Recording: Wader, Kilcoole Irl, Oct 30 (1 Viewer)

[pianoman]

Hi

Just got a distant binocular view, no camera with me. Size, shape, head markings and Jizz suggested a Phalarope to me, but by no means sure. Got a rather faint but relatively clear recording of call, wonder if anyone can comment

Thanks!

Andrew

 

[nbalblas]

Compared your recording to audio of Phalaropes, but I'm not too convinced. Was it swimming in tight circles or wading? Did it have a needle shaped bill?

 

[pianoman]

It was wading almost up to its belly and frequently dipping its head in the water. It was the shape, pale grey uppers, pure white belly and above all the patch behind the eye extending to a thin line down the side of the neck that caught my attention. Frustratingly couldn't get a clear view of the bill except to say that it was dark and not very long. Bill was blending in with the dark bank behind. Recording just had the tail end of the call, mostly it was a louder, two tone "chup chup chip-chip-chip chup chup" sound with the chip faster and higher tone than the chup. After the event am even starting to doubt if the sound was coming from this bird but am pretty sure it was. My only hope is that I get lucky and someone positively clinches it from the recording.

 

[nbalblas]

Your description definitely fits a Phalarope, Red-Necked would be my guess, but I'm not in the right position to provide certainty.
There'll be someone on this forum who recognizes your recording.

 

[pianoman]

Thanks for your help nba, I'll have to treat it as a maybe, but as you say someone here may come up with the proof!

 

[pianoman]

Just one last bump in case one of our US experts is familiar with Phalarope sounds