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Photo by Avi
River otters at Loxahatchee NWR

[edit] Overview

On the eastern edge of the Everglades in Palm Beach County, southeast Florida, west of Boynton Beach, and a reasonable day trip from Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

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[edit] Rarities

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[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

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[edit] Other Wildlife

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[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

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[edit] Areas of Interest

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[edit] Access and Facilities

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[edit] External Links

• Loxahatchee NWR

Content and images originally posted by Avi

[edit] Reviews

Avi's review From the Refuge Visitor Center there is a short boardwalk through swamplands. Next to the Visitor Center is a "pond" which is actually an extension of the surrounding swamps; in late January 2007 we and other visitors were "entertained" by two otters playing and fishing in the pond. Every so often they'd swim away, but eventually would return. They were very successfully fishing, and when they'd catch a fish they'd come out of the water to eat; they were so close the spectators could hear them crunch down on the fish! In the parking lot for the Visitor Center is a small butterfly garden in which we've always found attractive butterlies. In the tall trees between the entrance road and the Visitor Center parking lot a pair of Long-eared Owls nested and raised a chick in 2006; by February they may have become the most-photographed individual birds in all of Florida! In January 2007 the pair had returned and were again beginning to nest. The extensive impoundments, managed for the benefit of migratory waterfowl and wading birds, are the most productive areas. Pros

• Variety of habitats. Very extensive in area.

Cons

• Visiting much of the impoundments
• often the most productive areas
• can require much walking. The impoundments are clearly man-made and agricultural-looking.