Belted Kingfisher and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, plus, the June Challenge party!

Matt Bruce found a Belted Kingfisher south of the County Road 325 bridge at Cross Creek this afternoon. He writes, “It would have been visible from the bridge, looking towards Orange Lake.” It’s not too late if you start driving now!

Linda Hensley, Danny Shehee, and Maralee Joos found an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Sweetwater Wetlands Park this morning: https://www.flickr.com/photos/74215662@N04/27968635896/in/dateposted-public/

If the weather cooperates, I’m going to make one last attempt at La Chua this evening, though after the recent rains all the mud may be underwater again.

Mark your calendar: there will be a bird rescue workshop in Cedar Key on July 22nd: http://flshorebirdalliance.org/media/50398/Bird-Rescue-Workshop-Flyer-7-22-16.pdf

Tomorrow evening – that’s Friday, July 1st – we’ll have the June Challenge party, at which winners will be announced and prizes handed out. Please bring a lawn chair and a covered dish. Drinks will be provided. Bob Carroll will be grilling hot dogs. Becky Enneis writes, “The slide show is looking good. So far there are photos of 95 species, and Danny Shehee is out with his camera looking for a few more. I have 175 photos in the slideshow – it’s hard to leave out the great ones, and a lot of those have come in.” Map to Becky’s place is here.