Last evening I stopped at Montezuma NWR. The most interesting bird was a distant phalarope viewed from the route 89 parking area south of the Thruway and north of the refuge manager's residence. I stopped here to scan the ducks to the east and was surprised by the number of shorebirds. I almost immediately found a phalarope. Again, although very distant, the viewing conditions were ideal at 6:30 PM. At 60X the bird appeared all white with the exception of a brownish mantle. I think had it been a Red necked Phalarope the nape would have appeared darker and the black eye line would have been visible. Additionally, the bird would occasionally leave the water and forage along the muddy edge, something I have never seen a Red necked Phalarope do but have seen this behavior with Wilson's Phalaropes. I can't be 100% sure it was a Wilson's Phalarope, but I think it highly likely.
Gary Chapin Victor, NY -- 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/ --
