Teresa:

Normally, I'd answer Teresa's query offline, but I thought the following information might be of interest to all Tweeters so I am replying to the it here. I know south Florida VERY well, having lived and birded there for the last 12 years plus. THE birding guide for south Florida is Larry Manfredi. His website can be found here:

http://www.southfloridabirding.com

He is very popular so he may be booked during the time you are in Florida. However, you can find many of the birds you are looking for by monitoring the Tropical Audubon Socirty (TAS) Miami Bird Board here:

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/index.html

Specifically, you can also get help on individual specialties that you can find yourself by going here:

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/specialty.html

Many specific locations for finding the above birds can be found here:

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/locations.html

Lastly, one of the premier birding sites in south Florida is located in Hendry County, south of Clewiston. It is known as Stormwater Treatment Area #5 (STA-5 for short). Tours are run by the South Florida Water Management District and the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society. I led the semi-monthly tours (driving) at STA-5 for over 8 years. Many rarities have shown-up at STA-5 along with the abundant "regulars" like both Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, all the waders including Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Purple Swamphen (exotic breeder but now ABA-countable I understand or at least countable by the Florida Ornithological Society and many, many others. The fierst November tour is on November 11th. I don't know if this coincides with your travels but if it does, do whatever you have to do to go on the tour as you won't regret it! You can find out all the information you need here:

http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/sta.html

You'll have to contact my very good friend Margaret England to reserve your spot on the tour. Contact her at sta5birding at embarqmail.com Tell her I sent you, even if the maximum number of participants have been reached. She'll let you on the tour.

Lastly, you might also want to check out the Audubon of the Everglades website for birding locations and field trips a bit further north of Hollywood. Go here:

http://www.auduboneverglades.org

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me off list. Good luck! Let me know what you see.

Cheer and good birding!

Vincent Lucas
Sequim, WA
vplucas at comcast.net


> Subject: South Florida inquiry
> Date: Wed Oct 24 2012 1:26 am
> From: teresa AT avocetconsulting.com
>
> Hello fellow Tweets,
>
> I'm going to be enjoying a vacation in Hollywood FL (between Miami and Ft.
>
> Lauderdale) the first week in November, within easy driving distance of the
>
> Everglades, Keys, Okeechobee, and many other birding destinations. Being
>
> that this is only my second time birding in south FL, I would appreciate any
>
> recommendations folks have for good day guides in the area. I have contacted
>
> one but he has not returned my e-mail (of course he may be out leading a
>
> tour...).
>
>
>
> Teresa Michelsen
>
> Olympia WA
>
>
>
> PS and if you should happen to know the area really well, some guidance on
>
> where especially to go or conversely not to bother with in November would be
>
> great too
>