Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Twenty-one birders joined me for today's birding trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County and Ft. Myers Beach in Lee County. As in past tours, we met at the Miccosukee Service Plaza at I-75 and Snake Road (CR 833) in Broward County, then headed north and west through southern Hendry County before reaching Corkscrew mid-morning. Birds seen en-route included Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck, Wild Turkey, Wood Stork, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Crested Caracara and Eastern Meadowlark.

Though migrants weren't plentiful at Corkscrew, we managed to find a few nice birds, including both Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush, at least three Blackburnian Warblers and a Scarlet Tanager. Other species encountered included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied, Downy and Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart and Yellow-throated Warbler.

After lunch at the Corkscrew visitor center, about half of the group continued on to Ft. Myers Beach. At Big Carlos Pass, we found four Snowy Plovers, along with three other plovers: Black-bellied, Wilson's and Semipalmated. Other birds present at the beach included Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Western and Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet and Royal and Sandwich Terns.