On Sunday, October 13th, 2024, the Phoebes Birding group gathered in A.D. Barnes Park in southwest Miami for the group’s third annual Big Sit.  Over the course of the morning, the Phoebes spotted forty-five species from their strategically placed circle that afforded views of fruiting fig trees, a large pond, and open sky. 

If you ever wanted to learn more about how to identify a Cooper’s Hawk, then the April 28th walk at Evergreen Cemetery was the place to be. The endless discussion between birders on the differences between Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk was made clearer with many sightings of this magnificent raptor. We saw both a male and a female, observed hunting behavior and saw one eating a bird, and studied its characteristic flap-flap-glide flight pattern. The best view included one of a handsome male with his black cap and characteristic flat head. I pointed out how long the tail hung down below the branch when perched.

Sounds of clacking bills and chirping chicks filled the air even as our group of 25 women gathered at the base of the Wakodahatchee Wetlands boardwalk for our Phoebes outing on April 14. We were greeted by Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks as we rounded the corner to catch our first glimpse of water. A few steps further and we were surrounded by the source of the sounds that had greeted us in the parking lot and the reason to visit this amazing treatment wetland in spring – pond apples covered with wading bird nests.

Nineteen women gathered on a bright sunny winter morning for an enchanting bird walk at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Wellington, Fla. We strolled the berms and boardwalks of the sprawling wetlands complex, observing 66 species in a few short hours!

One of our first sightings was the Wilson’s Snipe, a typically secretive shorebird that delighted the group by strutting out in the open for great views and photo ops. The next bird we observed, also a typically elusive species, was the Sora, and it too also eventually came out into the open for everyone to get good looks.