USA TODAY Network – Florida originally published a story by environment reporter Chad Gillis on Jan. 23, 2023, about Everglades National Park named the best birding park in the nation by Travel Lens.
We asked award-winning photographer Andrew West, known for his stunning wildlife photography, to share some of his favorite places to see birds in Southwest Florida.
Here are Andrew’s picks. And an important disclaimer: Things are changing all of the time in Southwest Florida as far as weather, migration patterns and other factors that will affect the presence of birds at these locations:
TIGERTAIL BEACH, 480 Hernando Drive, Marco Island
ACCORDING TO ANDREW: Black skimmers and reddish egrets are popular at this beach. Also wading birds and shore birds including Wilson’s, piping and snowy plovers along with royal and least terns.
CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY, 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples
They have an abundance of birds that you would see in Southwest Florida. You will see all kinds of birds going through there: barred owls, swallow-tailed kites, wood storks. It’s also known for warblers, roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets and painted buntings.
LITTLE ESTERO CRITICAL WILDLIFE AREA, Fort Myers Beach (south end)
One of my favorite spots. It’s a great place for snowy plovers, least terns and black skimmers.
SIX MILE CYPRESS SLOUGH, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers
You can basically see all kinds of birds there. Everything from warblers to wading birds, night herons and wood ducks, which have really colorful heads. You can also see great blue herons and great egrets during breeding season. And there are really cool great egrets nesting on the far side of first big lake in the slough during nesting season.
HARNS MARSH, 38th St. West, Lehigh Acres
Common bird here are limpkins. A cool sighting would be a snail kite because they are rare. Also, sandhill cranes hang out there and nest there, and different migrating birds. But the marsh is snail kite haven because they nest there. Also, you can see purple gallinules, which are really beautiful because their feathers are iridescent.
LAKES PARK, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
Lakes Park is urban friendly. It is very easy for people to go see birds there. Lately, what I am seeing there are lots of warblers. Occasionally, there are sightings of painted buntings. Last year there was a least bittern sighting. Also, this is a very popular spot for wading birds and nesting ibis and great blue heron nesting because it has a rookery.
BUNCHE BEACH, 18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers
It is another one of the best spots for me. On a low tide there are several kinds of plovers and other small shorebirds including marbled godwits. You will have osprey and all kinds of wading birds including reddish, snowy and great egrets. Every once in a while, a group of roseate spoonbills can be seen.
J.N. ‘DING’ DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel
Pelicans, including white pelicans. All kinds of wading birds including roseate spoonbills and egrets. A rare but amazing sighting are mangrove cuckoos.
LIGHTHOUSE BEACH, SANIBEL, 112 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
During an occasional fallout, the birding here can be amazing. I have seen rose-breasted grosbeaks, painted and indigo buntings and all kinds of different warblers including yellow, hooded and several types of vireos. But the fall out is brief. Someone on a birding site will list a ton of birds. It is really cool to see but you have be pretty in tune with the birding community. As they migrate over, the lighthouse is the first bit of land they see and they hang out for couple of days and move on. Have to time it well and be watching birding sites. Also, a fairly common site is pileated woodpeckers, pelicans and snowy egrets along with nesting osprey.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: From Marco Island to Sanibel – The best birding sites in Southwest Florida
Reporting by Mark H. Bickel and Andrew West, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark H. Bickel and Andrew West, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
