[obol] Fern Ridge Blk-nkd Stilt and Wilson's Phalarope nesting spat and lost egg

[Ellen Cantor]

Yesterday I watched a Black-necked Stilt which kept trying to nest in a marshy pond area just north of the east-west dike closest to HWY 126 in the Fir Butte area of the Fern Ridge Wildlife Refuge.  She kept trying to nest on a mucky scrape while a female Wilson's Phalarope darted around close to her.  The very agitated BNStilt kept getting off of what appeared to be her nest (but I didn't see any eggs--I had a clear, close look through my scope), to chase the Phalarope.  They kept on in this spirited activity for quite awhile until the Phalarope moved further away in the marsh.  As I watched the BNStilt settle down on her nest, I saw her egg in a slightly flooded area about 15 feet from her.  It looked very forlorn, so near yet so far from the incubating warmth of its mother.

Also watched and photographed 2 Black Terns which were staying incredibly still for Black Terns, standing on two exposed hunks of wood, close to the dike in a pond further to the northwest.  They also were acting as if they had a nest nearby.

I also sighted 4 very high octane birders, including David Irons, John Sullivan, Noah Stryker (I think), and another unidentified scope bearing birdman leaving the Royal Ave end of Fern Ridge on a Big Day, which they said had started at midnight.  I look forward eagerly to their post.