Subject: Red Phalarope in the Puget Sound
Date: Oct 4 23:30:07 2002
From: Birdking88 at aol.com - Birdking88 at aol.com


Hey Tweeters,
Today while salmon fishing, crabbing, and of course birding with my
dad from a boat in the Des Moines, Brown's Point, and Point Robinson areas of
south Puget Sound we came across quite a few birds. Surf Scoters, scaup,
American Wigeon, Western Grebes, and Red-breasted Mergansers were the main
species, in that order of abundance. There were also quite a few Horned &
Red-necked Grebes, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Common & Pacific
Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, and others scattered throughout. An EARED GREBE off
Pt Robinson was my first of the fall in the Puget Sound, but the bird
highlight was encountered late in the day around mid-channel between Pt
Robinson and Des Moines. As I was scanning a flock of Mew & Bonaparte's
Gulls, I noticed a phalarope flying in the foreground. Thinking it might be
getting late for a Red-necked, I looked closer and saw the plain gray back,
fairly large size, long wings, and thickish bill of a classic basic plumaged
RED PHALAROPE. The bird flew a bit closer to our boat before disappearing
from view. It has been a bit stormy the last couple of days, so perhaps this
could partly explain the bird's unexpected appearance here. This was my first
away from the coast, though I've seen many off Westport.

Charlie Wright
Birdking88 at aol.com
Sumner, WA