From: Rex Rowan <rexrowan@gmail.com>
To: Alachua County birding report
Andy Kratter just called to tell me that he’d spotted Alachua County’s first-ever Purple Swamphen in Cell 1 at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Cell 1 is the cell with the boardwalk in it. From the parking lot, come straight out the walkway to Cell 1 and turn right. Andy saw the bird a hundred yards or so past the first shelter you’ll pass. He said it flew out to the middle of the cell, so it might be worthwhile to explore the boardwalk as well. The Purple Swamphen, more correctly known as the Grey-headed Swamphen, is found across southern Asia from the Middle East to Thailand. The Florida population originated with avicultural escapes in Broward County, Florida, and resisted pretty energetic efforts by FWC to exterminate them. They’re now thoroughly established in the state. Can you count it on your ABA list? Why yes you can. (In fact, I’d better get down there right now! If Mike Manetz sees this bird before I do, he’ll relegate me to third place in the Alachua County life list standings!)
No photos were taken this morning – so far – but here’s a photo from the internet to show you what Grey-headed Swamphens look like. Something like a Purple Gallinule with a parrot bill: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_HfoEELQbU/Vc3kX2JujPI/AAAAAAAAVgI/3Eex28MaTI4/s1600/Grey-headed_Swamphen.jpg
In other SWP news, the Fulvous Whistling-Duck was seen again yesterday. Mike Manetz reported, “The Fulvous was present in open water at first light, but flew into the marsh across from the end of the boardwalk at about 7:20. It reappeared for the Alachua Audubon group at about 10:00 and remained in view sitting on a small hummock for about 15 minutes, and then flew back into the marsh.” Here’s Danny Shehee’s photo from the 17th: https://www.flickr.com/photos/74215662@N04/22520194634/in/dateposted-public/