On Saturday, September 5, thirty-one birders joined TAS Field Trip Coordinator Brian Rapoza for the first field trip of the 2026-27 season, to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County. The group assembled at the Miccosukee Service Plaza on Snake Road (CR 833) in Broward County, then caravaned to Corkscrew via CR 833 through Broward and Hendry Counties, then CR 846, through Hendry and Collier Counties. Birds seen along the way included Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wild Turkey, Common Ground Dove, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Black-necked Stilt, Wood Stork, Glossy Ibis, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Eastern Meadowlark and Brown-headed Cowbird. Three White-tailed Deer were also seen.
Among the birds seen at Corkscrew were two stunning Prothonotary Warblers, along with five other warblers: Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula and Yellow-throated Warbler. A male Painted Bunting was spotted at the feeders outside the visitor center. Other species encountered during our walk on Corkscrew’s 2.25-mile boardwalk included Red-bellied, Downy and Piliated Woodpeckers, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren and several Raccoons. By trip’s end, the group had tallied 55 different birds, all of which are listed in this eBird trip report.
Prothonotary Warbler. Photo by Brian Rapoza