South East Florida Prep & Logistics

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 missed the Tricolored Munia and didn't arrive until @9pm to a barking dog and a truck partially blocking the driveway -- once we found the place (Google Maps was not helpful). We had planned to bird there as well but it was dark already and we were exhausted.

Tuesday, April 14

Meet Larry Manfredi (our bird guide extraordinaire) at his house in Homestead -- we birded at his feeders, a local airport & the Everglades.

Lunch in Flamingo in the Everglades (no we did not see any)

Night at Gateway Cottage

Wednesday, April 15 - Birding to Key Largo

Boat Ride in the Everglades

Night at Pelican Key Largo Cottages -- this was the worst & most expensive place we stayed. It did not have a working toilet -- when we complained we were told the maintenance guy lives an hour away so he can't come back and there was a restroom about 20 feet from our cottage we could use... WHAT? We pushed and they sort of fixed it, but it was inconsistently flushing and the WiFi didn't work. We were only booked for one night - I am working on getting some money back. Sigh.

Thursday, April 16 - Birding to Key West

Meet Friends for Dinner in Key West -- Square Grouper, great food, but expensive (plus had to pay for parking).

Night at Southwinds Motel (near Duval St.)

Friday, April 17

Early Ferry to the Dry Tortugas

Cindy wandered around Key West

Night at Southwinds Motel (near Duval St.)

Saturday, April 18

Bird from Key West to Boynton Beach

Night at Sun Dek Beach House in Boynton Beach -- nicest place we stayed.

Sunday, April 19

Bird with Larry Manfredi around Miami area for exotics and clean up

Visit with my friends Sallie & Tim

Night at Sun Dek Beach House in Boynton Beach

Monday, April 20

Bird Jonathon Dickinsen State Park for Florida Scrub Jay and others

Fly West Palm to Providence -- 2 hour wait on the tarmac

Home

Here is our trip list if you want to know specifically where we birded and what birds we located.

https://ebird.org/tripreport/500829

Details of birding on the individual days to follow...