From: Rex Rowan <rexrowan@gmail.com>
To: Alachua County birding report
The Vermilion Flycatcher was still at Chapmans Pond on the 13th. Howard Adams saw it perched “on barbwire above gate at pond entrance.” Trina Anderson got a photo of it on the 12th: https://www.flickr.com/photos/46902575@N06/21489551364/
Also at Chapmans Pond was a female Painted Bunting, seen among 60 Indigo Buntings by Adam Zions on the 12th. A few other Painteds were reported in the past week: on the 7th Lloyd Davis and Danny Rohan saw a female at the La Chua boardwalk while Stefan Rayer had a male visit his NW Gainesville back yard, and on the 10th Adam and Gina Kent saw a female in their SE Gainesville yard.
Otherwise our fall migration is limping along, and at this point I don’t know if it’s going to get better. Yellow-billed Cuckoos continue to be uncommon, as do Magnolia Warblers. The fall’s first Rose-breasted Grosbeak wasn’t seen until the 3rd, when Debbie Segal spotted one at La Chua, and there have been only about seven sightings since then, all involving single birds except for a trio reported by Gina Kent in SE Gainesville on the 12th. Only one Black-throated Green has been sighted, by Mike Manetz at Bolen Bluff on the 8th, and only one Bay-breasted Warbler, by Mike and John Hintermister at Bolen Bluff on the 13th. On the other hand two Cape May Warblers have turned up, a bird we don’t normally see in fall: Sam Ewing saw one at the Loblolly boardwalk on the 10th and Andy Kratter saw one near Evergreen Cemetery on the 13th.
The winter’s second sparrow species has checked in (after the Savannah on October 2nd). Frank and Irina Goodwin discovered a very early Lincoln’s Sparrow along the Cones Dike Trail on the 11th, approximately a mile out from the gate near the Paynes Prairie visitor center: “It was foraging along both sides of the trail and fence line where the first extensive grove of willows begins on the west side.” Frank got a photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/74215662@N04/22127123226/in/dateposted-public/
Steve Hofstetter saw a Peregrine Falcon flying over Glen Springs Elementary on the 10th. Probably not coincidentally, that was the very day that the Florida Keys Hawk Watch at Curry Hammock State Park recorded the largest one-day Peregrine Falcon count in history. Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FLCiabIZ8&feature=youtu.be
The Center for Biological Diversity offers free endangered species ring tones for your phone: http://www.rareearthtones.org/ringtones/preview.html
It’s time for Third Thursday Birding, and Bob Carroll extends the following invitation: “On Thursday morning, October 15th, at 8:30 we will be birding the Lake Trail at Paynes Prairie State Preserve. From Gainesville drive south on US 441, passing the Prairie and Bolen Bluff. When you see the big lake on your left, start looking for the park entrance, also on the left. Follow the entrance road (stopping at the ranger station to show your pass or pay the fee) until you come to a large sign that points to the headquarters (straight) and boat ramp (left). Take the left turn, go to the end of the road and park in the lot to the right of the boat ramp. The lunch vote was overwhelmingly in favor of Blue Highway, so that’s where we are going. Bring your appetite!” Remember also that this weekend the Alachua Audubon Society will sponsor field trips to San Felasco Hammock (Progress Center entrance) on Saturday and O’Leno State Park on Sunday. Field trip schedule, with details, is here: https://alachuaaudubon.org/classes-field-trips/
Mark your calendar: the Audubon program next week is “Oaxaca: Land of Bird Diversity,” presented by Bob Wallace. Come and enjoy Bob’s experiences in Mexico and see his great photography! That’s next Wednesday, October 21st, in the meeting room of the Millhopper Branch Library. The half-hour Social Hour begins at 6:30, the program at 7:00.