calidris (speckled water bird) minutilla (very small)
Friday, May 15, 1981 — 6:30 am
Hanover Park, Illinois — field near Hanover Park water tower
When the Wilson’s Phalaropes flew out of sight, I moved in closer to identify the other, smaller sandpipers that were foraging in the mud along the edge of the flooded area in a muddy, weedy field. They were very tiny and difficult to see well. I had my scope and got close enough to see the yellow legs. Occasionally they would fly across the puddle to another spot.