South Florida Rare Bird Update
Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated April 8, 2020
As birding locations close to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, rare birds reported from these locations will be removed from this page.
Please post updates on the TAS Bird Board, positive or negative, for the following:
Recent Reports
Bell's Vireo
Pinewoods Park, Miami-Dade County: Last reported April 8 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From the Don Shula Expressway (SR 874),exit at Killian Parkway. Drive east 0.5 miles to SW 102 Avenue. Turn right and drive south 1.5 miles to SW 132 Street. The park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset) is located on the east side of this intersection. The bird has been seen in an area of tall grass and thick vegetation. Map
Smooth-billed Ani
Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported April 5 (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 4 miles to SW 217 Avenue. Turn right and drive north 4 miles to SW 280 Street (unpaved) at the north end of Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport. Turn left and drive west 1 mile to SW 227 Avenue (unpaved) on the east side of the C-111 Canal. Turn left and drive south 1.5 miles to a gate and water control structure at the end of the road. Up to four birds have been seen along the canal the leads west from the water control structure. Map
Lark Sparrow
Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported April 5 (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 4 miles to SW 217 Avenue. Turn right and drive north 4 miles to SW 280 Street (unpaved, at the north end of Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport.) Turn left and drive west 1 mile to the west side of the airport. The bird has been seen along the west side of the airport. Map
Delray Marketplace, Delray Beach, Palm Beach County: Last reported April 3 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in Delray Beach, exit at Atlantic Avenue (Exit 81). Drive west 1 mile to the Delray Marketplace shopping center, at the intersection with Lyons Road. Up to two birds have been seen in the grassy area north of the theater at the north end of the shopping center. Map
Older Reports
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County: Last reported March 31 (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 the Sem Chi Rice Mill entrance road. Turn left and drive 0 .7 miles to the rice mill. Several birds have been seen among other blackbirds and cowbirds around the rice mill. Please bird from the road and don't trespass onto the mill property. Map
Ruff
CR 880, Palm Beach County: Reported March 27 (eBird)
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 about 5 miles to flooded rice fields on the north side of CR 880. The bird was seen among yellowlegs in the rice field. Map
South Florida as defined here includes the following counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Click here for locations to see regularly-occurring south Florida specialties. Click here for directions to those locations. BirdBoard reports for these species are also appreciated. If any errors are found in this report, please email Brian Rapoza.