Recent Bird Sightings on Sanibel: What's here Now and How to See them

Although our small tropical island has an international reputation for being an exceptionally wonderful place for birders, some tourists may come and be disappointed.

They will see the shore birds at the beach in abundance, but they will not see many of the non shore birds unless they look for them.

And sometimes that search must be enhanced.

Yes, like most good things in life, birds are best seen both through binoculars and the eyes of seasoned watchers.

During the winter months, The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) – in cooperation with the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society -- conducts birding tours on Foundation Preserves that are normally not open to the public.

And we can guarantee through experience that on these birding tours, you will see many birds not easily observable with the novice eye.

One of the Island's most interesting birds is the Belted Kingfisher.  This comical looking big headed bird will not be seen along our Gulf Shores and often not near the still waters of our Mangrove Swamps.  The Kingfisher prefers to perch in trees that are adjacent to slow moving, clean water.  But even knowing that, it will not be a no brainer to find one.  An expert can spot a Kingfisher in a flash and effectively point one out for you to see or photograph.  Once you do this a couple of times, you will do much better on your own.

Similarly, Rails, common on Sanibel, are not beach goers but swampy marsh dwellers.  But they are shy and secretive for the most part.  Calls are usually the best clues to their presence, again necessitating research or guidance.  Rails bodies are literally compressed,  hence the expression "think as a rail" allowing them to escape into dense grass or weeds.

Another bird residing on Island currently, is the sweet and lovely White Eyed Vireo.  But you will need to don your good walking shoes and dust off your binoculars for a view. A small secretive vireo, the White Eyed species in most often found in dense brush within or along edges of woods.  And they stay low in the vegetation. 

We encourage everyone to see our shore birds.  They will be waiting for you at the beach during all hours of the day, generally.   And, during the fall, winter and spring, serious Sanibel birders know to visit Lighthouse point in the early morning, when large numbers of migrating birds can be found resting in the trees.

But for the broadest most comprehensive and most satisfying bird watching time, bird tours will give the best results.  Just take our word on that....