Palm Beach Sod Farms Shorebirding (1 Viewer)

On Wednesday, two fellow birders and I drove up to the Palm Beach Sod Farms to look for shorebirds. In three hours, we managed to tally over 18 species of shorebirds, many in large numbers, after just stopping at three locations along Hwy 880 (a flooded field between Duda Farms Rd and Brown Farms Rd was the best, but Roth Sod (Gladeview Rd) was also very good). Here are the shorebirds and some of the highlight species of the day

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (with ducklings)
Fulvous-Whistling-Duck (with ducklings)
Blue-winged Teal -- 4 (early)

Roseate Spoonbill -- 55

Semipalmated Plover -- 4
Killdeer -- 7
Black-necked Stilt -- 150
American Avocet -- 2
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs -- 7
Lesser Yellowlegs -- 175
Ruddy Turnstone
Semipalmated Sandpiper -- 20
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper -- 50
Pectoral Sandpiper -- 7
Stilt Sandpiper -- 170
Upland Sandpiper -- 2
Short-billed Dowitcher -- ~10
Long-billed Dowitcher -- ~55
Wilson's Phalarope -- 5

Black Tern -- 20
Gull-billed Tern -- 3

Autumn shorebird migration is well underway.

Carlos

great report Carlos. Trey's pictures are great. Here is a link for everyone.

http://photographwildlife.com/photographwildlife/images/taspost/sodfarms/aug32011/

csanchez7 said:

On Wednesday, two fellow birders and I drove up to the Palm Beach Sod Farms to look for shorebirds.

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Carlos I've never been there is the access to the birds suitable for photography? How long does this last appx?

bulos,

Shorebird migration will continue throughout the month of August with good numbers into the first half of September. Some of the fields are pretty far away and not great for photography, but you can drive up real close to some of them if the gate is open. Great photo opportunities of a lot of usually uncommon shorebird species.

Carlos

csanchez7 said:

bulos,

Shorebird migration will continue throughout the month of August with good numbers into the first half of September. Some of the fields are pretty far away and not great for photography, but you can drive up real close to some of them if the gate is open. Great photo opportunities of a lot of usually uncommon shorebird species.

Carlos

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How do I find them I live in Davie.

bulos,

There are multiple recent posts about the Palm Beach Sod Farms here:

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

They describe some of the places and which birds are where.

Carlos

Can anyone give me good accurate directions to the Sod farms I' dlike to go out there and look around. It seems the area 1.5 miles east of Duda Road on 880 is good for shorebirds and photography?

bulos said:

Can anyone give me good accurate directions to the Sod farms I' dlike to go out there and look around. It seems the area 1.5 miles east of Duda Road on 880 is good for shorebirds and photography?

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Best I know of is the discussion of Everglades Agricultural Area here:

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

It's a vast area. And part of the fun is driving around and seeing where the birds are on any particular day.

Best,
Jim

There's a tour next weekend (check the TAS board that Jim gives a link to). Assuming Irene doesn't blow it out of the water...

J. Moore said:

Best I know of is the discussion of Everglades Agricultural Area here:

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

It's a vast area. And part of the fun is driving around and seeing where the birds are on any particular day.

Best,
Jim

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Thanks Jim