Barbara and two other Frederick County birders were staring at the
Red Phalarope at 10:30 when I reached that site.  I had the joy of observing
the bird for about three minutes through one of their scopes before it
decided to get up and move around.  When it moved from its mud-clod resting
spot it was clearly not putting any weight on its left leg.  Perhaps that
explains why the bird stopped in this otherwise rather unlikely location.
In a few minutes, the bird flew off about 30 yards into a grassy field, but
the grass was too tall for us to see it.  The Frederick folks left, but I
stayed around for a bit, and returned to piece of north-south canal where
the bird had been seen feeding before I arrived.  By the time I reached that
vantage point the bird was back there too.  I watched it for a few more
minutes.  It seemed to have no trouble with flying or in swimming in the
frantic zig-zag motion noted for phalaropes.  But its bad leg is giving it
lots of trouble when it tries to rest on the shore. 

Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jim Stasz
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 10:52 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Red Phalarope, Blackwater - YES 11/0107


Hi Folks!

I got a call from Barbara Gerheart.? She is looking at the previously
reported Red Phalarope along the Wildlife Drive at Blackwater.? The bird is
along the last stretch of the drive, past the shortcut back to the Visitors'
Center and along the last part that exits onto MD 305.? It is past the first
pulloff on the right and before the pulloff on the left.

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD

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