[EBB Sightings] Phalarope

 
During today's bird census of the  Wastewater Facility along the Richmond 
Shoreline, we saw a phalarope that  our group concluded was most likely a Red 
Phalarope, even though that  species does not often stray this far south (or 
inland).   While the  face patch was faint (more like a Wilson's Phalarope), the 
bill was much  thicker, shorter and slightly down-turned, like a Red Phalarope. 
 The  head was slightly mottled with a sharp contrast between the back and  
underparts.  Back was a uniform and smooth light gray (like a mature  Herring 
Gull), contrasting sharply with white underparts.   The gray  did not go up 
onto the head so that the head mottling was against a white  background.  The 
primaries were black which showed clearly as the bird  fed.  The bird continued 
to feed in the same location for at least an hour  and did not leave the water 
so we could not see the legs.   The bird  looked much like the "fall adult" in 
Kaufman except that the face patch was  almost non-existent and the head 
coloring was a mottled black. 
The phalarope was seen on the  wastewater pond closest to the office and 
other buildings, but  farthest away from the Richmond  Parkway.  I tried to take 
some pictures  with my cell phone but don't think they will help with the  
identification.    
Any thoughts would be appreciated. 

Jim

Jim Roethe
(925)  254-2190
jimroethe at aol.com




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