Does this cache contain a clue to A Mystery of Nature ?
Red-necked Stint
The migration of the tiny Red-necked Stint covers thousands of kilometres: they nest in the Siberian tundra, then migrate south, stopping off on the muddy shores of the Yellow Sea to refuel, before continuing on to northern Australia. Many then extend their journey, flying across the harsh interior of Australia until they reach the shores of the southern coastline. And then in six months’ time they do it all again, in reverse — not a bad feat for a bird weighing little more than a box of matches.
Description
The Red-necked Stint is a very common and very small sandpiper. The legs are short and the bill is straight or slightly decurved, with a bulbous tip. In non-breeding plumage, the upper parts are brown and grey-brown, with most feathers pale-edged, giving a mottled effect. There is a pale eye-stripe. The rump and tail are black and the outer tail-feathers and sides of rump white. There is a pale wing-stripe in flight. The underparts are white with some grey on the sides of the breast. Eyes are dark brown; bill and legs black. In breeding plumage, the colouring changes, with deep salmon-pink on head and nape suffusing into pink on the mantle and wing-coverts. Immature birds are similar to non-breeding adults but browner and the crown is dull rufous. This species is also known as Rufous-necked Stint, Redneck or Little Sandpiper, Land Snipe, Little Stint, Eastern Little Stint, Least Sandpiper.