As my final follow up for this trip I made two videos. Used AI (Claude and Suno) to create original music for them as well. This one captures our birding with a guide -- Larry Manfredi -- lots of fun! This one captures all of our other birding including the trip to the Dry Tortugas... Enjoy - Next Stop -- The Brazilian Amazon!

Larry gave us instructions on how to find the Florida Scrub Jay in Jonathan Dickinsen State Park which was about 40 minutes north of where we were if it wasn't rush hour. But it was, so it took 1.25 hours. We were low on gas and for some reason all the gas station leading up to the park were on the wrong side of the divided highway. We paid the fee entered the park and I'm thinking I am going to have to rally to walk and see this bird (which is not a life bird for me) when C

Lucky us to have another day birding with Larry -- he was determined to find what was left of our target list. We met at the Whole Foods parking lot and took off for the area around A.D. Barnes Park for some exotics. Yellow-chevroned Parakeet Red-masked Parakeet Orange-winged Amazon Feral Cat on a Hot Roof! Next stop is in a yard near where Larry's brother used to live. The owner (who wasn't home) lets Larry and guests visit his feeders whenever and boy are they good feeder

I should mention that the motel was fairly nice -- comfy beds, but weird logistics for the Coffee maker -- had to put it on the floor to reach the plug? We redesigned the morning to find a Reddish Egret and Key Deer, so our first stop was Boca Chica Road (where one had been reported for the last three days) and we went on the way in, so we were familiar. Great Crested Flycatcher Gray Kingbird Little Blue Heron -- this bird got us excited until we looked closel Cattle Egret S

Most people don't know that the Dry Tortugas National Park exists -- full disclosure, if I wasn't a birder I probably wouldn't know either. It is a dream destination for most birders -- Cindy and I were among them. Garden Key where Fort Jefferson was built and never finished is where the ferry lands and the only part of the park we had access to. It has several species rookeries and camp ground, beaches and several old coal delivery stations. The Fort started sinking shor

Our view from Pelican Key Largo Cottage this morning. Another Red Junglefowl - not countable -- with chicks! Had a nice stop at Long Key State Park (every State Park has some kind of fee). It has two sides -- one on the ocean and one that is more marshy and woodsy. Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover & Least Sandpiper Magnificent Frigatebird Black-bellied Plover A large flock of Great Egrets Now to the marshy/woodsy side Juvi Little Blue Heron Juvi White Ibis (hmmmmm second

Spent a little time this morning at our Garden Cottage and the gateway to the Everglades. Not a lot of birds seen -- but heard a bunch of Painted Bunting. Cindy I just realized I haven't posted a photo of the travelers (you can see part of the car -- which I also forgot take a photo of on the left side of the above). We are in the airport @2 hours into our delay... This was the best stop of the day -- Cindy spotted a Muscovy Duck and we pulled in. Nice surprise. Some of th

Larry Manfredi has been birding in Florida most of his life. I've always heard he's the guy if you want to bird Southern Florida. We were set to meet him at 7:30am at his home in Homestead. His feeders are famous -- so we started racking up birds. We forgot to get a photo of/with him so here he is at the Dry Tortugas with someone else. We started off with a bunch of Painted Bunting Next up a lifer for Cindy -- Bronzed Cowbird Common Grackle Gray Catbird Purple Martin Then

Just like for Costa Rica I decided to draw my target life birds for the trip. Here they are... Not so many this time because I've been birding in Florida before, just not this area. My friend and traveling companion Cindy has not birded there before. Here is the Itinerary Monday, April 13 Fly Providence to Palm Beach -- arrive @3pm -- we were delayed and didn't arrive until @6:30 Bird our way to Gateway to the Everglades Cottage -- it was too late to go birding, so we mis