red-necked stint

Not quite so easy to pick out were a group of Red-necked Stints. These are long distance migrants, as they breed in the arctic, in north-eastern Siberia, and here they were in the south of Australia!!

The tide was well out when we got to the hide overlooking the Princess Royal Harbour... but at least we were stretching our legs! Out on the mud (where else do you find these?) were a few Red-necked Stints. Another strange coincidence, I'd seen these on my first day birding in Brisbane with...

Taken at first light .

... Stints do. Messing about in mud! We were making our way back along the beach and Ken spotted a wee group of Red-necked Stints for me; they're so small and well-camouflaged in the mud I don't think I'd have seen them. A bit distant but I didn't want to move any closer to them.

cairns beach

Red-necked Stint

Taken at the onset of the falling tide. In the foreground, from left to right: terek sandpiper, sharp-tailed sandpiper, two lesser sand plovers, red-necked stint, another lesser sand plover and a bar-tailed godwits. Two more tereks and two more godwits in the background.

Seems a long wait until September for the Waders to return, only the over wintering birds left now .

Love it when a few turn up in breeding colours and so much prettier . Many of the Waders have already left the area.

I don't think it has lost it's feet just has them bent back . There were a few resting like this .

Red-necked Stint, non breeding.

Looks to have a posture problem LOL.

Showing breeding colours nicely.

There was no shortage of Mud