Lost in the Wilderness . . .

south on Elyria Rd. off SR30, then right onto Wilderness

After such a successful morning of #LifeBirding, and plenty of time on the way back to Columbus, who doesn't want to stop a the moss pits of Wilderness Rd??  It's a great shorebird location, but today was special. No American-Golden Plover or Buff-Breasted Sandpiper . . . yet . . . but I did get

Sabine's Gull

Juvenile

Splish Splash taking a bath

An unusual and distinctive arctic gull that breeds at high latitudes but winters near the tropics. Juvenile Plumage--Grayish-brown wash on crown, nape, and sides of breast. Forehead, lower cheeks, and throat white. Brownish back and upper wing coverts, with scaled appearance








And just as I was leaving, another birder says "Did you see the Wilson's Phalarope in the first pond?"
Well, NO!! but now . . . YES!!

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's phalarope is slightly larger than the red phalarope at about 9.1" in length. It is a dainty shorebird with lobed toes and a straight fine black bill. Young birds are grey and brown above, with whitish underparts and a dark patch through the eye. In winter, the plumage is essentially grey above and white below, but the dark eyepatch is always present. The average longevity in the wild is 10 years

This puts my #BIGYEAR2014 number at #330 for the year!!

#329 Sabine's Gull--9/12
#330 Wilson's Phalarope--9/12



Next up:  I need OHIO FOY's . . . like BAD before they migrate south