Migrants! Finally! Plus, Great White Heron, probable Philadelphia Vireo and Least Flycatcher

From: Rex Rowan <rexrowan@gmail.com>
To: Alachua County birding report

Our fall migration seems to have materialized at long last. On the 14th Ron Robinson wrote, “Wow! I finally have some birds over here. This morning is the best I’ve seen here in some time. Veeries, Catbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bay-breasted Warblers (2), Chestnut-sided, Redstarts, Parulas, Black-and-whites. Plus the regulars were moving. It was like a mini fallout.” Debbie Segal reported something similar at her place north of Gainesville.

Matt O’Sullivan had found a Bay-breasted Warbler at Bolen Bluff on the 13th: https://www.flickr.com/photos/118053703@N02/21529623303/ He went back on the 15th and found something that’s even less common in fall, a Blackpoll Warbler: https://www.flickr.com/photos/118053703@N02/21583374233/

The Third Thursday birding group walked the Lake Trail on the 15th, starting at the Lake Wauberg parking lot, following the Lake Trail to the paved driveway, and then walking back along the driveway. Our best birds were a Bay-breasted, pointed out by Rob Norton, and a Black-throated Green, found by Ron Robinson; the two birds were within twenty feet of each other. We also saw Magnolia, Tennessee, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided Warblers (a dozen warbler species overall), Wood Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, and Scarlet Tanager. Becky Enneis and Linda Holt got there late, so just birded around Lake Wauberg, and they saw “three or four” Brown Pelicans, which had departed by the time the rest of us got back to the parking lot.

John Killian reported a probable Philadelphia Vireo on the 16th: “I was on Sparrow Alley off of La Chua Trail this morning and I found a vireo. It was most definitely not a White-eyed Vireo. I started thinking it might be a Red-eyed Vireo. However, it had a fairly bright yellow throat and/or upper breast and a faint yellow wash on its flanks. I did not get a look at the vent. The facial pattern seemed close to a Red-eyed Vireo. No picture. Chance of a Philadelphia Vireo?” I’d say so. In fact I’m going to drive over there and look for it.

On the 14th City of Gainesville park ranger Danny Rohan found a Great White Heron at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Lloyd Davis got a photo on the 15th (the bird was still there on the 16th): https://www.flickr.com/photos/74215662@N04/22037949859/in/dateposted-public/

I went to Northeast Park at lunchtime on the 16th to look at the trees behind the tennis courts and found what appeared to be a Least Flycatcher. It never vocalized, but it was a short-winged Empidonax flycatching in open areas within a few feet of the ground. Lots of Pine Warblers were feeding on the ground in the same general vicinity.

Remember we’ve got field trips this weekend, San Felasco Hammock (Progress Center entrance) with Adam Kent on Saturday, and O’Leno State Park with me on Sunday. And don’t forget Bob Wallace’s photo presentation on the Birds of Oaxaca, Mexico, on Wednesday evening.