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8 Jun 2021

A Red-neck in Northumberland.

A Red-neck in Northumbelrand? Probably not in the same context as a red-neck in the deep south of America and this particular red-neck probably originated much further north and east in the arctic tundras of N America and Russia. Red-necked Stints are very rare birds in the UK & Ireland with 12 records up to the latest record in  2011. Of those only two stayed long enough to twitch in the UK and  I was away for both of them (I don't twitch Ireland).

2011 Aug 1 to Aug 3
Co.Kerry
1
3 days
Reenroe Beach, Ballinskelligs, adult summer, 1st to 3rd August, photo.
 
2010 Aug 27
Dorset
1
1 day
Ferrybridge, adult, 27th August, photo.
 
2007 Sep 6 to Sep 7
Co.Kerry
1
2 days
Ventry, juvenile, 6th to 7th September, photo.
 
2007 Aug 27 to Aug 30
Co.Wexford
1
4 days
Carne Beach, adult, 27th to 30th August, photo.
 
2002 Jul 31 to Aug 1
Co.Cork
1
2 days
Ballycotton, adult, 31st July to 1st August.
 
2001 Sep 21 to Sep 22
Cambs
1
2 days
Somersham GPs, adult, 21st to 22nd September, photo.
 
2000 Jul 18 to Jul 21
Shetland
1
4 days
Pool of Virkie, Mainland, adult, 18th to 21st July, photo.
 
1998 Jul 2 to Jul 5
Co.Cork
1
4 days
Ballycotton, adult summer, 2nd to 5th July, photo.
 
1995 Aug 12 to Aug 13
N'berland
1
2 days
Wansbeck Estuary, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, adult, 12th to 13th August, photo.
 
1994 Aug 31
Shetland
1
1 day
Fair Isle, juvenile, recently dead, 31st August, photo; now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1994.127).
 
1992 Jul 29 to Aug 3
Norfolk
1
6 days
Cley, adult, 29th July to 3rd August.
 
1986 Jul 22 to Jul 29
Yorks
1
8 days
Blacktoft Sands, adult, 22nd to 29th July, photo.

Records courtesy of Rare Bird Alert.

News broke Saturday evening of an adult bird on the Blyth Estuary in Northumberland. With a family BBQ planned the next day I couldn't go on Sunday and having already started my 2nd gin and tonic there was no way I could drive Saturday evening - even if i could have got there before dark. I made plans to go Monday after an early morning appointment on positive news the bird was still there.

Sundays BBQ was enjoyable and it was nice to have most of the family all together again after over a year of restrictions. News that the Red-necked Stint was showing well most of the day had me worrying that it might not stick until Monday but there was nothing I could do about it! 

Thankfully the bird was still present Monday morning and the news came through early enough for me to  pac the car before my appointment at 7 am! 

A few hours later I was parking up and following the instructions given as to where to watch the bird. Unfortunately from the south side of the estuary it was always distant but those who managed to find away across to the north side of the estuary had superb views. From what  I could see on the map on the phone the only access was via a private drive and I didn't have time to try and find somewhere to park up and walk round to the other side so contented myself with the views I got and a few record shots.

Un-cropped photo showing how small the Red-necked Stint looked from a distance. It was easier to see when it was standing in the water and once it was on the gravel it virtually disappeared! 



There was also a Little Stint present which made  nice comparison with the Red-necked Stints body shape being more reminiscent of a Baird's Sandpiper being relatively longer bodied and shorter legged. All in all a nice day out and I'm glad the bird hung around for an extra day.





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