Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated December 12, 2025
Please post updates for the following on eBird (providing the specific location where the bird was seen is always appreciated) or on either of our Bird Boards (website and Facebook):
Recent Reports
Smooth-billed Ani
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 12 (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. 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. Up to four birds have been seen along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map
Vermilion Flycatcher
C-111 Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 12 (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 miles to the C-111 Canal. The bird has been seen on the fence surrounding the water control structure on the west side of the canal. Map
Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 9 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen around the water control structure at the south end of the park. Map
Tropical Kingbird
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 12 (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. Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L31W 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. The bird has been seen near the bend in the canal. Map
Belle Glade Marina and Torry Island, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 11 (eBird) Photo Directions: From SR 80 in Belle Glade, drive west 3.6 miles on CR 717 to the marina and campground. The bird has been seen around the observation tower. Map
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 10 (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 4 miles to Atlantic Mill Road. Turn left and drive 0.7 miles to the rice mill. The bird has been seen on power lines near the rice mill. Please bird from the road and don't trespass onto the mill property. Map
Western Tanager
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Collier County: Last reported December 12 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Naples, exit at Immokalee Road (County Road 846, Exit 111). Drive east 15.2 miles to Sanctuary Road. Turn left and drive 1.5 miles to the entrance (fee, open 7:00AM to 5:30PM, wheelchair accessible). The bird has been seen around the entrance. Map
Rufous Hummingbird
Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 9 (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 at the end of the paved trail. Map
Cassin’s Kingbird
Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 8 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen in trees around the water control structure at the south end of the park Map
Dark-eyed Junco
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples, Collier County: Last reported December 7 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75, exit at Collier Blvd. (CR 951, Exit 101). Drive south 7.8 miles to Tower Road. Turn right and drive west to the entrance. The bird has been seen around the welcome center building. Map
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County: Last reported December 7 (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 4 miles to Atlantic Mill Road. Turn left and drive 0.7 miles to the rice mill. Several birds have been seen in cattails along the canal at the south end of the mill. Please bird from the road and don't trespass onto the mill property. Map
Groove-billed Ani
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported December 6 (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. 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. The bird has been seen along the unpaved road that leads east from the bend in the canal. Map
Older Reports
Franklin’s Gull
Boynton Beach Inlet Park, Palm Beach County: Reported November 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-95 in Boynton Beach, exit at Woolbright Road (Exit 56). Drive east 1 mile to SR A1A. Turn left and drive north 2 miles to the inlet. Free parking is available at Ocean Inlet Park, just south of the inlet on SR A1A. The bird was seen offshore from the inlet. Map
Vermilion Flycatcher
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported November 30 (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. Turn right and drive west 5 miles (becomes SW 392 Street) to the L31W 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. The bird has been seen near the bend in the canal. Map
Tropical Kingbird
Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported November 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen on fences and power lines around the park. Map
Harold Campbell Public Use Area, Holey Land Road, Palm Beach County: Last reported November 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From I-75 in Broward County, exit at US 27 (Exit 23). Drive north 15 miles to Holey Land Road, immediately south of the Palm Beach County line. Turn left and drive west 5.5 miles to the entrance to Harold Campbell Public Use Area. Turn right and drive north to the parking area and boat ramp. The bird has been seen around the parking area. Map
Western Tanager
Paul Rardin Park, Belle Glade, Palm Beach County: Last reported November 30 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida’s Turnpike in West Palm Beach, exit at Southern Boulevard/SR 80. Drive west 33 miles to FL 715. Turn right and drive north 1.8 miles to the park (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen in trees around the water control structure at the south end of the park Map
Greater White-fronted Goose
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Reported November 29 (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. 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. The bird was seen flying north over this area. Map
Lark Sparrow
Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis Visitor Center, Collier County: Reported November 29 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida's Turnpike, exit at Tamiami Trail (US 41). Drive west 43 miles to the visitor center. The bird was seen around the parking area. 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