This news did not reach a wide audience. Today, Jim Hayes eBirded 3 Red-necked Phalaropes seen at approximately 4 p.m. on May 21 at the pond at Negri-Nepote Grasslands in Franklin Township. Arlene Oley heard the news while observing the continuing Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Schoolhouse Road in Franklin Township. She visited Negri-Nepote and found 5 Red-necked Phalaropes: 3 females and 2 males. Arlene announced these via text to KEEKEEKERR at 6:45. Here is Arlene’s description as she posted it on the New Jersey Birders page on Facebook: “Five Red-necked Phalropes seen this afternoon at Negri-Nepote, 3 females, 2 males. One got pulled down by a snapper but was able to escape as the snapper started swimming across the water, seemingly unharmed as it joined the four who had flown during the episode – it was a WOW observation.” Upon reading the KEEKEEKERR announcement, Simon Lane raced down to Negri-Nepote at dusk, but alas, the Phalaropes were gone.

On May 1 of this year, Jimmy Lee found and Jeff Ellerbusch witnessed a Red-necked Phalarope in the same pond at Negri-Nepote. Here is the post. Unfortunately, that individual flew before others could see it (this writer was screaming down I-287 when the text came that the Phalarope was seen flying south, non-stop).

And so it goes; and so they went. Again.