Jeff Harvey, my wife Denise, and myself, arrived at The Wilderness Road site at 6PM today, Sunday. Only two other birders besides us were there, with a third arriving after us. Upon our arrival, we immediately found 8 Buff-breasted Sandpipers scattered along the west side of the impoundment. About ten minutes later, 5 more came flying in bringing the total visible to 13. This is the highest count I have ever had anywhere, with my previous best total being 11, at the west side of the SR225 Bridge at Berlin Reservoir in Stark County, on 9/07/08. We located the previously reported Red-necked Phalarope down the channel along the east side of the east access road. About 6:30PM, an ultra-light aircraft came along flying low causing all the shorebirds to go airborne. What a sight, they appeared to be in the hundreds. Fortunately when the birds settled back down, the Red-necked Phalarope was right in front of us near the second green pump. Some of the other highlights of 16 species of shorebirds were: 1 American Golden-Plover, 7 Short-billed Dowitchers, 3 Baird's Sandpipers, 20+ Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Wilson's Snipe, and a single American Pipit. Numerous Mourning Doves were present and many more were arriving. The sky had an eerie look upon our departure at 7:30PM, and a spooky looking full moon showed us the direction home.
 
Bob Lane / Mahoning County 
                                          
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