Black-bellied Plovers and Vermilion Flycatcher at La Chua

It’s looking like your best bet this weekend will be Saturday morning’s field trip to La Chua. There’s a Vermilion Flycatcher that Lloyd Davis found on Friday at the far end of the power line cut running out from Sparrow Alley, where the trail dead-ends at a little wetland. There’s the county’s 13th-ever Black-bellied Plovers that Bob Carroll and Chip Deutsch spotted from the observation platform, also on Friday. There are also a Whooping Crane, seven additional shorebird species including Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, and Long-billed Dowitcher, and at least seven waterfowl species, including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, and a drake Mallard. Lincoln’s and Henslow’s Sparrows have been seen along La Chua during the past week or so. There’s a lot going on out there. So meet Alachua Audubon at the La Chua parking lot at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Put it on your calendar: Celebrate conservation, birds, and the holidays with the Alachua Audubon Society at our holiday social on Friday, December 2nd beginning at 6:30 p.m. In place of our traditional Silent Auction, AAS will offer alternative fundraising activities. We will be selling AAS hats and bird and nature-related books, CDs, and DVDs for reasonable prices. Donate to AAS by contributing bird and nature-related books that you no longer need and purchasing new additions for your collection. You may drop off donations at Wild Birds Unlimited (preferable so we can have them priced and set up to display) or bring them the night of the social. A new UF birding club, GREBE (Gators for Really Excellent Birding Experiences) will host a bird calling contest with two categories: local bird calls and bird call karaoke with prizes for the winners. Amaze your friends with your Barred and Screech Owl imitations! Directions: From Newberry Road, turn south on NW 48th Boulevard (across from Gainesville Health and Fitness Center). Drive south about 2 blocks. Look for tennis courts on the right. The Clubhouse is next to the tennis courts on the right. Look for our Alachua Audubon signs! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Holiday Social!