Jan., 1912 
THE SHORE BIRDS OF SANTA BARBARA 
cloudy days little or no “whirling” was observed. These tiny whirling dervishes 
spin around so fast and so continuously that when a good sized flock is in full 
action, it makes one fairly dizzy to watch them. In the latter part of September 
fully a thousand of these dainty mites were congregated on the flats, and scores of 
them would weave busily back and forth among the clumps of water growth, where 
with a little patience, one could approach within a few feet of them. One indi- 
vidual was seen to indulge in quite a little play by himself, bucking up and down in 
the water, submerging his head, rolling upon his side, and tearing madly around 
in a truly ludicrous wa 3 ^ 
Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. Rather rare but regular spring and 
fall migrant. Seen only in fresh water. Spring: May 20, 1911. Fall: July 22 to 
September 8, 1910. This phalarope seems much less inclined towards swimming 
than either of the other tw^o. Indeed, with few exceptions, all seen were walking 
Fig. 2. RED PHALAROPES “whirling” 
about on the mud or in the shallow water. Their long yellow legs, together with 
the fact that they kept mostly by themselves, cause the fall birds to be easily mis- 
taken for Western Solitary Sandpipers. 
Recurvirostra americana. Avocet. Regular, but not common spring and fall 
migrant. Spring: one bird on March 18, 1911. Two others on May 20, 1911. 
The March bird was in winter plumage, and remained in the same locality for 
nearly two weeks. The last seen were in full summer dress. Fall: one seen Sep- 
tember 20, 1911 (Torrey). Two seen October 12, and one November 1, 1911. 
Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. Regular, but never a common, 
spring migrant. Never noted in fall. Spring: April 14 to May 4, 1911. 
Gallinago delicata. Wilson Snipe. Regular but not common in fall, winter 
and spring. Spring: latest, April 27, 1911. Fall: earliest, October 27, 1911. 
There seems to be no good reason why these birds should not be abundant here, 
but such never appears to be the case. 
