Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated September 29, 2026
Please post updates for these sightings on eBird or on our Facebook Bird Board. Providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated.
Recent Reports
American Flamingo
Florida Bay, Everglades National Park, Monroe County: Last reported September 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 1.6 miles. Turn left on SW 192 Avenue and drive south 2 miles. Turn right on SW 376 Street (SR 9336) and drive west 5 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 24 hours). From the fee station, continue west 38 miles to Flamingo. A flock of up to fifty birds has been seen on the mudflats east of Flamingo. This area is accessible by canoe/kayak; launch from the Flamingo marina (canoe/kayak rentals available). The birds may also be seen from the end of Snake Bight Trail, Christian Point Trail or occasionally from Flamingo. Map
Smooth-billed Ani
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 28 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike in Florida City, drive south to Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Turn right and drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street (FL 9336). Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L-31W Canal. Walk north about 1.5 miles along the unpaved road on the east side of the canal to where the canal bends to the west. Several birds have been seen in marshes along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map
Lark Sparrow
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West, Monroe County: Last reported September 28 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 (N Roosevelt Boulevard) in Key West, drive west 2.3 miles to Truman Avenue. Continue west to Whitehead Street. Turn right and drive 0.5 miles to Southard Street. Turn left and follow the signs to the park entrance (fee, open 8:00 AM until sunset). The bird has been seen at the entrance to the Sunset Point parking area. Map
Rufous Hummingbird
Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 0.4 miles to Seacrest Blvd. Turn right and drive south 1.4 miles to the entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been frequenting a firebush tree near the end of the paved trail. Map
Elegant Tern
San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve, Lee County: Last reported September 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Ft. Myers, take Alico Road (CR 840, Exit 128) west 3.6 miles to US 41 (Tamiami Trail). Turn right and drive north 2.7 miles to Gladiolus Drive (CR 865). Turn left and drive west 1.2 miles to Summerlin Road (CR 869). Turn left (flyover) and drive west 5.7 miles to John Morris Road. Turn left and drive south 1.2 miles to the beach parking area (fee, open 7AM - 6PM). The bird has been seen at the west end of the beach, across the creek inlet. Map
Scopoli’s Shearwater
Offshore, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: Several birds have been seen offshore between West Palm Beach and Jupiter Map
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Southern Glades Trail, C-111E Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 27 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 1.6 miles. Turn left on SW 192 Avenue and drive south 2 miles. Turn right on SW 376 Street (FL 9336) and drive west 1.7 miles to the Southern Glades Trail, along the C111E Canal. The bird has been seen or heard about 0.7 miles south of the trailhead. Map
Common Eider
Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach, Lee County: Last reported September 26 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Bonita Springs, exit at Bonita Beach Road (CR 865, Exit 116). Drive west 12.5 miles to the park entrance (fee, open 8 AM to sunset). The bird has been seen along the beach anywhere from New Pass to Big Carlos Pass. Map
Eastern Warbling Vireo
A. D. Barnes Park, Miami-Dade County: Reported September 26 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From the Palmetto Expressway, exit at Bird Road (SW 40 Street). Drive east 0.5 miles to SW 72 Avenue. Turn left and drive north 0.2 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open 7:00 AM until sunset). The bird was seen on the paved path between the nature center and the Leisure Access Center. Map
Hudsonian Godwit
Gladeview Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 23 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 13.5 miles to CR 880. Turn left and drive west 6.8 miles to Gladeview Road (unpaved). Turn left and drive south 3 miles to a muddy field on the west side of the road, near where wooden pallets are stacked. Up to ten birds have been seen in this area. Map
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Bexley Trail Community Park, Delray Beach, Palm Beach County: Reported September 23 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95 in Delray Beach, exit at Atlantic Avenue (Exit 52). Drive west 2.2 miles to Military Trail. Turn right and drive north 1.3 miles to W Bexley Park Drive. Turn right and drive east 0.2 miles to the park (no fee, open 8am to sunset). The bird was seen on a snag near the park’s pond. Map
Older Reports
Neotropic Cormorant
Lennar at Crescent Ridge Pond, Davie, Broward County: Last reported September 22 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75, exit at Griffin Road (Exit 13). Drive east 2 miles to Flamingo Road. Turn left, then immediately right onto Orange Drive. Continue east 0.2 miles to SW 121 Terrace. The bird has been seen in the pond on the west side of SW 121 Terrace, north of Orange Drive. Map
Peaceful Waters Sanctuary at Village Park, Wellington, Palm Beach County: Reported September 21 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike, exit at Lake Worth Boulevard (Exit 93). Drive west 4 miles to 120 Avenue South. Turn right and drive north 0.6 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird was seen perched on an osprey platform. Map
Willow Flycatcher
Loveland Hammock EEL Preserve, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Reported September 21 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street) and drive west 4.1 miles to SW 217 Street. Turn left and drive south 1 mile to SW 360 Street (Lucille Drive, unpaved). Turn right and drive west 0.4 miles to a hammock (tree island) south of the road. The bird was seen at the hammock. Map
American Golden Plover
Gladeview Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 20 (eBird) Photo
Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 13.5 miles to CR 880. Turn left and drive west 6.8 miles to Gladeview Road (unpaved). Turn left and drive south 3 miles to a muddy field on the west side of the road, near where wooden pallets are stacked. Up to three birds have been seen in this area. Map
Eastern Warbling Vireo
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported September 19 (eBird) Photo Directions: From US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike in Florida City, drive south to Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Turn right and drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street (FL 9336). Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L-31W Canal. No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map
Aerojet Road, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Reported September 18 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the intersection of Florida's Turnpike and US 1 in Florida City, turn right on Palm Drive (SW 344 Street). Drive west 1.6 miles to SW 192 Avenue. Turn left and drive south 2 miles to SW 376 Street (FL 9336). Turn right and drive west 4.5 miles to Aerojet Road (SW 232 Avenue, gated). No specific location has been provided for this sighting. Map
Ruff
Gladeview Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported September 18 (eBird) Video
Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 13.5 miles to CR 880. Turn left and drive west 6.8 miles to Gladeview Road (unpaved). Turn left and drive south 2.8 miles to a sod field on the west side of the road. Up to three birds have been seen on the sod field. Map
South Florida as defined here includes the following counties: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Only sightings at publicly accessible locations are listed here. Click on each county to view that county’s eBird Rare Bird Alert.
Click here for locations to see regularly occurring south Florida specialties. Click here for directions to those locations.
Banner photo: White-tailed Tropicbird by Daniel Gribbin