(My apologies for the 1st post reading 2013 – Mocosocobirds)

From Jimmy Lee:

At about 2:30pm I found a (near) breeding plumage Red-necked Phalarope in the pond at Negri-Nepote Preserve. I watched and photographed it for 30+ minutes. Jeff Ellerbush showed up and got to enjoy it too.

Negri-Nepote is on Skillman Lane about a mile between Rt 27 and South Middlebush Rd in Franklin Twp, Somerset County. From the parking lot walk on the gravel (straight) trail/road out to the pond; about a 10 minute easy walk. The pond is small but a scope would be helpful for better looks at the phalarope.

There were a few greater yellowlegs present in the pond but nothing else that I noticed.

Good birding (in the ‘local patch’).

Editor’s Note: The Phalarope flew off soon after Jimmy’s post. This is a first record for Somerset County of any Phalarope.

Digiscoped photo by Jeff Ellerbusch