31 Red-necked Phalaropes! - 09 Sep 2012


Karl Overman reported 31 Red-necked Phalaropes yesterday at Lotus Rd. in southern Monroe Co.  Greg Links had reported 16 birds earlier in the day.  So, I took a quick run down to Lotus Rd. with the hopes of being able to get some digiscoped images. 

I arrived at the railroad tracks at about 8:30 am and saw only a half-dozen Killdeer along the left shoreline of the visible mudflat.  It wasn't until I walked onto the tracks that I saw them.  Small flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes working the exposed mudflats that were hidden from view by the phragmites lining the road.  I did a quick count: 31 birds!  Same number that Karl reported yesterday.


Also seen were 22 Killdeer, 12 Lesser Yellowlegs, 14 Least Sandpipers, 4 Semipalmated Plovers, and 4-5 Blue-winged Teal.

Though distances were farther than I'd like, I managed to get a few keeper digiscoped images before the clouds moved in around 9 am.  With lighting suddenly flat and the birds moving farther out of range I packed up and headed back home.





Thanks for the report, Karl!

Lotus Rd. mudflats, Monroe, Michigan, US
Sep 9, 2012 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Karl Overman reported 31 Red-necked Phalaropes yesterday at Lotus Rd. in southern Monroe Co.  Greg Links had reported 16 birds earlier in the day.  So, I took a quick run down to Lotus Rd. with the hopes of being able to get some digiscoped images.
6 species

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  5
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  22
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  4
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)  31     Yep! 31 Red-necked Phalaropes on mudflats (same number as reported by Karl Overman. All in basic plumage w/ black caps, napes, scalloped back feathers w/ orange-red fringes, and black face mask. Exact count.
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  12
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  14

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S100385999

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)