Red-necked Phalarope is a rare and localised breeding
species in the British Isles, which lie on the extreme edge
of its world range. The most reliable place for them is the
Shetland Islesand in particular Loch of Funzie on Fetlar,
with a few birds breeding elsewhere in Scotland in the Outer
Hebrides at Loch na Muilne, where a 'phalarope' watch point
has been set up, and sometimes the Scottish Mainland in
Ross-shire or Sutherland. The name Phalarope is a
combination of words from New Latin 'phalarops': Greek 'phalaris'
meaning coot and 'phalaros', having a white spot plus the
Greek word 'pous' meaning foot. These are direct references
to the lobate feet and white throat and was once referred to
as Red Coot Footed Tringa.
There has been just one Red-necked Phalarope reported from
S. Gloucestershire;
2001: (1)
On October 8th a juvenile/ 1st winter was picked up in
flight off Severn Beach below the second Severn Crossing. It
was watched at a distance, but eventually came nearer and
was seen close inshore. This occurrence constitutes the
first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire.