phalaropus (from phalaris, coot, and pous, foot) tricolor (three colors)
Friday, May 15, 1981 — 6:30 am
Hanover Park, Illinois — field by Hanover Park water tower
I had heard from another birder about a lot of shorebirds near the water tower. I didn’t know how to get to the water tower, but I could see it in the distance. I headed up one street and down another until I found it. The tower was in a housing development, but across the street was a farm, surrounded by muddy fields. I put on my boots and walked up over a little rise. There was a large flooded area in a weedy field. I could see some sandpipers foraging around the edges, and I moved in for a better look. Four Wilson’s Phalaropes flew in and landed at the water’s edge. Through my binoculars, I could see one swimming around while the other three preened and splashed. Just as I found them in my scope, they took off and disappeared from sight.