Arrive late and leave early

The Red-necked Phalarope is one of the latest migratory birds to arrive in Iceland, in the middle of May. They also leave early.  They merely come here to mate and only stay long enough for their young ones to grow  old enough to travel.

odinshanar-3
Óðinshani – Red-Necked Phalarope – Phalaropus lobatus, in June

Now they are getting into their winter plumage that is much lighter than the summer plumage.  Most of them have already left lakes and ponds for the sea. There they put on some weight for their long journey to the Pacific coast of Peru where they stay on the open sea while winter rages in the northern hemisphere.

Red-necked Phalarope,  in August
Red-necked Phalarope, in August