Archaeopteryx Birding & Nature Tours for their Miami Exotics tour. Our first stop was the Biltmore Hotel, where we saw a fantastic collection of parakeets: Yellow-chevroned, Scarlet-fronted (a lifer for us!), Mitered, and Red-masked. We also added an Egyptian Goose to our year’s list on the golf course. From there, we headed to Kings Creek Village and quickly found another lifer, the Red-whiskered Bulbul.
After a nice lunch at Titanic, we went to Ocean Bank, another known hotspot for exotic birds, and found our third lifer of the trip, the White-winged Parakeet. While trying to relocate it, we also spotted a group of Gray Kingbirds. Our next target bird required a trip to a shopping center, where we found a Common Myna taking turns with Rock Pigeons and Grackles on a discarded bagel.
Unfortunately, we had to leave the group early and missed some great birds in Miami Springs. We always love birding with Rebecca Smith, who is an excellent guide. You should definitely check out one of their guided tours to help fill in those gaps on your list!
Trip Birds: 92 Year Birds: 20 Life Birds: 3
Next Up: Nebraska Prairie Chickens
You must be logged in to post a comment.