Tropical Audubon Society

South Florida’s Voice of Conservation

Ten birders joined Paul Bithorn and me for today's trip to Shark Valley and Big Cypress. The trip officially began at the S-334 water control structure on Tamiami Trail just west of Krome Avenue and ended on Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Highlights included:
Eight Snail Kites seen along Tamiami Trail on the drive to Shark Valley (we only pulled over for the first two)
Limpkins all along Tamiami Trail and at Shark Valley
American Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Broad-winged Hawk and seven warbler species (mostly around the parking lot) at Shark Valley
Along a side road off Loop Road in Big Cypress, an Empidonax flycatcher that was most likely an Acadian. Also, Chestnut sided and Black-throated Green Warbler.
At Mitchell Landing campground in Big Cypress, a Philadelphia Vireo and first for fall Eastern Phoebes

Here's our trip list:
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Purple Gallinule
Limpkin
Anhinga
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Snail Kite
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Barred Owl (heard in Big Cypress)
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Acadian Flycatcher (probable)
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Northern Cardinal