Nature Miramichi:

Acting on a tip from Pam, Deana and Peter visited Hay Island, Neguac, late Saturday afternoon Aug 23, to catch up with stilt sandpipers that were reported in the pond next to the lighthouse. These birds, along with a rare  red-necked phalarope had been reported at this location for at least the last day or so. The stilt sandpipers would be on their way to Central and South America having left their breeding grounds in the arctic.

Stilt Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

The red-necked phalarope appears to be a juvenile, indicated by the more colourful back, while adults have a grey back. This individual is on its way to the west coast of South America. Phalaropes spend most of their time at sea in very large numbers. Hopefully, this individual will join a flock to help it on its long journey. There were many other shorebirds in the area, mostly semipalmated sandpipers, but also semipalmated plovers, least sandpipers, short-billed dowitchers and at least one white-rumped sandpiper.

Red-necked Phalarope

White-rumped Sandpiper