[EBB Sightings] Re: Phalaropes

I've gone into Don Edwards, along Hwy 84 a couple of times this last week - primarily to watch & photograph the Phalaropes. I've found the flocks to be primarily Wilson's with a few Red-necked mixed in. The last time I was there was about 5 days ago, so that may have changed? (I too do the birding flyby!)
  btw - I got some pics of an interesting feeding technique I hadn't witnessed before. As I watched thru my binos I saw that the alkali flies would many times spot the Phalaropes as they came toward them in their upright stance, whirling back & forth as I was used to seeing. The flies would hop/fly away before the Phalaropes could get close enough. The Phalaropes would then flatten their necks & heads down on the water & slowly creep forward in this crouched position, then snatch the flies from underneath before the flies could spot them. I'd never seen this "stealth" technique before. So cool!!
  Here are links to some pics I took of that behavior.
  http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/mojoedevine/Water%20Birds/WilsonsPhalarope-feeding2.jpg
  http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/mojoedevine/Water%20Birds/WilsonsPhalarope-feeding1.jpg
   
  Joe Devine
  Modesto, Ca

 		
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