Sep 13 2008
You MIGHT be a Red-necked…
Here’s a bird that could really get your pulse racing…a peep that looks basically like a Semiplamated Sandpiper, but with obvious reddish-orange coloration on the face and throat. The hopeful shorebirder might easily be seduced by thoughts of having found a Red-necked Stint, or some other snazzy stray, especially with a couple of Red-neckeds having been seen recently in New York and New Jersey. This one, sadly, turns out to be a Semipalmated Sandpiper with staining. Shoot.
You can see a collection of photos of Cape May’s recent Red-necked Stint here. Note the Red-necked’s finer bill and more attenuated shape. These are fairly subtle features, of course.
Here’s hoping we might soon be graced by a visit from a proper stint. In the meantime, birds like this certainly keep the excitement perking.
