L81. Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge: Headquarters Area
SiteID: S81
Region: South
County: Palm Beach
Nearest City: Boynton Beach
Phone Number: 561-734-8303
Website: L81. Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge: Headquarters Area
Amenities: Restrooms, Entrance fee required, Seasonal hunting, Birding by boat, Birding by foot/hiking, Birding by bicycle, Best time of day: All day, Recommended length of visit: a few hours
Habitats: Freshwater Swamp, Freshwater Marsh/Wetlands, Lake/Pond/Impoundment
Description:
This premier birding site is a gateway with good reason: year-round, there’s something to see. After passing the fee station, the Visitor Center will be on the right, with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through a cypress swamp. Pick up a map and bird the boardwalk and even the parking lot, for songbird migrants like wood thrush and American Redstart. If instead of turning right (N) at the Visitor Center you continue west on the entrance road, you’ll encounter a parking area on the left (S) at a trailhead leading to the impoundments. The eastern boundary of these impoundments can have Yellow-breasted Chats, Painted Buntings and Common Yellowthroats in the vegetation. Off the west side of the levees, you’ll see impoundments of increasing depth as you walk south, hosting waders like Limpkin, waterfowl including both Blue- and Green-winged Teal, and secretive marsh birds like American Bittern. Smooth-billed Anis are no longer found here. The Visitor Center also schedules educational programs and guided walks. Duck hunting is allowed by permit only in season (Dec. - Jan.) from the Hillsboro Area entrance.
Directions: From intersection of US 441 and SR 804 (Boynton Beach Blvd.) west of Boynton Beach, drive south on US 441 appx. 2.0 mi. Turn right (W) on Lee Rd; site entrance is at the end.
Open 6 a.m. to sunset.
