Subject: Red-necked Phalaropes
Date: May 07 16:06:00 1996
From: "Morrison, Scott" - SMOR461 at ecy.wa.gov



Tweets -

Yesterday I had the pleasant task of driving to Forks to look at a project
along the Hoh River. On the way home I took a couple of rest breaks from
driving and (luckily) had my spotting scope to view birds along the coast.
I was amazed at the number of Red-necked Phalaropes I saw flying northward
in flocks of 10 - 50. There were quite a few feeding in the shallow waters
nearshore. I would estimate the total number of individuals (from 8 stops)
at 1000. Later I stopped at Bowerman Basin for a quick look. The heat
distortion from the mudflats made viewing difficult, but there were lots of
Western Sandpipers, Dunlin, some Semi-palmated Plovers, dowitchers (LB or
SB?). There was an occasional phalarope on the flats, but the real surprise
was the congregation of them on the sewage ponds. Lots of whirling
dervishes stirring up nutrients. I have never seen them in these
concentrations before. Is this unusual or have I simply missed this in the
past?

Also saw a couple of Black Oystercatchers on an offshore rock as well as
some passerines in the woods along the highway.

Scott Morrison
smor461 at ecy.wa.gov