During the first week of May and maybe even earlier, shorebirds were spotted in wet fields on both sides of Benton-Carroll Rd just south of Rt 2. The top sightings on May 6 were two Wilson's Phalaropes, a male and a female, in breeding plumage. No scope was needed as the phalaropes were close to the road. The birds were there all day but were not spotted on May 7.
Pics from my little, cheapo camera:
May 6 posting at the TNA message board:
"Benton-Carroll Road was LOADED with shorebirds. I had (1) Wilson's Phalarope, (1) Stilt Sandpiper, (2) Short-billed Dowitcher, (1) White-rumped Sandpiper, (1) Semipalmated Sandpiper, (2) Semipalmated Plover, (4) Least Sandpiper, (200+) Dunlin, (~60) Lesser Yellowlegs, (6) Greater Yellowlegs, (1) Wilson's Snipe, and (9) Pectoral Sandpipers. Around 9:00 a.m., a Peregrine Falcon came through and flushed all the shorebirds. At 11:30 a.m. we came back, which was when we saw the phalarope. The phalarope was very close in the corner on the left side of the road. The White-rumped was also very close in. The Stilt Sandpiper and Dowitchers were scared by the Peregrine much farther out into the field, and could only be seen from the shoulder of Route 2. Also, I had a surprise Hooded Merganser swimming around...."
"Benton-Carroll Road is located about 1/4 of a mile east of the entrance to Magee Marsh/Crane Creek. Turn right (south) and drive a very short distance until you see a flooded field on your left (east). There is no parking, but there is very little traffic on this road so just carefully pull off to the side of the road. Also, you may want to drive just past Benton-Carroll Road on Route 2 and pull off and take a look, because you cannot see the entire field from Benton-Carroll."
I visited the Benton-Carroll road fields around 6:00 p.m. on May 6. I counted 17 vehicles along the road. Shortly after I left, the Sheriff showed up.
