The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher originally discovered north of Newberry on December 2nd was seen again by Barbara Stewman on the afternoon of the 13th. It was along US-41 2.7 miles north of the intersection with State Road 26 (Newberry’s main intersection).
Andy Kratter saw the spring’s first Purple Martin over the clearcut north of Boulware Springs Park on the 13th, by one day a new early record for the county.
Speaking of spring, I saw my first redbud and wild plum blooms today.
On Wednesday the 11th, in the late afternoon, Jerry Gibson of St. Petersburg was walking along the Cones Dike Trail when he spotted an Ash-throated Flycatcher and obtained the two best photos anyone has yet taken of that species in Alachua County (here and here). He notes that he found it “near the white sandbags along the first east/west leg of the trail. It stayed low in the brush hawking insects low to the ground or on the ground mostly and never landing over approx 10’ high. Did not hear it vocalize during this time.” From the gate near the visitor center, walk out a few yards, make a right turn, and then go about two-thirds of the way to the next turn and look for the sandbags.
John Killian noticed “about 30 Rusty Blackbirds in a tall oak (and on the ground) at the SW corner of the grassy plaza in Magnolia Parke around 12:30” on the 12th. Lloyd Davis saw 50 there on the 13th.