by Rex Rowan
Leigh Larson found an Egyptian Goose at Sweetwater Wetlands Park this morning. It’s Alachua County’s first-ever sighting of this introduced species, which originally established itself as a resident breeding bird in South Florida and has slowly been expanding its range north. Locally, it was first observed in southern Marion County in 2012 and didn’t move from that area – Summerfield and The Villages – until this May, when four turned up at Tuscawilla Park in northern Ocala. Get out there to Sweetwater if you can and have a look. It’s mainly been in the long channel on the distant side of Cells 1 and 2. While you’re there, keep an eye out for the Caspian Tern, present for its second day now.
August 1, 2018 at 11:25 am
I was looking at an Egyptian Goose at the pond at Sun Bay Apartments on SW 16th Ave yesterday (7-31-18). My sister who lives there and has been feeding it says it has been there for about the last two months. She also feeds Muscovy and Indian Runner ducks there. Perhaps this is the Egyptian goose that visited Sweetwater on 7-21-18.
Charles Hall
August 2, 2018 at 10:02 am
Thank you, Charles! It appears to be the same bird as appeared at Sweetwater on July 21st – both are missing feathers in the middle of the breast. The word has gone out on Facebook!