Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
I was fortunate to find a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope pictured below, on the rear scrape of the Pilning Wetland on the evening of 18th August 2014. The bird spent most of it’s time swimming and actively feeding with the occasional visit to walk on the muddy edge. It was chased several times by Swallows and Pied Wagtails but was finally flushed by a hunting Sparrowhawk when it circled high, calling, and eventually headed off inland to the east. The only previous record was one on the river off Severn Beach in October 2001.
