Between two appointments, I stopped by LaDue reservoir to look at a 
phalarope that Dick Hoopes noticed this morning, right by the edge
of the mudflats. Also on the mudflats were 18 dunlin
 and one black bellied plover. Appointments can be 
shuffled, and the birds were interesting, so we walked out to the island to
get a closer look at a red necked grebe that Dick spotted.  While scoping the ducks, 
we noticed something else a little different, mixed in with a small flock of ruddy ducks.  Turned out, 
after long observation, to be a surf scoter.  I was pretty sure I’d seen a little 
white spot on the back of the head along with the cheek patch, but so far
out that it was hard to feel totally confident until the duck raised up and flapped
it’s all black wings.

Altogether a lovely day in the grey and drizzle.

Still working on the phalarope id. from fuzzy photos. There is a lack of
agreement among the observers.  

Inga Schmidt
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