Nature in Southwest Florida This Week: Fall Migration, Sunflowers, and Nesting Season

October is one of the most interesting weeks of the year for nature in Southwest Florida. Right now fall bird migration is at its peak, southeastern sunflowers are blooming by the thousands along the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary boardwalk, and the first fall signs are showing up across Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, and Marco Island. This guide covers what is happening in nature this week and where to see it best, with locations, hours, and links to official sources. Every event and place below is one I can verify from current reporting or the managing agency's own pages.

Fall bird migration is at its peak right now

Mid-October is the heart of fall migration in Southwest Florida. BirdCast radar shows millions of migratory birds passing over the region on many October nights, and the birds that stop here are spread across the same forests, wetlands, and flats where residents and visitors spend their weekends. Early morning is the best time to look, when the night's arrivals settle in to feed.

Southeastern sunflowers are in full bloom at Corkscrew

October's signature bloom in Southwest Florida is the southeastern sunflower. Along the Corkscrew boardwalk, these bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom by the thousands, with the peak typically falling in the first two weeks of October, which means this is the week. The flowers grow in the open wet prairies beside the boardwalk, so the walk becomes a rolling field of yellow. Stay on the boardwalk and leave the plants in place; everything in the sanctuary is protected.

The same walk also turns up fall wildflowers in the wetlands, and Corkscrew's birds are easier to spot as the weather cools. If you only pick one nature stop this week, this is the one.

Fall wildflowers are out on the trails

Goldenrod is the traditional sign of fall across Florida, and October is when it shows up in force. Along the coast, seaside goldenrod blooms in yellow masses and is one of the best nectar sources for migrating monarchs. Inland, October brings the lavender spikes of Chapman's blazing star to the region's pine flatwoods and wet prairies.

Monarch butterflies are moving through

October is monarch season in Florida. Some Gulf Coast migrants pass through on their way south, and the region also hosts its own resident monarch population, so the butterflies are a regular sight through the fall. They gather where the flowers are, which means the same spots as the wildflowers: Corkscrew's sunflowers, the goldenrod along coastal dunes, and the butterfly-friendly gardens at places like the CREW trails.

The most reliable way to see them is to look for flowering goldenrod on a warm, still afternoon, along a coastal trail like Bunche Beach or anywhere the native fall blooms are left standing.

Sea turtle season is winding down

Florida's sea turtle nesting season runs from May through October 31, and by mid-October nearly all new nesting is done. But eggs incubate for roughly 50 to 60 days, so a few late-season nests may still be incubating or hatching on area beaches through the end of the month. That means it is still worth giving nests and hatchlings plenty of room.

The beaches to walk this week include Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in North Naples, Barefoot Beach Preserve in Bonita Springs, Tigertail Beach on Marco Island, and Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach. The same rules apply at all of them: if you see a nest or a hatchling, keep your distance, leave the hatchlings to find the water on their own, and never use flash photography or lights on the beach at night. Filling in holes and flattening sandcastles before you leave helps hatchlings cross the sand safely. The City of Naples sea turtle page explains how to share the beach with nesting turtles.

For beach hours and parking details, our water activities guide for this week lists each beach with current water-quality and red tide status.

Burrowing owls are back out at their burrows in Cape Coral

Cape Coral holds the largest population of Florida burrowing owls in the state, and fall is a good time to see them. From roughly September through January, pairs that survived the summer return to their burrows and juveniles from the spring are out and about, so the owls are noticeably active. They are also unusual among owls because they are active during the day, which makes them easier to spot.

Burrowing owls are protected, so please never feed them, enter a marked burrow area, or get close enough to disturb them. The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife viewing etiquette has the full list of do's and don'ts.

Manatees are starting to move toward warm water

October is a transition month for manatees in Southwest Florida. Through the warm months they roam the bays, rivers, and estuaries, and as water temperatures drop they begin drifting toward warm-water refuges. The big gatherings usually come later, from roughly December through February, but manatee season is officially recognized from November 15 through March 31, so this is the time of year they start appearing in predictable places.

If you are out on the water, manatees can also show up in the Caloosahatchee River, along the Naples coast, and near Lovers Key State Park as the season progresses. Boaters are reminded to go slow in manatee zones and give them space.

How to check conditions before you go

Nature changes week to week, and the agencies update their pages continuously. These are the official pages worth a check before you head out:

• FWC red tide status: current Karenia brevis concentrations, updated weekly. FWC's October 9, 2026 update reported background levels with no fish kills and no respiratory irritation along the Gulf coast.
• DOH Healthy Beaches, Collier County: weekly bacteria sampling for Naples, Bonita Springs, and Marco Island beaches.
• DOH Healthy Beaches, Lee County: weekly bacteria sampling for Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel-area beaches.
• Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: current hours, tickets, and the sanctuary's latest bird and bloom sightings.
• Ding Darling visit page: Wildlife Drive hours and fees, including the Friday closure.
• NWS beach forecast for Florida: daily surf zone conditions and rip current risk for Collier and Lee beaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

A note on fair housing: every home and community in Southwest Florida is open to all qualified buyers and renters, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. The beaches, trails, and parks here are shared public places, welcome to everyone, and the viewing rules are the same for all visitors.

A note from the author: I'm Catalina Quintero, a bilingual REALTOR with The Miranda Group at Premiere Plus Realty, Co., serving Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, and Marco Island. Every week I put this nature guide together from current, published reporting and the official pages of the agencies that manage these places, so things can shift and it always pays to confirm before you head out. If you're exploring Southwest Florida with a move in mind, email or text me any time.