palm beach county birding areas
palm beach county birding areas
Where Do You Want To Go Birding Today?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Here are some good Palm Beach County sites to check out:
Belle Glade Campground - Western end of Lake Rd.(W. Canal St. N.) in Belle Glade. The area in and around this privately owned campground has been a good location for wintering Buntings, Grosbeaks and Orioles and resident Smooth-billed Anis. Also occasionally seen in the vicinity bordering the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee are Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. The campground was nearly destroyed by the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, and the site is in transition. Location Map
Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center - Over 1.5 miles of boardwalk trails through constructed wetlands in Boynton Beach. Interpretive signs and a nature center introduce visitors to the common wetland species of Florida. Established in 2004, Black-necked Stilts have nested, as have Mottled Ducks and numerous other Florida species. Location Map
Hungryland Slough - A trail and boardwalk traversing pine flatlands and cypress swamp. Located within the J. W. Corbett Recreational Area. The entrance is located west of Seminole- Pratt Whitney Rd. 3 miles north of Northlake Blvd. Location map
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Located east of A1A north of Singer Island. One of the few remaining examples of subtropical coastal habitat in Palm Beach County. As such, it is a good location for migratory birds and also Caribbean strays. Western Spindalis (formerly known as Stripe-headed Tanager), La Sagra's Flycatcher and Thick-billed Vireo have been seen here. Location Map
John Prince Park - Entrance is east off Congress Ave. south of 6th Ave. So. in Lake Worth.This is an excellent location to see Limpkins and Monk Parakeets. Also, the Nature Trail near the campground entrance is a good spot to check for passerines. Location Map (Nature trail and campground are at the southern entrance, off Congress.)
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge - Just west of US 441 on Lee Rd., Boynton Beach. 221 sq. miles of everglades habitat. Visit the Marsh Trail and the Cypress Boardwalk. No birding trip to Palm Beach County is complete without a stop here. Location Map
Riverbend Park - This 680-acre park in Jupiter is a popular area for canoeists to enter the Loxahatchee River for the float down to Trapper Nelson’s and Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It’s also a pretty good spot to bird - Sandhill Cranes, Wild Turkeys, and numerous warblers in migration. Location Map
Spanish River Park - Perhaps the best location in the county for migrating passerines. The park is on the west side of A1A just south of Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton. Like MacArthur Park, this is also a good place to find Caribbean strays (which have included Bananaquit, Stripe-headed Tanager, Cuban Pewee and Bahama Mockingbird). Location Map
Wakodahatchee Wetlands - The entrance is on the east side of Jog Rd. between Woolbright Blvd. and Atlantic Ave. This new park features a mile-long boardwalk from which good views may be had of various wading birds and waterfowl. A Short-eared Owl has been seen here. Location Map
Maps included. No guarantees implied that you will find anything - but have fun in your pursuits. That's what it's all about!