Spring Pelagic Tour

The Audubon Everglades Spring Pelagic Tour is Miami's flagship annual offshore birding event — an 8-hour charter that journeys from Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park through Haulover Inlet into the open Atlantic and out to the west wall of the Gulf Stream, the great blue-water current that runs closest to the Florida coast within reach of a day trip. The trip is organised by Audubon Everglades, led by experienced local birding guides David Simpson and Beto Matheus, and conducted aboard The Mucho K, a 65-foot sport-fishing vessel operated by Kelly Fishing Charter Company with Captain Jamie. With capacity for up to 40 participants, it is the largest organised pelagic birding event departing from South Florida.

The Gulf Stream west wall off Miami is a productive birding environment in spring. Warm blue water begins just a short run through Haulover Inlet, and the sharp temperature gradient at the stream edge concentrates feeding terns, boobies, and shearwaters within comfortable range of the vessel. White-tailed Tropicbird and Red-billed Tropicbird are both possible — the Florida Straits sits at the northern limit of regular tropicbird occurrence on the US East Coast. Audubon's Shearwater is the most expected tubenose in these waters in May, breeding on Caribbean islands and present year-round in Gulf Stream waters off Florida; Cory's Shearwater, Great Shearwater, and Sooty Shearwater are all possible on passage. Storm-petrels — Wilson's most commonly, with Band-rumped Storm-Petrel a regular possibility given the latitude — follow the vessel in warm-water conditions. South Polar Skua is a genuine rarity to watch for on the outer Gulf Stream. Alcids have been recorded in winter months when the trip occasionally runs outside of spring. Bridled Tern and Sooty Tern nest on the Dry Tortugas and scatter into Gulf Stream waters northward, appearing regularly on May dates. Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers are expected; Northern Gannet remains into May from winter grounds. Masked Booby is a regular Gulf Stream bird in Florida waters.

Priority registration is given to Audubon Everglades members in the initial booking window; non-member places are released afterward. The inclusive fee covers the boat charter, gratuity for the boat crew and guides, snacks, and beverages throughout the day. A shared eBird checklist is created for the trip. Participants are encouraged to register early as the event fills quickly. Contact Audubon Everglades at [email protected] or [email protected] for the current season's date and registration link.