Peaceful Waters Sanctuary Field Trip 2026
Saturday, March 8, 2026 • Peaceful Waters Sanctuary • Report by Andrea Diamond
Daylight Saving Time began the night before, stealing an hour of sleep, but that didn’t stop twenty dedicated women from gathering bright and early at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Palm Beach County. Our group represented three counties — Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach —and we were especially happy to welcome three women who were joining a Phoebes walk for the very first time. It was a beautiful morning with perfect weather, and the spirit of the group was just as bright.
Our first bird of the day was a Loggerhead Shrike perched on a power line in the parking lot. From there we headed onto the boardwalk, and within the first twenty minutes we had already recorded nearly 30 species. The wetlands were lively with herons, egrets, and Common Gallinules moving through the marsh. Through the fence we spotted an American Wigeon on the back retention pond, along with Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, and a Solitary Sandpiper. The pond was also full of Egyptian Geese families, with fluffy goslings paddling along behind their parents.
A special thank you goes to Steffanie, who found several of the morning’s most coveted birds, including a Sora, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and two Wilson’s Snipes. Other favorites included the vocal Limpkins and several Glossy Ibises glowing in their rich breeding plumage. While we were enjoying the lively activity around the Purple Martin nesting gourds, one of the resident Sandhill Cranes calmly strolled underneath them right beside us. We also watched an Osprey successfully catch a fish and fly off with its prize.
Wildlife sightings weren’t limited to birds. A raccoon peered down at us from a palm tree, a marsh rabbit darted through the vegetation, and the highlight for many was watching a mother river otter and her three pups swimming and playing together in the water.
As always on Phoebes outings, the camaraderie was just as rewarding as the bird list. Everyone worked together to help each other get on the birds, no matter how long it took. Patience, after all, is an important part of birding.
After the walk, six or seven of us stayed to enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the shelter. With no events scheduled at the park, Peaceful Waters lived up to its name, giving us a wonderfully quiet place to end a memorable morning together.
BIRDS WE SAW
Egyptian Goose
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Mottled Duck
Eurasian Collared-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Purple Gallinule
Gray-headed Swamphen
Limpkin
Sandhill Crane
Wilson's Snipe
Solitary Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Wood Stork
Anhinga
Double-crested Cormorant
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Ovenbird
Black-and-white Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler