Compiled by Brian Rapoza
Last updated October 6, 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
Sabine’s Gull
Veteran’s Memorial Park, Little Duck Key, Monroe County: Last reported October 6 (eBird) Photo Directions: Little Duck Key is located at mile marker 40 on the Overseas Highway (US 1), at the west end of the Seven-Mile Bridge. The bird has been seen at the beach on the south side of Little Duck Key. Map
Bell’s Vireo
Grassy Key, Monroe County: Reported October 6 (eBird) Video Directions: From the Overseas Highway (US 1) on Grassy Key (mile marker 58), turn right on Guava Avenue and drive north 0.3 miles to Ferriere Street. Turn right and drive east 0.1 mile to Cocoanut Avenue. The bird was seen along the east side of Cocoanut Avenue. Map
Smooth-billed Ani
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Last reported October 5 (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. Others have been seen at the water control structure 1 mile west of the where the canal bends west. Map
Vermilion Flycatcher
Oasis Visitor Center, Big Cypress National Preserve, Collier County: Reported October 5 (eBird) Photo Directions: From Florida's Turnpike, exit at Tamiami Trail (US 41). Drive west 43 miles to the visitor center. No specific location was provided for this sighting. Map
Tropical Kingbird
L-31W Canal, Homestead, Miami-Dade County: Reported October 5 (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
Rufous Hummingbird
Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, Palm Beach County: Last reported October 4 (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
Long-billed Curlew
Gladeview Road, Palm Beach County: Reported October 4 (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). The bird was seen in the first sod field on the west side of the road. Map
Red-necked Phalarope
Bowman's Beach Regional Park, Sanibel Island, Lee County: Last reported October 4 (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 8 miles to the Sanibel toll plaza. Continue west, then south 3.3 miles to Periwinkle Way. Turn right and drive west 2.5 miles, bearing right onto Palm Ridge Road, which in 0.3 miles becomes Sanibel-Captiva Road. Continue west 5.4 miles to Bowman's Beach Road. Turn left and drive south 0.6 miles to the beach parking area (fee, open 24 hours). The bird has been seen in a pool of water about 0.25 miles north of the entrance to the beach. Map
American Flamingo
Florida Bay, Everglades National Park, Monroe County: Last reported October 4 (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
Scopoli’s Shearwater
Offshore, Palm Beach County: Last reported October 4 (eBird) Photo Directions: Several birds have been seen offshore between Boynton Beach and Jupiter Map
Eastern Warbling Vireo
A. D. Barnes Park, Miami-Dade County: Last reported October 3 (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 has been seen on the paved path between the nature center and the Leisure Access Center. Map
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Park, Miami-Dade County: Last reported October 2 (eBird) Photo Directions: From the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826), exit at Bird Road (SW 40 Street). Drive west 0.3 miles to the park entrance (no fee, open sunrise to sunset). The bird has been seen in the Pineland EEL Preserve on the east side of the park. Map
Older Reports
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
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
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
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
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