Birding in Florida
Our late‑season Florida run took us from Lake Apopka’s marshes to the windswept beaches of Merritt Island and down the Overseas Highway to Key West. We added key species for our Big Year—including Northern Gannet, Bell’s Vireo, and Common Myna—and soaked in the beauty of the Keys as we closed in on 500 birds.
With 470 birds already on our list, we headed south in search of Florida’s only endemic species, the Florida Scrub‑Jay. From Oscar Scherer and Babcock‑Webb to Sanibel and a Fort Lauderdale rarity chase, the weekend delivered great birding and three hard‑earned year birds.
With summer finally fading, fall migration brought waves of warblers, vireos, shorebirds, and a standout Stilt Sandpiper to Florida’s Gulf Coast. From Sawgrass Lake Park to Fort DeSoto and Siesta Key, three weekends of birding delivered classic September movement and familiar local favorites.
Mid‑July in Florida may bring heat and doldrums, but it also delivers surprises. From Smooth‑billed Ani and Egyptian Geese to a wild American Flamingo and a dark‑morph Short‑tailed Hawk, our weekend chases turned up some of the state’s most exciting rarities.
A long offshore run into the Gulf Stream delivered shearwaters, storm‑petrels, dolphins, and one unforgettable sunrise on our 2015 Florida pelagic birding trip.
We spent late May chasing West Coast Florida specialties — from Sarasota’s Wilson’s Phalarope and “Dot” the Tropical Kingbird to Cape Coral’s Burrowing Owls and the breeding colonies of Fort Myers Beach. Nine year birds later, our 2015 total climbed to 340.
Bird your local patches — they’re where friendships form, hotspots reveal their secrets, and familiar trails deliver unexpected birds. Spring migration across Pinellas, Sarasota, and Bradenton counties brought Gray Kingbirds, Bobolinks, Barred Owls, and the steady progress we needed to keep our 2015 Big Year moving forward.
We spent a two‑day spring migration weekend birding around Tampa Bay — Saturday with Audubon and Sunday with Phil. Early warblers, shorebirds, and sunshine made it a warm, easy start to the season and a great weekend with friends.
We spent two windy days birding around Lake Okeechobee, scanning the marsh edges for Snail Kites and picking up a few new year birds along the way. With herons, egrets, and wide‑open views, it was a classic South Florida birding festival.
We joined the St. Petersburg Audubon Society for their monthly walk at Boyd Hill, spotting 41 species and chasing a Cave Swallow at Lake Maggiore. A Sunday visit to Kapok Park added more year birds and a peaceful finish to a great weekend.