Spring in Florida 2024
Specialties & Migration
April 17 – 26, 2024
Tour Length: 10 days
Est. Spaces Left: Spaces available!
Even within the greater Miami area nature still survives and thrives among burgeoning development and we will visit local migrant hotspots and seek some of the ABA countable exotic species (always a fun and interesting venture).

Tour Leaders
Focus
Birds, Photography, Wildlife
Price
Double Accommodation: $4,900/person
Single Supplement: + $600
Deposit: $500
Max Group Size
7 (1 leader)
Pace
Relaxed; Short walks with optional longer hike; some longer drives
Future Departures
Tour Descriptions
Southern Florida harbors a large number of bird specialties, species that are absent or difficult to find in other parts of the ABA area, including Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, “Great White” Heron, Short-tailed Hawk, Snail and Swallow-tailed Kites, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean Nighthawk, White-crowned Pigeon, Florida Scrub-Jay, Gray Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo, “Golden” Yellow Warbler, and “Cape Sable” Seaside Sparrow. During this tour, we will stand excellent chances of seeing all south Florida specialties plus a wide variety of neotropical migrants with excellent photo opportunities of the myriad waterbirds and shorebirds.
The warm, tropical climate of the region also supports populations of many exotic and feral species, some of which are countable on the ABA list, including Gray-headed Swamphen, Monk and White-winged Parakeets, Nanday Parakeet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common Myna, and Spot-breasted Oriole. We will spend some time adding these to our list and it is always fun to see what else is flying around the Miami area.
With luck one or two strays from the Caribbean could be present and we will make a special effort to find these, rare possibilities could include La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Bahama Mockingbird, Thick-billed Vireo, Bananaquit, and Western Spindalis, but these species are only sporadically present.
More Details
Trip Highlights
Top Birds
Short-tailed Hawk; Snail Kite; Mangrove Cuckoo; White-crowned Pigeon; Antillean Nighthawk; Gray Kingbird; Black-whiskered Vireo; the endemic Florida Scrub-Jay & rare Shiny Cowbird; Red-cockaded Woodpecker; Brown-headed Nuthatch & Bachman’s Sparrow; Sooty, Roseate & Bridled Terns; Brown & Black (uncommon) Noddies; Masked & Brown Boobies; American Flamingo (uncommon); countable exotics, such as Egyptian Goose, Gray-headed Swamphen, White-winged & Nanday Parakeets; Red-whiskered Bulbul; Common Myna & Spot-breasted Oriole; a plethora of migrant shorebirds, warblers, thrushes, vireos, buntings & tanagers; Caribbean rarities, e.g., Bahama Mockingbird and others can sometimes be found.
Top Mammals
Bobcat; West Indian Manatee; Key West Deer
Habitats Covered
Marshlands & swamps; pine woodlands; hardwood hammocks; coast & island habitats.
Other Attractions
Dry Tortugas National Park & Historic Fort Jefferson; Key West; Everglades National Park; rare subtropical landscapes and habitats
Planning for the Trip
Meeting Location
Miami International Airport at 4:00 PM
Accommodations
Comfortable 2 – 3 star hotels
Included
From Miami International Airport, 9 nights lodging, all meals from dinner on first day to breakfast on last day
guide, transportation,entry fees & permits, taxes & tips (tips to guide optional)
Excluded
Alcohol, personal calls, laundry, other personal expenses.
Expected Climate
Hot & humid in most places; can be cool on boat trip to Dry Tortugas.
Suggested Clothing and Gear
Credit cards / cash
Binoculars
Scope and tripod (optional)
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
Water bottle
Small umbrella
Small day pack / fanny pack
Small flashlight
Mosquito/insect repellant (DEET 25% or greater)
Itch relief cream
Lip screen/balm
Prescription drugs – carry in original packaging to avoid customs problems
OTC medicines (antibiotics, cold/sinus, cough drops, eye drops, analgesic (Motrin, aspirin), anti-diarrheal)
Toiletries
Small alarm clock
Field guides
Hiking Boots/Shoes
Lightweight shoes/sneakers/sandals
Light-weight long pants
Light-weight long-sleeved shirts
Hat with brim/visor
Safari (e.g., Tilly) hat
Rain jacket/wind breaker
Shorts
T-shirts
Swimsuit
Medium-weight jacket
PJs or shorts for lounging/sleeping
Past Trip Reports
- Spring in South Florida: Specialties & Migration 2022 Trip Report
- Spring in South Florida: Specialties & Migration 2021 Trip Report
- Spring in South Florida: Specialties & Migration 2019 Trip Report
- Spring in South Florida: Specialties & Migration 2018 Trip Report
- Spring in South Florida: Specialties & Migration 2016 Trip Report