See Migrating Hawks
best hawk watching is on Florida's Gulf Coast, sometimes
on the mainland but typically more on the offshore barrier islands
that parallel the coast.
St. George Island near Apalachicola is another prime area for fall migrants, but perhaps the
best place in all Florida to witness the fall hawk migration is nearby
St. Joseph Peninsula, where 200 to 300 birds may be
seen in a single day.
What makes St. Joseph Peninsula such a hotspot is its
narrow size, which averages only a third of a mile wide, which concentrates
the birds together along a narrow funnel. Four places
in particular are especially good. The elbow, while not attracting a
huge number of birds, is the best place to see the peregrines.
St. Vincent NWR is also good for watching migrating hawks, and because it can be reached only by boat, it attracts only the most dedicated birders.
Paynes Prairie Preserve near Gainesville is a December hotspot for red-tails, marsh hawks and kestrels. The place to visit is the La Chua Trail on the north rim, at the observation platform about three miles in.
Miami's Cape Florida SRA is also a good spot in late September and early October at the old lighthouse. Sharp-shinned hawks are the most numerous, but merlins and peregrines can usually be seen every day, too.
For those near Alabama, mid- to late October is Alabama
's peak migration period. It's possible to see as many as 50 or 60 different
hawks in a day almost anywhere that's forested along the Alabama