Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

We actually made two trips to South Florida for birding. Our first stop on the trip in March was to Cape Coral for Burrowing Owls. There was a light rain which normally brings them out during the day. Otherwise, dawn and dusk are the best times to check the neighborhoods around the Public Library. On the second trip, we also saw Burrowing Owls on Marco Island. It is super cool that the city offers grant money to homeowners for a starter burrow that maintains an owl and hatchlings and eggs. Makes us want to move there.

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The next stop is Harns Marsh which is a fairly reliable place for Snail Kite. The Wings Over Water Festival was going on when we arrived and offers exhibits, nature walks, and even a farmers market. As we made our way around the stormwater facility we saw 28 species including both Snail and Swallow-tailed Kites. Another birding hotspot, Oil Well Road produced our target Western Kingbird and Crested Carcara.

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Trail Lakes Campground offers our kind of glamping. We had a screened in Chickee Hut with a plush bed and outdoor decks. There is electricity but no water so walking to the facilities reminds that you really are camping. After a glass of wine and beautiful sunset, we made the short drive to the Stone Crab capital of the world, Everglades City. Just when you think life doesn’t get any better you hear a Chucks-will’s-widow singing outside your hut. We stayed here again on our second trip in April and can say it was both buggier and birdier.

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Watch for birds along Tamiami Trail because they seem to concentrate in certain wetland areas. We lucked into a nice mixed group of herons, egrets, ibis, spoonbills, and stilts hanging out with American White Pelicans. We attracted several cars by the time we left.

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Miami Exotics

Our second trip to South Florida was to join Archaeopteryx Birding & Nature Tours for the Miami Exotics tour. First stop is the Biltmore Hotel where we saw Yellow-chevroned, Scarlet-fronted (life bird), Mitered and Red-masked Parakeet. We also picked up an Egyptian Goose for the year on the golf course. From there we headed to Kings Creek Village and quickly found our target lifer, Red-whiskered Bulbul.

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After a nice lunch at Titanic, we headed to Ocean Bank, another known hotspot for exotics and found another lifer, White-winged Parakeet. While trying to relocate the bird we saw a group of Gray Kingbirds. The next target bird required a trip to a shopping center. The Common Myna was taking turns with the Rock Pigeons and Grackles on a discarded bagel.

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Unfortunately, we had to leave the group early and missed some great birds in Miami Springs. We always look forward to any time we get a chance to bird with Rebecca Smith, an excellent birder. You really should check out one of their guided bird tours to get those misses for your list.

Trip Birds: 92     Year Birds: 20 Life Birds: 3

Next Up: Nebraska Prairie Chickens