Red-necked Phalaropes

One of the highlights (for me at least) of the drive north from Oslo is stopping to see Red-necked Phalaropes and with the Beast needing a walk it fitted in well. It is now in the middle of the breeding season and they become difficult to find but I had three birds which looked like two males and a female. The males behaved as though they had nests or young nearby whereas the female was more relaxed as she should be. Phalaropes, like Dotterel, have sexual role reversal with the female being brighter plumaged and doing all the chasing. Then after she has laid the eggs she leaves the incubating and looking after of the young to the male.

the female was close but difficult to view

but one of the dowdier males showed better