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.

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.

The Phoebes selected South Miami’s A.D. Barnes Park for their Big Sit and picked a shady spot for their circle, strategically situated under the shade of fruiting trees and within eyesight of the pond.  The site proved to be a good one, as multiple warbler species and a Baltimore Oriole were spotted in the fruit trees, feeding on insects and berries.  The pond produced several wader species, including a Tri-colored Heron and a Great Egret, as well as other water-oriented birds, such as the Common Gallinule, Double-Crested Cormorant and the aforementioned Belted Kingfisher. As the morning progressed, raptors began to appear, soaring far above the Big Sit circle. The Phoebes were treated to spectacular views of a Red-Shouldered Hawk, American Kestrel, Broad-Winged Hawk, and Osprey.  And yes, since they were spotted by Phoebes sitting within the circle, they count!

     The Everglades Agricultural Area on the southern end of Lake Okeechobee is a massive area of sugar cane and sod farms. During August many of the sod fields are flooded to control nematodes, worm-like animals that damage the grass. This is the perfect food, along with other insects, for hungry shorebirds migrating from the tundra on their way south. The shallow water levels provide the perfect conditions for shorebird and wading birds in great numbers to find food. Unfortunately for birders, this migration occurs during the peak of summer heat, but seeing the variety of shorebirds and wading birds makes it more than worth the sweat. On our trip there was a nice breeze and plenty of cloud cover making it tolerable.

     Armed with some tips on how to more easily identify shorebirds, a small group of eager Phoebes were ready to take on the summer heat and the potential to observe a multitude of birds. We got both and much more. At one point there were 200 Wood Storks circling in a kettle over an open wet field filled with about 1,000 birds of various species. It wasn’t the Powerball jackpot, but in the birding world it was a bonanza. We observed 81 species on this field trip!

An approaching thunderstorm did not deter 20 hardy birders on April 30, 2023, from exploring Evergreen Cemetery, one of Broward’s best hotspots. It is Ft. Lauderdale’s oldest cemetery with many large live oak and fig trees creating a wide-open canopy good for birds. The cemetery is close to the coast and can be a migrant trap for birds needing a quick stopover to fuel up as they continue their journey. We observed 27 species.

Seventeen ladies gathered at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary on April 16th for a Phoebes bird walk, enjoying an enchanting morning observing birds and other wildlife among the serene wetlands. We observed 56 bird species as we strolled the boardwalks and berms of this park located in Wellington, Florida — a 75-minute drive from Miami but well worth it!

The highlights of the day were 9 Wood Ducks flying and swimming and even perching on the boardwalk railing at times. There was a family of Wood Ducks with 4 ducklings. There were also Mottled Ducks with 13 ducklings and Common and Purple Gallinules with babies swimming in the duckweed and hiding in the brush. Many Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks flew over and Blue-winged Teal were swimming with the other ducks.