Sweetwater Wetlands Sheetflow Project field trip
November 2015 |
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On Saturday, November 21, 2015 ten members and guests visited Gainesville’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park for some spectacular scenery and birdwatching. This water polishing facility is a magnet for water birds including winter migrants, rare visitors and many of our regular favorites.
Conditions were favorable for birdwatchers, photographers and birds with overcast skies, little wind and comfortable temperatures.
The waters were filled with ducks and other floating birds including Blue-winged Teal, American Coots, Gadwalls, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Common Gallinules. Not only were common waders such as Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret sighted, but Limpkins were everywhere, including a parent Limpkin shadowed by a large juvenile Limpkin as the juvenile was learning some fine points about fishing.
45 species were sighted in all, including the rare Fulvous-whistling Duck and Purple Swamphen (which, in case you haven’t heard, has a purple body, red legs and feet and a red bill!)
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