Wakodahatchee Wetlands Field Trip
Sounds of clacking bills and chirping chicks filled the air even as our group of 25 women gathered at the base of the Wakodahatchee Wetlands boardwalk for our Phoebes outing on April 14. We were greeted by Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks as we rounded the corner to catch our first glimpse of water. A few steps further and we were surrounded by the source of the sounds that had greeted us in the parking lot and the reason to visit this amazing treatment wetland in spring – pond apples covered with wading bird nests.
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Peaceful Waters Sanctuary Field Trip
Nineteen women gathered on a bright sunny winter morning for an enchanting bird walk at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary in Wellington, Fla. We strolled the berms and boardwalks of the sprawling wetlands complex, observing 66 species in a few short hours!
One of our first sightings was the Wilson’s Snipe, a typically secretive shorebird that delighted the group by strutting out in the open for great views and photo ops. The next bird we observed, also a typically elusive species, was the Sora, and it too also eventually came out into the open for everyone to get good looks.
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Matheson Hammock Park Field Trip
Thirty-four women converged on Matheson Hammock Park for a morning of early spring migration birding, March 30, 2024. Late March is usually when the northward migration begins for many long-distance tropical migrant species, some of whom may also spend the winter in the northernmost part of their nonbreeding range here in South Florida.
Our start at the parking lot gave us a good showing of a small flock of Palm Warblers and a Cape May Warbler in the trees bordering Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, a Pileated Woodpecker flyover, and the resident Orange-winged Parrots and Red-masked Parakeets. Cooper's and Broad-winged Hawks also flew over early on.
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Kendall Indian Hammocks Field Trip
Forty-two women joined Phoebes field trip leader Eliana Ardila for a fantastic birding and nature walk at Indian Hammocks Park on February 10.
It was a gorgeous day in South Florida with mild temperatures in the 70s and 36 bird species were observed by the group. In addition to getting some crowd-pleasing views of several species, we also had the opportunity to learn about the native habitat that covers much of this urban park. We also talked about eBird and iNaturalist, and we shared tips on how to use binoculars for the new birders in the group.
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Phoebes Big Sit 2023
The Phoebes selected South Miami’s A.D. Barnes Park for their Big Sit and picked a shady spot for their circle, strategically situated under the shade of fruiting trees and within eyesight of the pond. The site proved to be a good one, as multiple warbler species and a Baltimore Oriole were spotted in the fruit trees, feeding on insects and berries. The pond produced several wader species, including a Tri-colored Heron and a Great Egret, as well as other water-oriented birds, such as the Common Gallinule, Double-Crested Cormorant and the aforementioned Belted Kingfisher. As the morning progressed, raptors began to appear, soaring far above the Big Sit circle. The Phoebes were treated to spectacular views of a Red-Shouldered Hawk, American Kestrel, Broad-Winged Hawk, and Osprey. And yes, since they were spotted by Phoebes sitting within the circle, they count!
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EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA-Gladeview Road and 6 Mile Bend Ponds (sod field)
The Everglades Agricultural Area on the southern end of Lake Okeechobee is a massive area of sugar cane and sod farms. During August many of the sod fields are flooded to control nematodes, worm-like animals that damage the grass. This is the perfect food, along with other insects, for hungry shorebirds migrating from the tundra on their way south. The shallow water levels provide the perfect conditions for shorebird and wading birds in great numbers to find food. Unfortunately for birders, this migration occurs during the peak of summer heat, but seeing the variety of shorebirds and wading birds makes it more than worth the sweat. On our trip there was a nice breeze and plenty of cloud cover making it tolerable.
Armed with some tips on how to more easily identify shorebirds, a small group of eager Phoebes were ready to take on the summer heat and the potential to observe a multitude of birds. We got both and much more. At one point there were 200 Wood Storks circling in a kettle over an open wet field filled with about 1,000 birds of various species. It wasn’t the Powerball jackpot, but in the birding world it was a bonanza. We observed 81 species on this field trip!
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Markham Park Bird Walk
On the morning of Saturday, May 13, 33 women gathered to explore the nature trails at Markham Park in search of birds and other wildlife offerings at this Broward County location. As we arrived at the parking area, we were greeted by a cacophony of calls of Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds and Boat-tailed Grackles.
Our walk started off at the butterfly garden, which did not disappoint, with its varied species and numbers of butterflies flitting about, enjoying the well-kept garden filled with native plantings. We observed Ruddy Daggerwings, Monarchs, and Zebra Longwings among others as we strolled along the garden path and onwards to the nature trail.
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Cape Florida Banding Station Field Trip
Twelve women gathered at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (BBCFSP) on the morning of May 7 to visit the Cape Florida Banding Station, the longest continually-running banding station in South Florida. This park is one of the best places in the area to witness spring migration, because the birds often land here to rest and forage after a night flight over the ocean. Eighteen species were observed, including birds banded at the station.
The weather was windy out of the East, which kept us cool and the mosquito count low, but it did make it a little more difficult to see the birds in the hardwood hammock as CFBS Director Michelle Davis led the group along the nature trail toward the banding station. A male Common Yellowthroat peeked up from a patch of weeds on the top of a mound in a clearing and delighted the Phoebes with his raccoon-like mask. Two female Cape May Warblers were drinking nectar from the buds of a Jamaican Dogwood along the trail, and we were able to talk about ways to tell some of the confusing female-plumaged warblers apart from each other. A few more birds were lurking on the section of the trail leading to the banding station.
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Evergreen Cemetery Walk
An approaching thunderstorm did not deter 20 hardy birders on April 30, 2023, from exploring Evergreen Cemetery, one of Broward’s best hotspots. It is Ft. Lauderdale’s oldest cemetery with many large live oak and fig trees creating a wide-open canopy good for birds. The cemetery is close to the coast and can be a migrant trap for birds needing a quick stopover to fuel up as they continue their journey. We observed 27 species.
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Peaceful Waters Sanctuary Walk
Seventeen ladies gathered at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary on April 16th for a Phoebes bird walk, enjoying an enchanting morning observing birds and other wildlife among the serene wetlands. We observed 56 bird species as we strolled the boardwalks and berms of this park located in Wellington, Florida — a 75-minute drive from Miami but well worth it!
The highlights of the day were 9 Wood Ducks flying and swimming and even perching on the boardwalk railing at times. There was a family of Wood Ducks with 4 ducklings. There were also Mottled Ducks with 13 ducklings and Common and Purple Gallinules with babies swimming in the duckweed and hiding in the brush. Many Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks flew over and Blue-winged Teal were swimming with the other ducks.
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Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Walk
After weeks of little rainfall, the skies opened up over night and provided much needed water to Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, just in time for our February 12, walk attended by 35 women. Arriving in the park just after dawn, one could hear the dawn chorus of birds starting their day. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers foraged up and down the Live Oaks for insects, Western Palm Warblers took baths in the parking lot puddles, and American Kestrels perched tall on light posts watching and waiting for a meal to scurry by.
What a contrast there was in the park from one day prior (having scouted the area the day before the actual Phoebes walk). The heavy rains brought back to life the dormant Resurrection Fern living on the Live Oak trees, changing its appearance from shriveled and brown to lush and green. We learned about “commensalism” and the relationship between these two native species. As we walked through the suburban park of nature trails, disc golf courses, baseball fields, and a skateboard park, it was so refreshing to see all the recent native plant beds that were recently planted with the flora thriving.
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Annual Holiday Brunch & State of the Phoebes Meeting
Quiches, pastries, fruit, and more quickly filled not just one but three tables as thirty plus women gathered for the first in-person Annual Holiday Brunch and State of the Phoebes Meeting post-pandemic, in the very same garden where Phoebes Birding was conceived five years ago. How has that inspired dream blossomed? In 2022, the Phoebes gathered at ten separate events starting with a frosty January morning visit to a Rufous Hummingbird in Kendale Lakes Park and capped by explorations of bird-friendly gardens at a High Tea hosted by Gloria Turkel in November and our annual meeting in December hosted by Kirsten Hines.
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A Mad Hatter Tea Party with a Good Starter of Birds!
On Sunday November 13, 2022 a group of 23 enthusiastic women birders met at Dante Fascell Park (8700 SW 57th Avenue) in South Miami. For a small suburban park it offers a little something for everyone and their families...playground, pavilion, BBQ pits, tennis and volleyball courts. For the Phoebes it offered a smorgasbord of 35 species of birds; a superb group effort considering fall migration has ended in South Florida with the exception of a few stragglers. Following the gardens tour, we donned our most elegant hats for tea and scrumptious nibbles on the home of Bruce and Gloria Turkel, toasting the Turkels, Nuehrings and South Florida conservation while indulging on delectable home-made cookies, exotic teas, and cucumber sandwiches assembled by Bruce, our honorary “Blue Jay.” As usual, the Phoebes brought a small mountain of treats, good humor and friendship to the lovely event.
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Field Trip Wrap-Up: The Phoebes Big Sit
Thirteen birders gathered at A.D. Barnes Park for Phoebes Birding’s first Big Sit on an overcast morning October 8, 2022, joining the international Big Sit birding event. Strategically located at Picnic Area 3, under towering Oaks and fruiting fig trees and near the large pond, we were able to observe a whopping 48 species from our 17-diameter circle from 7:30am to 12pm! Among the crowd-pleasers were Black-throated blue warbler, Painted Bunting, Northern Parula and Baltimore Oriole.
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Bird Walk Wrap-Up: Matheson Hammock Park, Spring 2022
Thirty-four birders joined us for our May 2022 Spring Bird Walk at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables, hoping to spot the last few migrant birds on the tail end of spring migration. The morning started off cool, eventually creeping into the 80s later on, and everyone enjoyed clear blue skies. Both some of the regular exotic species and natives made an appearance. In all, 76 birds of 30 species were recorded, including a few crowd-pleasers!
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Bird Walk Wrap-Up: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Spring 2022
Fourteen Phoebes gathered at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (BBCFSP) the morning of May 1 to visit the Cape Florida Banding Station (CFBS), the longest-running banding station in South Florida founded in 2002.
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Bird Walk Wrap-Up: Long Key Natural Area
On a cool Sunday morning in March, 20 ladies met in the parking lot of the Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center for the Phoebes monthly bird walk. This historical site which boasts over 150 acres of varied natural habitats, was once home to the Tequesta and Seminole Indians. With introductions, briefing of the site and other pleasantries complete, we set out in search of avian and other wildlife.
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Field Trip Wrap-Up: Birding, Camping & Owl Prowl, February 2022
Ten campers joined up for the first Phoebes overnight camping trip in A.D. Barnes Park on February 26-27, 2022. On a warm spring Saturday afternoon, we enjoyed the camaraderie of the group as we unloaded cars and set up our tents.
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