[EBB Sightings] Red Phalaropes at Frank's Dump

Today at 2:30 pm along the Hayward Shoreline,  Frank's Dump area (Winton Ave. 
exit on 880, park near the end, hike west .5  mile, then north .5 to a diked 
pond on the right), Don Reinberg and I  observed 2 Red Phalaropes in the mix 
of many Red-necked Phalaropes and a panoply  of other breeding plumaged 
shorebirds. The Red Knots, Dunlin, Dowitchers and  Western Sandpipers were looking 
especially fine, along with a lone Snowy Plover.  10 Least Terns landed and 
departed as they pleased. Alas, no Wilson's Phalarope  seen by us, nor Black Tern.

Here are links to photos of the 2 Red  Phalaropes, digi-scoped at a distance 
of 25 m. Both seem to be females, with the  first still molting into alternate 
plumage. Others saw a male Red Phalarope  earlier.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2477804526_b5a9e55463_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2477804422_f28ee400e8_o.jpg

Cheers,  Len Blumin, Mill Valley
LBlumin at aol.com, Len.blumin at gmail.com  




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