Florida in April is a Birders Paradise.

Florida has more bird species than any other state east of the Mississippi, and in April it is at its absolute peak. Spring migration is in full swing. The warblers are moving through. The colonial waterbirds are nesting. The Dry Tortugas are crowded with tired migrants that have just crossed the Gulf of Mexico, birds so exhausted they land on your hat. There is no better moment to be in Florida.

We start in Fort Myers, where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and Florida Scrub-Jays our our first target birds. We work our way south through Corkscrew Swamp, Ding Darling, Fakahatchee Strand, and the Everglades, all the way to Flamingo on Florida Bay, one of the most productive birding spots in the country. Then we drive the entire length of the Florida Keys, birding all the stops, and arrive in Key West in time for the Botanical Gardens.

The centerpiece of the trip is Day 8: the Dry Tortugas. We board the Yankee Freedom III at 7:30 a.m. and spend a full day on Garden Key, a tiny coral island 70 miles into the Gulf of Mexico with no roads, and only a few trees that are packed with migrants! In April, it is one of the greatest migratory spectacles in North America.

We close the trip on a Saturday in Miami with Luis, one of the best exotic bird guides in the country, showing us the most spectacular collection of naturalized parrots, parakeets, and macaws in North America. It is a genuinely delightful way to end ten days of world-class birding. This is a fully guided, all-inclusive tour. All meals are included. You fly into Fort Myers (RSW) on April 15 and home from Miami (MIA) on April 24.

I am offering a 1 day trip extension for a pelagic cruise on Sunday, April 25th. Join me (and limited to only 4 of you) for a morning pelagic cruise out of Palm Beach for Petrels, Shearwaters, Boobys & Ocean Seabirds. Add on cost of $300/person.

Dates:Apr 15–24, 2027
(10 nights, 11 days)
Location:Fort Myers · Babcock-Webb · Archbold · Cape Coral · Corkscrew Swamp · Sanibel Island · Fakahatchee Strand · Everglades National Park · Florida Keys · Key West · Dry Tortugas · Miami
Price:$5,950 USD per person
(based on double occupancy).
If we do not reach 6 guests, every dollar including your deposit is refunded in full
Includes: All accommodations, all meals (except alcohol), private ground transportation, all park and entrance fees, Dry Tortugas ferry (Yankee Freedom III), Miami exotic bird guide (Luis), expert guidance from Rick throughout
Group Size:6–10 participants
(minimum 6 required)
Difficulty Level:Easy to Moderate. Most birding is done from roadsides, boardwalks, and short flat trails. One very early morning for Dry Tortugas ferry (5:00 a.m. wake-up). No strenuous hiking required.
Your Host: Rick Szabo. Rick designed this itinerary, scouted it in person, and will be leading this tour himself.

What to Expect: Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Florida Scrub-Jay, Burrowing Owl, Roseate Spoonbill, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, American Flamingo (fingers crossed), Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Antillean Nighthawk, Black-whiskered Vireo, migrant warbler fallout, and 160+ species total

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IMPORTANT NOTE ON DRY TORTUGAS LOGISTICS

Day 8 is our Dry Tortugas day, and the ferry leaves at 7:00 a.m. sharp. This means an early wake up and making sure we are at the ferry terminal and ready to go at 7am. The Yankee Freedom III books out months in advance for April — your spot on the boat is secured the moment you reserve your tour. We return to Key West at 5:30 p.m. That evening is our celebration night: Mallory Square at sunset, dinner on Duval Street, and whatever Key West throws at us.

Daily Itinerary

Arrive at RSW airport in the afternoon and make your way to our Fort Myers Hotel.
We will keep our eyes on the tides and hit Bunche Beach at Low Tide during our time in Fort Myers. This is one of the best wading bird spots in southwest Florida, and best birded at low tide when the mudflats are exposed. Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, American Oystercatcher, and a dozen species of shorebirds depending on conditions.
Group dinner that evening.
- Accommodation: Fort Myers area hotel (nights 1–5)
- Target Species: Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, American Oystercatcher, Tricolored Heron, Willet, Black-bellied Plover
An early start into the longleaf pine flatwoods of Babcock-Webb for Red-cockaded Woodpecker at their roost cavities, one of the most sought-after birds in the eastern US.
Afternoon at Archbold Biological Station for Florida Scrub-Jay, one of the only birds found exclusively in Florida. These jays are remarkably tame and will perch on your arm.
Accommodation: Fort Myers hotel
Target Species: Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Florida Scrub-Jay, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Bachman's Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Sandhill Crane
Morning at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on the two-mile boardwalk through the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America.
Wood Storks nest here, Barred Owls call from the canopy, and Limpkins wail from the marsh.
Afternoon in Cape Coral for one of the largest urban Burrowing Owl colonies in the world, they nest in manicured front yards and are completely unperturbed by people.
Accommodation: Fort Myers hotel
Target Species: Wood Stork, Barred Owl, Limpkin, Swallow-tailed Kite, Burrowing Owl, Anhinga, Purple Gallinule
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, one of the most visited wildlife refuges in the country, and for good reason. The Wildlife Drive at low tide is staggering. Reddish Egrets dance and spin in the shallows. American Oystercatchers pipe from the mangrove roots. Roseate Spoonbills feed in the impoundments.
Afternoon birding the Sanibel shell beaches and Bailey Tract for landbird migrants.
Accommodation: Naples hotel
Target Species: Reddish Egret, American Oystercatcher, Roseate Spoonbill, Osprey, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White Ibis
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, the largest strand swamp in the world and the ghost orchid capital of the planet. We walk the main boardwalk and Jane's Scenic Drive listening for Barred Owls and watching for Short-tailed Hawk overhead.
Afternoon birding the Big Cypress area as we continue south.
Accommodation: Homestead area hotel
Target Species: Short-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Snail Kite, Little Blue Heron, White-crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo
A full day in Everglades National Park, driving all the way to Flamingo on Florida Bay. We bird every stop along the main road: Anhinga Trail, Mrazek Pond, Nine-Mile Pond. At Eco Pond near Flamingo, we search for Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, one of the rarest sparrows in North America. American Flamingo if we're lucky.
Accommodation: Hotel in Key Largo
Target Species: Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, Snail Kite, American Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill, Purple Gallinule, Smooth-billed Ani
We drive the entire length of the Florida Keys, looking for Great White Heron and Mangrove Cuckoo. Certain stops at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock for Black-whiskered Vireo.
We arrive in Key West by afternoon for a few hours at the Key West Botanical Garden, a migrant trap that in April can hold dozens of warbler and tanager species in a single afternoon.
Then we drive back to Marathon for dinner at the waterfront before walking to Marathon Airport at sunset for Antillean Nighthawk, a Caribbean specialty that is nearly impossible to see anywhere else in the United States.
Back to Key West by 9:30 p.m.
Accommodation: Key West (nights 7–8)
Target Species: Great White Heron, Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, Antillean Nighthawk, migrant warblers, Scarlet Tanager
The highlight of the tour. We line up to board the Yankee Freedom III at 7:00 a.m. and sail 70 miles into the Gulf of Mexico to Garden Key.
In April, the Dry Tortugas are a migration trap unlike anything else in North America, migrants crossing the Gulf land here by the hundreds, exhausted, and completely approachable. Magnificent Frigatebirds roost in the fort walls. Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies nest by the thousands. Masked Boobies patrol offshore. We spend a full day on the island and return to Key West at 5:30 p.m. That evening: Mallory Square sunset celebration, dinner on Duval Street. This is the tour's great night.
Accommodation: Key West
Target Species: Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked Booby, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, Black Noddy (possible), migrant warblers and tanagers in fallout, Roseate Tern
First light at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, the best migrant trap in Key West. Exhausted warblers drop into the coastal trees at dawn, Blackpoll, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and dozens of others.
After a great morning of birding, we’re on the road to Miami. Late afternoon arrival; group dinner in Miami.
Accommodation: Miami Outskirts
Target Species: Blackpoll Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting
Our final morning is one of the most entertaining days in birding. We meet Luis, one of the most knowledgeable exotic bird guides in the country. We explore the Miami neighborhoods where wild parrots, parakeets, and macaws have established thriving populations. Blue-and-yellow Macaws perch on palm trees. White-winged Parakeets swirl over traffic. Red-whiskered Bulbuls sing from suburban hedges. It is unlike any birding you've ever done, and it is genuinely joyful.
Last night dinner in Miami
Accommodation: Miami hotel
Target Species: Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Mitred Parakeet, White-winged Parakeet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Purple Swamphen, Spot-breasted Oriole, Scaly-breasted Munia, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
Depart anytime this day from Miami (MIA)
For guests who want to extend their trip, we offer a Sunday offshore pelagic birding trip out of West Palm Beach with Captain Marcus Kelly of West Palm Pelagics.
This is an optional add-on at additional cost. Maximum 4 guests.
Guests who opt in fly home from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) on April 25 (late afternoon) instead of Miami. Contact us for pricing and availability.
Accommodation: West Palm Beach (night of April 25, at your own expense)
Target Species: Scopoli’s Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Pomarine Jaeger, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel

What's Included

Accommodation: 10 nights in carefully selected hotels and lodges
All Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout. From dinner on April 15 through breakfast on April 25. Breakfasts are at the hotel. Lunches are packed or at local restaurants. Dinners are seated group meals.
Ground Transportation:Private van with Rick driving throughout, including all airport transfers and inter-city travel
Expert Guidance:Rick Szabo, guided in person throughout all 11 days, plus Luis for Miami Exotics day + Captain Marcus for optional pelagic
Dry Tortugas Ferry: Round-trip aboard the Yankee Freedom III (the only ferry to the Dry Tortugas), for all guests and Rick
Park & Entrance Fees: All park and reserve fees throughout, including Everglades National Park, Corkscrew Swamp, Ding Darling NWR, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, and Key West Botanical Garden
Drinking Water: Bottled water and snacks provided during all transit
Checklists: Daily checklists of all bird species & mammals. You’ll get to bring home a souvenir checklist of the trip.
Tips for Local Guides & Drivers
Rick will ensure all local guides (Luis & Marcus) are well compensated and tipped.

What's NOT Included

International Flights:
Airfare into Fort Myers (RSW) on April 15 (arrive by 3:00 p.m.) and home from Miami (MIA) on April 25 (anytime)
Travel Insurance:‍ ‍Required. Participants are responsible for their own trip coverage. We strongly recommend a policy that includes trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and emergency medical coverage.
Alcoholic Beverages: Available for purchase at restaurants and hotels throughout
Personal Expenses: Souvenirs, personal shopping, spa services, laundry
Tips/Gratuities: Optional gratuity for Rick

What to Bring

- Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42 recommended)
- Camera with zoom lens if you enjoy bird photography, the spoonbills, frigatebirds, and feeder birds of south Florida are a photographer's dream
- Field guide to Florida birds or the eastern US (optional, Merlin covers everything)
- Small backpack for daily excursions
- Merlin Bird ID app downloaded for eastern North America (highly recommended)
- eBird app (optional but fun for tracking your life birds)
- Neutral-toned layers (khaki, olive, grey, tan), avoid bright colors or white
- Light, breathable long-sleeved shirts for sun protection and mosquitoes
- Rain jacket or packable poncho (Florida afternoon showers are real)
- Wide-brimmed sun hat, this is non-negotiable in south Florida in April
- Comfortable walking shoes or trail runners (no need for heavy boots as terrain is flat)
- Light layer for air-conditioned vehicles and restaurants
- High-SPF sunscreen (50+ recommended, south Florida sun is intense)
- Insect repellent (especially for the Everglades)
- Prescription medications and any personal health items
- Valid US passport or state ID
- Travel insurance documentation
- Spotting scope not necessary (There will be one for the group)
- Rain cover for your binoculars or camera

What NOT to Bring

You won't need fancy clothes, casual and comfortable is the vibe.
Leave expensive jewelry at home.
Birding with Rick is committed to responsible and sustainable nature tourism. Bring a reusable water bottle, we'll keep it filled.
Birds smell better than you think, and strong scents alert mammals. Keep it neutral.

Physical Fitness Level

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

This tour is designed around accessible, productive birding. The vast majority of our time is spent birding from roadsides, vehicle pull-offs, boardwalks, and flat short trails. South Florida's famous birding spots — Ding Darling, Corkscrew, Bunche Beach, the Everglades road — are all flat and paved or boardwalked and sometimes on a sandy beach. No strenuous hiking or hills or steep stairs at any point.

Walking 1–4 miles per day on flat, mostly paved or boardwalked surfaces
Standing for periods of 30–90 minutes during active birding sessions
One very early morning for Day Tortugas ferry
A full day on a boat (the Yankee Freedom III) — the crossing is 70 miles (2.5 hours each way); seas are typically calm in April but can be choppy.
Some uneven surfaces at Fort Zachary Taylor and natural areas

Birding Ability: Beginner birders are welcome. You will feel welcome and appreciated regardless of your experience level. Rick guides at the pace of the group, and no question is too basic. That said, this trip rewards guests who enjoy being fully immersed, we start early and bird all day.

Accessibility Note: Some trails have stairs, uneven surfaces, sandy beaches and sections without paving. If you have mobility or health concerns, contact us before booking and we'll help you assess whether this tour is the right fit.

Accommodation

Lodges and hotels are selected for their proximity to top birding sites, comfort, and quality. Expect:

Fort Myers
Nights 1–3: Comfortable hotel near Fort Myers, centrally located for Fort Myers, Sanibel, Corkscrew, and Babcock-Webb.
Naples
Nights 5: Comfortable hotel near Naples, centrally located for Big Cypruss & North Everglades
Homestead
Night 5: Comfortable hotel near South Everglades entrance
Key Largo
Night 6: Comfortable hotel at the gateway to the Florida Keys. Close proximity toDagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
Key West
Nights 7–8: boutique hotel in Key West, walking distance to the Dry Tortugas ferry terminal and Key West nightlife.
Miami
Night 9: comfortable hotel near Miami for easy access to our Miami Exotics birding sites with Luis.

OPTIONAL PELAGIC ADD-ON

Optional Pelagic Add-On — April 25

For guests who want to extend their trip by one day, we offer a Sunday offshore pelagic trip out of West Palm Beach with Captain Marcus Kelly of West Palm Pelagics.

This is a separate, optional add-on. It is not included in the main tour price. Maximum 4 guests (boat capacity limit). Rick has arranged transportation from our Miami area hotel to the Boat and then you can fly home from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in the late afternoon / evening or stay overnight. Rick can help arrange additional hotel nights (additonal charge).

Contact us after booking your tour to inquire about the pelagic add-on. Pricing and availability are confirmed separately.

Target pelagic species: Scopoli’s Shearwater, Cory's Shearwater, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Bridled Tern, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitc Jaeger

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Florida & Dry Tortugas (11 days)

Florida in April is a Birders Paradise.