Did you know that a juvenile WILSON'S PHALAROPE stretches it's wings
every 13 to 16 minutes while feeding. At least this one did.

Today I was attempting to get a photo of it stretching it's wings and
every time it did I had looked away for a split second or it went behind
some grass. It never went any farther then 20-30 feet from shore. I was
using the car as a blind. If it moved down the shore line I would move
the car down next to it. It appeared to be unconcerned with my presence.
The road is the shore line.

It took me about one hour to finally figure out that it stretched it's
wings on a fairly regular basis. So then I would try and time when it
might do it again. I still kept missing it. I had to keep the camera to
my eye and continually re-focus as it was always on the move. My right
eye is now permanently set at 840 mm. :-)

After 3 hours and 22 minutes in a dark gray car in 90 degree
temperature, I finally got some good shots--I think.

It was quite an education watching it all that time. It liked to eat
Damsel flies--when it could catch them. I observed it feeding,
stretching, bird-napping, standing on shore, bathing, preening and
peeking up at the ski when a bird flew over. Oh ya--it never did swim in
circles like it is supposed to. Maybe the parents forgot to teach it.

It was all by it's self. :-( Have the parents already started their
Southern migration and left without it??

12 bells have struck, so I guess I should say--yesterday the above
happened.

Jerry Converse
Grand Coulee, WA