Matt Williams, Matt Young, and I spent several hours birding the Knox-Marcellus Marsh at Montezuma yesterday (26 August 2010). We spent most of our time viewing from along Towpath Road, where we bumped into a migrant Alan Belford. I don't have time to post complete details now, but did want to let people know that there were three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE present along with more common shorebirds. I believe that all four of these birds were juveniles. Although they did split up at times, the four phalaropes were often in close proximity to each other (especially the three Red-neckeds). The Red-neckeds spent most of the time sitting on some of the deeper water in the area, often actively spinning around as phalaropes do.
We viewed these birds from a rather expansive opening/vantage point along Towpath Road, a little ways before the impoundment wall (coming from East Road). Although I think Young first picked out the Red-necked Phalaropes with his binoculars, a spotting scope is really necessary to enjoy these and other shorebirds present. Good birding, Matt Medler Ithaca -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
