South Florida Rare Bird Update
Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated July 21, 2019
Please post updates on the TAS Bird Board, positive or negative, for the following:
Recent Reports
Antillean Palm-Swift
Grassy Key, Monroe County: Last reported July 21 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From US 1 on Grassy Key, turn right onto Peachtree Avenue (near mile marker 58, across from the Ranbow Bend Resort and Hideaway Cafe). The bird has been seen over wetlands on Peachtree Avenue or over residential areas around the intersection of Peachtree Avenue and Morton Street. Map
Black-faced Grassquit
Blue Hole, Big Pine Key, Monroe County: Reported July 21 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From US 1 on Big Pine Key, turn right onto Key Deer Boulevard (mile marker 30.5). Drive north 2.8 miles to the Blue Hole parking area. The bird has been seen in trees behind the kiosk in the parking area. Map
Yellow-green Vireo
Key Largo Hammock State Botanical Site, Key Largo, Monroe County: Last reported July 20 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, continue south 1 mile on US 1 to Card Sound Road. Turn left and drive south, then east 16.5 miles (toll at Card Sound Bridge) to CR 905. Turn right and drive south 0.6 miles to power pole 90 on the east side of the road. The bird has been seen between power poles 90 and 94 but is now more often seen inside the hammock, accessed via the backcountry trail that begins in this area. A backcountry permit (available at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park ranger station) is required to enter backcountry trails. Map
Black Noddy
Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County: Last reported July 17 (eBird) Photo
Directions: See http://www.drytortugasinfo.com/ for Dry Tortugas ferry information. The bird has been seen around the north coaling dock. Map
Smooth-billed Ani
Loxahatchee Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported July 16 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) in Coral Springs, exit at Coral Ridge Drive (Exit 14). Drive north 3.5 miles (becomes Nob Hill Road) to Loxahatchee Road (SR 827). Turn left and drive west about two miles to the Loxahatchee air boat launch at the end of the road. Two birds have been seen west of the boat launch near a "weed barrier" sign. Map
Older Reports
Bahama Mockingbird
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County: Last reported July 14 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From I-95, exit at the Rickenbacker Causeway (exit 1). Drive east to the causeway toll plaza. Continue 6 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8:00AM until sunset). From the entrance station, turn right onto No Name Harbor Road and drive west to the parking area. The bird has been seen around the mound that is just beyond the nature trail entrance on the south side of No Name Harbor Road. 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.