Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated May 7, 2024
Please post updates for the following on eBird (providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated) or on either of our Bird Boards (website and Facebook):
Recent Reports
Black Noddy
Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Last reported May 7 (eBird) Photo Directions: Click here for Dry Tortugas ferry information. Up to three birds have been seen with Brown Noddies on pilings at the north coaling dock. Map
Yellow-headed Caracara
Oleta River State Park, Miami-Dade County: Last reported May 7 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at FL 826 E (NW 163 Street, Exit 12). Drive east 4.7 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM to sunset). The bird has been seen in the beach area, including in the parking lot. The bird has also been seen at the adjacent Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University and at Haulover Park. Map
American Flamingo
Black Skimmer Island, Lee County: Last reported May 5 (eBird) Photo Directions: Black Skimmer Island is located about 1 mile north of the Sanibel Causeway. This location is only accessible by boat. The birds have been seen by passengers on dolphin-watching boat tours leaving from Port Sanibel Marina. Map
Lake Ingraham area, Cape Sable, Everglades National Park, Monroe County: Last reported May 4 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 1.6 miles. Turn left on SW 192 Avenue and drive south 2 miles. Turn right on SW 376 Street (FL 9336) and drive west 5 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 24 hours). From the fee station, continue west 38 miles to Flamingo. The birds have been seen in the Lake Ingraham area, at Cape Sable west of Flamingo. This area is accessible by motorboat/canoe/kayak; launch from the Flamingo marina (canoe/kayak rentals available). Map
Snake Bight Trail, Everglades National Park, Monroe County: Last reported May 3 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 1.6 miles. Turn left on SW 192 Avenue and drive south 2 miles. Turn right on SW 376 Street (FL 9336) and drive west 5 miles to the park entrance (entrance fee, open 24 hours). From the fee station, continue west 31.5 miles to the Snake Bight Trail entrance. Walk south 1.6 miles to a boardwalk overlooking Snake Bight. The birds have been seen from the boardwalk. Snake Bight is also accessible by canoe/kayak; launch from the marina in Flamingo, at the end of the main park road, 6.5 miles from the Snake Bight Trail entrance (canoe/kayak rentals available). Map
Neotropic Cormorant
Grassy Key, Monroe County: Last reported May 5 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 on Grassy Key (mile marker 58), drive north on Tropical Avenue. Up to two birds have been seen in the wetland on the east side of the road. Map
Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County: Last reported May 4 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at the Rickenbacker Causeway (Exit 1). Drive east to the causeway toll plaza. Continue 4.5 miles to the park's south entrance (fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen around the pond near the Ibis Shelter at Crandon Gardens, at the south end of the park. Map
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Ft. Myers, Lee County: Last reported May 5 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75, exit at Daniels Parkway (CR 876, Exit 131). Drive west 3 miles to Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to Penzance Blvd. Turn right and drive east 0.1 mile to the entrance (fee, open 7AM-6PM). The bird has been seen near Marker 15, along the section of boardwalk between the Gator Lake observation platform and Pop Ash Pond. Map
Red-footed Booby
Long Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Last reported May 4 (eBird) Photo Directions: Click here for Dry Tortugas ferry information. Up to two birds have been seen among frigatebirds on the largest tree on the island. Map
Western Tanager
Oleta River State Park, Miami-Dade County: Last reported May 2 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at FL 826 E (NW 163 Street, Exit 12). Drive east 4.7 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM to sunset). The bird was last seen near the Manatee pavilion. Map
Smooth-billed Ani
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County: Reported May 1 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 13.5 miles to CR 880. Turn left and drive west 4 miles to Atlantic Mill Road. Two birds were seen near this intersection. Map
Older Reports
American Golden-Plover
Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Last reported April 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: Click here for Dry Tortugas ferry information. The bird has been seen around the beach near the dock. Map
Arctic Tern
Boynton Inlet, Palm Beach County: Reported April 29 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From I-95 in Boynton Beach, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 1 mile to SR A1A. Turn left and drive north 2 miles to the inlet. Free parking is available at Ocean Inlet Park, just south of the inlet on SR A1A. The bird was seen offshore from the inlet. Map
Yellow-headed Caracara
Haulover Park, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County: Last reported April 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at FL 826 E (NW 163 Street, Exit 12). Drive east 5.8 miles to Collins Avenue (A1A). Turn right and drive south 1.3 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM to sunset). The bird has been seen around a shower building at the beach as well as in the park’s marina area. The bird has also been seen at Oleta River State Park and the adjacent Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University. Map
Kirtland’s Warbler
Highland Oaks Park, Aventura, Miami-Dade County: Reported April 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Ives Dairy Road (NE 203 Street, Exit 16). Drive east 0.5 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird was seen near the footbridge in the northwest corner of the park. Map
Hudsonian Godwit
FL 29, Collier County: Reported April 25 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 (Alligator Alley), exit at FL 29 (Exit 80). Drive north 25.6 miles to a wetland area along the road. This location is 0.7 miles north of the intersection with FL 82. The bird was seen in the wetland. Map
South Florida as defined here includes the following counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Only sightings at publicly accessible locations are listed here.
Click here for locations to see regularly occurring south Florida specialties. Click here for directions to those locations.
Banner photo: White-tailed Tropicbird by Daniel Gribbin