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Red Phalarope at Bald Knob, Allegheny County, PA
UPDATED 9/7/2005 with two pictures taken on September 6
This molting phalarope was discovered by Mark Vass on September 4 and initially identified as a Red-necked Phalarope.
It remained the next morning when the first photos of it were taken. At that time, I made the mistake of taking
a pre-conceived notion as to the bird's identity along with me, so that when I saw the bird, I too called it a Red-necked
Phalarope.
But upon review, this individual is actually a Red Phalarope, based on the thickness of the bill, the presence
of a very subtle yellow base on the mandible (very difficult to discern in these photos but present nonetheless), and, on
those feathers that have molted in as the bird transitions to basic plumage, a nice even, light gray. As I type it,
it seems so obvious that it is not a Red-necked, so much so that I am rather embarassed to have totally blocked out any attempt
an analytical processing in the field.
Nevertheless, it is a Red Phalarope. After coming to the realization that the initial species ID was wrong, it
became clear to me that the bird is in fact not an adult at all, but a juvenile molting into basic plumage. Later this
was independently verified by others who all, of course, agree that the proper identification is Red Phalarope.
Likely, it was driven into the area by Hurricane Katrina, and probably has been present at Bald Knob for several days.
So perhaps it will remain for several more.
In characteristic Red (or Red-necked) phalarope fashion, this bird had found a food source it liked very much and
became entirely focused on it, allowing very close approach, to which these photos will testify.
To compare this bird to a Red-necked Phalarope, have a look at my Adak Island, AK page here. Scroll down to the picture links at the bottom to see an alternate plumaged bird that was similarly approchable.
Most importantly, note the bill shape and thickness on the "real" Red-necked Phalarope, and compare it to the bird at Bald
Knob today.
These first two pictures were taken September 6. The position of the afternoon sun, the calm wind, the bird...
everything was just perfect:
An interesting example of how the ambient light can radically change the outcome of a photograph is shown below.
In this photo, the bird was shaded from the sun by a nearby hillside, but the deep, perfect blue of the sky lit
by the full force of the sun, and the reflection of that sky in the surface of the water, created a eerie blue cast to everything,
and this was the result. Additionally, the bright light but low contrast makes for a very nice opportunity to study
the subtle details of the coloring of this molting juvenile.
Note specifically the buffy or reddish wash on the throat - the remainder of the juvenile feathering that covers
the throat and neck of a full juvenile Red Phalarope. Also note the light fringes to the remaining dark feathers
all along the bird's back, also characteristic of juvenile Red Phalarope. Finally, note the very light, even gray color
to the adult basic feathers that have molted in.
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