rspmd23 Loc: NYC , now in Westlake, Florida

Hi I'm new to Florida, living in Palm Beach County.I'm just getting into birding and would like to know if there are any good sites for shooting around here or elsewhere in southern Florida. I also just upgraded from my old D810 to a new Z8 and am excited to get into birding. Formerly predominantly landscape and some wildlife. Any clubs or groups to look into as well.

Thanks all

Rob P.

Housty Loc: Ontario

Google up birding in Florida, it is a paradise for birders, far too many places to list here. Start with Green Cay near Delray Beach.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Check out the Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve, especially the Black Point Wildlife Drive. The Canaveral National Seashore always has a lot of birds including Rosette Spoonbills. On the Gulf Coast, near Naples, is the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Naples Botanical Gardens are nice.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Look for billnikon here. Two great places near Boca. I will be there in next week.

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Also look up the Florida Birding Trail. Look under the Trail Sites tab, divides the state into four quarters by region. Hoping this helps. Gary https://floridabirdingtrail.com/

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Welcome to Florida!

If you are new to birding, you should get and learn to use the apps ebird and Merlin. Both are products of Cornell’s Ornithology program.

Ebird will be most immediately useful in answering your question about where to go. It is available in both desktop and mobile versions (get both). Basically, ebird users list the birds they see when birding and submit their lists. From these lists, ebird builds maps of “hotspots” showing places with high abundance of birds, and what those birds are. I use this in the evenings before a birding session to decide where to go the next morning. There are many more aspects for ebird, which you will discover as you get into it.

Merlin is a mobile app for identifying birds inthe field. It does this either by sound or by photo. As photographers, we have the luxury of being able to work with our pictures after the fact, and Merlin is extremely helpful. In my observation, it is about 95% accurate for sound ID and 85% accurate for photo ID (the quality of the photo has an impact).

Enjoy the many wonderful birding opportunities that you have in the sunshine state.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay in Delray Beach are about 5 minutes apart, Wood Storks are starting to nest at Wakodahatchee and at the moment Green Cay's water level has been ideal for wading birds.
Loxahatchee National Preserve off Rt. 441 offers lots of walking but you might see a Snail Kite or other shore birds.
Peaceful Waters in Wellington is not that far but water levels vary and sometimes Otters can be spotted.
Sabastian Inlet offers lots of Osprey hunting when the wind is Northbound. Stick March should have nesting Roseate Spoonbills soon.
I offer free photo tours of the Wakodahatchee and Green Cay sites.
Private message me if your interested.

RustyM

Google Audubon Everglades to find the website for the Audubon Society chapter centered on Palm Beach County. Click on Birds in the top menu and then PBC birding sites. Two of the best are Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay Wetlands. Consider joining; they have guided walks and informational programs.

recb

I went to waste treatment facilities in the West Palm Beach area that were excellent.

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

Sebastián inlet. Wakodahatchee, there are several preserves on A1A toward sebastian inlet. Merritt Island state park. The everglades. Check out Mark Smith' s website, at one time he had a guide to birding in Florida.

Iechyd da

Ann

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

Once you're settled in, do a search for the J.N. "Ding" Darling Natl Wildlife Center on the west coast around Sanibel Island. World renowned for spectacular migratory birds. Previously mentioned is the Merritt Island Natl Wildlife Center around Cocoa Beach, which has the largest amount of Bald Eagles of any place on the mainland U.S. continent.

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

For local clubs check out your local camera store, they should know, also check out the Florida Camera Club Council's web site, F3cs.com for clubs and events near you, also PSA. Photograhy Society of America. On the West cost we have Paynes Prarie in Gainesville. Check out Orlando Wetlands, There are so many bird and wildlife opportunities here on both coasts in Florida

Iechyd da

Ann

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Ding Darling on the west coast near Sanibel

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

Lyonia Photography Club. Lyonia Preserve in Deltona Florida home to Scrub Jays that will come see you up close and even land on you.

Canisdirus

I can attest to Wakodahatchee Wetlands being a good spot and near you.

I ought to know...I built it.