Meet the locals #10

Red Necked Stint. (Calidris ruficollis)

Also known as Rufous Necked Stint


Another local species that may not be so well known outside the region........

The species breeds in the high latitudes of Asia and winters in southeast Asia and the south Pacific.

This is the default small passage wader in Japan, rather like Dunlin in northwestern Europe. They are by far the commonest wader in autumn but are far less numerous in the spring.

These pictures are taken in May and show the birds in breeding plumage. They look like mini-Sanderlings..............





Large flocks of them gather in Mukawa but near Hakodare we only get individuals or small groups.



The first ones return in early August (or even late July). These are generally adults and still have some summer plumage evident.............



By September it is almost all immature birds and they become common on the local beaches..............

The immatures (and winter plumage adults) look very similar to Little Stints. They are much commoner than I remember Little Stints being in the UK.











They can even be quite tame..............