Florida before and after a cruise from Barbados

Prairie Warbler, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Mar 18, 2023

We flew down to Florida on Saturday the 18th so we could take an early flight over to Barbados to start our cruise. Most of our time on Saturday afternoon was spent driving or visiting family but managed a little birding with a late afternoon stop at Green Cay. Not surprisingly it was fairly quiet given the time but it was nice to be outside in the warmth. Warblers were in short supply during a brief period of birding with just four species but it was nice to hear a Prairie Warbler starting to sing.

Northern Parula, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Pine Warbler, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Palm Warbler 'western', Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

American Redstart, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

After a delayed flight back from Barbados into Miami on the 26th that got us in much later than scheduled, we spent several hours hot hours the following day exploring the Everglades National Park from the east entrance down to Flamingo. This was the first time I had visited the area since two hurricanes devastated the area in 2005. I had made a few trips down to this area of the park back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s and the changes brought on by the hurricanes were still obvious now. There were a few warblers singing including Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler and Northern Parula. I hoped to find some migrant flocks but conditions to bring in a big flight of early season migrants did not materialize. Overall I had eight species of warbler, with the most productive location being the area around Flamingo itself, even in the midday heat. 

Ovenbird, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, FL, Mar 28, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, FL, Mar 28, 2023

Before making the flight back home in the evening on Tuesday the 28th we drove through the horrible Miami traffic down to the southern end of Key Biscayne to Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP.  Once again I had hoped some migrants would show up but conditions for overnight migration were poor.  The weather was sunny and hot and we never made it to the park until mid morning so warbler activity was somewhat low with half a dozen species present.  The location can also produce Swainson's Warblers during this time of year but no luck with that species.