Date:         Tue, 26 Sep 2000 10:25:13 EDT
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Jim Stasz <Jlstasz@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Red Phalarope @ 4:30 and other birds in the rain
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Hi Folks!

I chased the Red Phalarope at Ridgely this morning [9/26] .... with Succe
ss!
It was not without an agonizing 40 minutes search and two loops around th
e
east cell.

On arrival at 7:45 AM an Osprey and adult Common Tern flew by [I believe 
the
first Common Tern for Ridgely].  Neither lingered.  The first driving
circuit, with several stops to scan, yielded 6 Semipalmated Sandpipers, o
ne
White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 Mallards, 2 Ruddy Ducks, and seven Northern
Shovelers in the west cell and five Ruddy Ducks, one Canada Goose, 5  4
Green-winged Teal, 5 Northern Shovelers and one Spotted Sandpiper in the 
east
cell.  I did a second loop with more stops to scan and stopped about half
way
around. At that point I figured the game was up and started making the
pittiful list.

Suddenly a shorebird flew in and landed near the peep flock [all 7 peeps 
in
one group]. RED PHALAROPE!!!!  I checked my camera and drove slowly onto 
the
central dike. The peeps flew, but the phalarope stayed and allowed me to 
take
a half-dozen or so photos from reasonably close range.  At 8:30 I bolted 
for
work.

My thanx to John Churchill on finding the bird and the lousy weather that
dropped it in and kept it there.  Marshall saw the previous Red Phalarope
 at
Ridgely. Today I caught up another notch in our County List Competition  
and
#318 for my Maryland Year List.

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com

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