Stuart's Draft, VA, 8/8/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Allen Larner had posted on a few listservers yesterday afternoon, and again this morning, a hatch year Wilson's Phalarope and a Stilt Sandpiper, along with a few other shorebirds, at a small pond in Stuart's Draft, Virginia. Although most sandpipers are uncommon in the mountain and valley regions of Virginia, the Wilson's Phalarope and Stilt Sandpiper are rare species here. I had previously seen Stilt Sandpipers a few times, but the Wilson's Phalarope would be a life bird for me, and my #600 (photo/visual)!

Alice and I had some afternoon errands to do in nearby Waynesboro after lunch, and made a detour to Stuart's Draft to see if the Wilson's Phalarope was still there. When we arrived, the Wilson's Phalarope, Stilt Sandpiper, one Least Sandpiper, and two Killdeers were lined up on the far side of the small pond.

(left to right): Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Killdeer

(left to right): Wilson's Phalarope, Stilt Sandpiper

(left to right): Wilson's Phalarope, Least Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

After taking a few photos, I moved about 30 feet down the road to try to get some better side views of the Wilson's Phalarope, and this bird cooperated by moving to an exposed mud flat in front of me, and about half the distance to the far side of the pond. I took some more photos :-)

Wilson's Phalarope

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