Having checked Paulsen (Shorebirds of the PNW), I am still left with a
question. Last evening on Lake Merrill, a Spotted Sandpiper made repeated
flights off a snag in the lake to grab the large Hexegenia mayflies
coming off the lake. In each case it returned to the snag, teetered
appropriately while devouring the bug, and waited for the next
opportunity. It was strange seeing it among the dozen or so Cedar
Waxwings and Tree Swallows foraging over the lake. It was my first
observation of a shorebird taking food out of the air. Is this typical
behavior?

It made interesting viewing to trace one of the one inch mayflies emerge
from the larval shuck, rise off the lake, and lay odds of how far up it could go without being
grabbed by one of the circling birds. The Waxwings seemed most successful.

Grant Hendrickson
ghendric at esd112.wednet.edu