Possible Red Phalarope at Prince Lake #2, Boulder Co

[Charles Hundertmark]

Shortly after noon today, I received a call from Chris Rurik who was at Prince Lake #2. He thought he had re-spotted the Black-bellied Plovers reported previously by Ted Floyd as well as a possible Red Phalarope. I joined him around 12:30 with my spotting scope. We could not refund the plovers, but we did study the phalarope for some time. It was across the lake from the road, so difficult to get a good look at. However, the bill did appear short and thick for a Red-necked. The back was gray with no sign of striping but did contrast with darker appearing wings. Other opinions would be welcome.

Chuck Hundertmark
Lafayette, CO
303-604-0531

[Chris Rurik]

After some research, I'm ready to go out on a limb and call this a Red Phalarope. Bill, head, and neck structure all looked thick to me in the field, and the light gray back and general plumage fit well with the photos I've been looking at. Interestingly, according to eBird, Reds are slightly more common than Red-necks in this part of the state in late October.

To clarify, I don't think there were Black-bellied Plovers at the lake. I found some promising lumps on the far shore with my binoculars in the rain, but when Chuck brought the scope careful scanning revealed only rocks and killdeer. Oh, and two snipe.

FOS Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and Am Tree Sparrow earlier this morning. 

Chris Rurik

Denver CO