Nice find Dave! The habitat there for phalaropes is fantastic now when the tide stage and or water level is right. I scoured all of these mudflats when we did the May count here last Saturday (viewing from the park's pontoon tour boat), under perfect viewing conditions. I was specifically looking for a phalarope, but unfortunately (as expected) saw none. There were hardly any shorebirds around when we were out, it has been a VERY weird migration this season in the coastal plain.
On another note, I looked for Fred's reported Alder fly this morning, but did not find it or any other migrant empids. The only non-breeding passerine I saw at Schoolhouse Pond this morning was the ubiquitous Blackpoll. I had about 5 or 6, and this usually is the signal here in southern PG for the end of spring migration.
On a good note, I managed to hear one of the grasshopper sparrows singing at Mt Calvert this morning from my yard. This is a tough species for me to get for my yard list, even though they breed at Mt Calvert. It takes a perfect set of conditions (no wind and no noise) for me to hear them from my yard. This is rare and generally only happens a few mornings in a given May or June. Normally there is too much ambient noise for the distance I need to hear them from. If anyone wants to hear or see them though, they are very easily viewed from Mt Calvert almost anywhere along the entrance road, and if they are in view they sing there all the time.
On the look-out this morning for Mikey's reported kite (yesterday eve at Selby's). if it's still around I may get to see it today... :)
Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD
On Thursday, May 16, 2013 12:18:07 PM UTC-4, David Mozurkewich wrote:
> This morning, May 16, 2013, there was a Wilson's Phalarope in
>
> Billingsley marsh. It was feeding with two Lesser Yellowlegs and a
>
> flock of Least Sandpipers on the big mudflat along Railroad Creek and
[snip]
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