With the front's passage, shorebirds cleared out en masse from Pickerel/Pipe 
Creek.  Only 143 dowitchers remained at Pick, and not single one at Pipe Creek.  
Two Wilson's Phalaropes continue at Pickerel in Unit 18 - the northeastern most 
impoundment.  A Willet was a new arrival at Pipe Creek in Unit B.  The day's 
highlight was a TRICOLORED HERON at Pickerel.  I spotted the bird flying 
directly away quite far off, so far, in fact, that size and dark bluish 
uperparts had me thinking adult Little Blue.  Just as I feared this one was 
going to get away, the wader alighted a dead tree.  Through the scope, a 
Tricolored Heron took shape - even at a distance the bird's whitish belly and 
neck stripe and yellow-based two-toned bill were quite obvious.  By the time I 
navigated the dikes, got lost, and ended up driving to the spot, I could not 
refind the heron.  The exact location was the wooded swamp at the first parking 
area along SR 6 (from the east) - that's where I last saw it perched.  It was 
first flying over the interior of the refuge, northwest of this swamp.

Good birding -
Gabe Leidy
Parma




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