[SBB] New Chicago Marsh, Snowy Plovers & Red-necked Phalarope

A few swirling masses of peeps along the western and southwestern edges of New Chicago Marsh today seem to indicate that the southern migration is underway for some sandpipers. Best birds seen by Pat Kenny, Roland Kenner, Frank Vanslager, and I were SNOWY PLOVER (up to three seen in the pond south of the marsh railroad tracks near where the tracks meet those tracks that lead into Alviso) and a single alternate plumaged female RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (in the same pond noted above and later in the pond northeast of Spreckles Ave where it was preening on the edge of a large flock of peeps). The two separate sightings of the Red-necked Phalarope were only minutes apart and were possibly of the same bird (Pat, Roland and Frank first saw the RNPH while I was still some distance away checking out peeps near Spreckles Ave hoping for something special. A preening red-neck sandpiper soon caught my eye and after a minute or so it turned showing me it's dark, brightly striped upper-parts. It then flew out of sight to the south. We noted that the far northern edge of Salt Pond A16 (best reached going clockwise from the EEC entrance) had extensive algae mat build-up with large numbers of birds on it.

Of major concern is the very low water condition in New Chicago Marsh which is sure to have a negative impact on migrating shorebirds (any help Dean?). I should also note that The CCFS "Shorebird Pond" is no longer a pond, a little wet mud is all that's left. Help!