We and another couple saw a single Phalarope Sunday mid-morning. It was abreast the tennis courts and far out on the algal mats (walking). Tom and others with better scopes - how did you differentiate this from Red? The one we saw was in winter plumage and we couldn't make out the back streaks. We saw it in flight several times and the wing line appeared quite dull. At that distance the facial patterns could have been either bird in our scope. The distance was really too much for satisfying views but either species is a great find.
While trying to Id this bird we saw a young Herring gull fly into the field of view and attack the Phalarope. What followed was about a two minute dog fight with just about all the classical aerial combat maneuvers in play. That was very exciting to watch and the phalarope eventually evaded the gull. Later, the phalarope was again spooked by yet another gul and flew out even further beyond the mats. Thanks Tom for finding this one! J&S -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ "Conserve and Create Habitat" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
