Everglades National Park

Florida, USAnature

Birding the Everglades is unlike anywhere else in North America. You are walking through a mosaic of sawgrass prairie, mangrove fringe, cypress dome, and freshwater slough, and the sheer density of wading birds during the winter dry season genuinely takes your breath away. Tricoloured Herons stalk the shallows three metres from the path, Wood Storks lumber overhead in kettles, and the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm lives up to its reputation — anhingas dry their wings at arm's length while Purple Gallinules pick across lily pads below you. It is immersive birding rather than a tick-list exercise. The star species require a little more patience. Roseate Spoonbills are reliably found around Eco Pond near Flamingo and along the Buttonwood Canal at dusk, when flocks drift in to roost. Snail Kites are trickier — Alligator Alley and the Shark Valley loop road give your best shots, particularly in early morning. The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow is genuinely difficult; it inhabits specific marl prairie near Flamingo, and you will likely need a local guide or a contact with recent sightings to locate it. Limpkin is far more cooperative, calling loudly from roadside marshes. Access is straightforward — the main park road runs 60 kilometres from the Ernest Coe Visitor Centre to Flamingo, with frequent pull-offs and raised boardwalks. Accommodation inside the park is limited to the Flamingo Lodge and campgrounds, so many birders base themselves in Homestead or Florida City, a 30-minute drive. Licensed guides are available from local outfitters and are worth the cost if you are chasing the sparrow or Snail Kite. Go December through March; pack a spotting scope for distant spoonbill flocks, DEET-based repellent, and rubber boots if you plan any off-trail exploration near Flamingo.

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