Before the long, hot summer settled in, we carved out time to chase a few of West Coast Florida’s specialty birds. Summer birding here slows to a crawl — slow enough that the “June Challenge” was invented just to keep people looking — but late May still holds its share of surprises. With reports popping up across Sarasota and Manatee counties, we set out for a weekend of rarities, local legends, and the kind of coastal birding that always feels like home.
Chasing Rarities in Sarasota
Based on reports from the SRQ Bird Alerts, we started our day at Siesta Key Beach. We looked for a Wilson’s Phalarope at Stop Number 5, which is known for its tidal pools and shorebirds. We were in luck, spotting the Wilson’s as well as two Snowy Plovers. Another birder reported a second phalarope, possibly a Red-necked Phalarope, but without our camera battery, we couldn’t confirm it.
Following another lead from SRQ Bird Alerts, we headed to St. Armands Circle in search of “Dot,” a local celebrity Tropical Kingbird. According to Stu Wilson, “Dot produced 4, 3, and 2 Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybrid fledglings in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively (it’s possible she was present before 2013 but went unnoticed). Dot is famous for producing the first confirmed cases of Tropical Kingbird nesting east of the Mississippi River. We located her near the Columbia Restaurant, alongside a Gray Kingbird.
Our last stop was at a local preserve, hoping to see or hear a Mangrove Cuckoo. This bird is so rare that we’re keeping the exact location a secret. We were fortunate to find a gentleman making audio recordings of the bird, which made for a very successful day. This sighting was a lifer for Mike; Sharon had seen one before in Grenada.
Heading South for More Specialties
The following Saturday, we headed south again. Our first stop was back at the Celery Fields to search for a Shiny Cowbird, a rare bird in the U.S. We found it, along with several Brown-headed Cowbirds and a Purple Gallinule.
No “big year” in Florida is complete without seeing the state’s only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay. We went to Oscar Scherer State Park, one of the most reliable locations due to its perfect low-oak scrub habitat. The park is a great spot with excellent camping and a small lake, all close to the beautiful beaches of Venice. We didn’t find our target bird, but we did spot Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Towhee, and three types of woodpeckers: Red-headed, Red-bellied, and Pileated. We met friends at Sharky’s for a wonderful lunch with amazing views before continuing south.
Cape Coral to Fort Myers Beach
After lunch, we continued south to Cape Coral, one of our favorite spots to see Burrowing Owls. We checked several neighborhoods, the Cape Coral Public Library, and a local ball field, tallying an impressive 34 owls in total. We arrived during a light rain shower and found the owls out enjoying the shower. If you’re looking for them, keep an eye out for the cross posts in vacant lots.
We spent the night at Hideaway Village, a charming old Florida motel on Fort Myers Beach. The next morning, we were up early for two reasons: to eat breakfast at the Heavenly Biscuit and to go birding on the beach. Their cinnamon rolls are iced upon order and a must-try! With full bellies, we headed to Carlos Pointe. We were thrilled to witness over 200 Least Terns, 150 Black Skimmers, 7 Snowy Plovers, and 8 Wilson’s Plovers in the roped-off breeding areas.
Estero Island and Interstate Kites
Our final stop was Bowditch Point Park, a beautiful beach park at the northern tip of Estero Island. We found a Magnificent Frigatebird, a Reddish Egret, 27 Willets, and two Red Knots, a new bird for the year list. On the drive home, we had a fantastic incidental sighting of 15 Swallow-tailed Kites flying over the interstate near Prairie Pines.
Wrapping Up Our West Coast Chase
As May came to a close, our West Coast wanderings added nine more year birds and carried our 2015 total to 340. From Sarasota rarities to Cape Coral owls and the roped‑off breeding colonies of Fort Myers Beach, these specialty chases reminded us why Florida birding never really slows down — even when the heat settles in. With the June Challenge ahead and the 500‑bird goal still in sight, we wrapped up the month ready for whatever the summer might bring next.
Trip: Total Species: 54 • Year Birds: 9 • Life Birds: 0
2015: Year Birds: 340 • Life Birds: 25
Next up: Ponce Inlet Pelagic
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