Baird’s Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii (Coues, 1861) (1, 2)
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Holarctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
The individual from Norfolk in 1903 was long considered the first for Britain but in 1994 the BOURC found it not proven due to its association with Bristow, Hastings rarities fraud.
BOU (1971) state two between 1903-11 and three between 1950-55.
RECORD
1). 1911 Outer Hebrides St Kilda, adult female, obtained, 28th September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1912.39.56).
(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 32: 9-10; Eds., British Birds 5: 255; Clarke, 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986; BOURC (1994), Ibis 136: 253).
History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1912) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXII. pp. 9-10, says: 'Baird's Sandpiper (Tringa bairdi) at St. Kilda. - This was one of the rarities that fell to my lot during my recent visit to St. Kilda. On the 28th September 1911, a small Sandpiper was observed wading and swimming in a pool in the rocks fringing the Village Bay.
It was shot on the suspicion that it was something uncommon, and proved to be an adult female, in full winter plumage, of this North American species - one which had only been known to visit the British Isles on two previous occasions, but had not hitherto been detected in Scotland....In this specimen the head and hind neck are pale ashy brown, streaked with dusky, broadly on the crown; feathers of the mantle, scapulars, lower back, secondaries, and wing coverts dusky brown, with darker centres and white edges; primaries, upper tail coverts, and tail dusky brown, the outer feathers of the latter paler and edged with white; chin and throat white; chest and sides of the breast pale ashy brown tinged with buff, and slightly streaked and spotted with dusky brown; remainder of under surface and axillaries white. Legs black. Wing 4.9 ins. Bill 0.9 in.
It has been considered desirable to describe this bird, as no description of it is to be found in any works devoted to British birds. The plumage is that in which they are most likely to occur as visitors to our islands.'
In an Editorial (1912) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 255, they say: 'Mr. W. Eagle Clarke records (Scot. Nat., 1912, p. 9) that he obtained an adult female Tringa bairdi at St. Kilda on September 28th, 1911. This North American wader has only twice before been recorded for the British Isles (cf. Vol. I. p. 16), and this further proof that it occasionally visits us is very interesting.'
Clarke (1912 (2): 233) under 'The Birds of St Kilda', says: 'On 28th September 1911, a small wader was observed in a pool on the rocks fringing the bay. It was shot on the suspicion that it was something uncommon, and proved to be an adult female of this North American bird in full winter plumage. This species had only on two previous occasions been known to visit the British Isles, but had not before been detected in Scotland.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1913) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXII. p. 285, on the unexpected occurrences for 1911, says: 'Female shot, St. Kilda, September 28th.'
1950-57 RECORDS
2). 1950 Greater London/Surrey Perry Oaks Sewage-farm, Middlesex, 17th to 22nd September.
(C. A. White, British Birds 44: 252-254; London Natural History Society, 1957; Wheatley, 2007).
History C. A. White (1951) in British Birds, Vol. XLIV. pp. 252-254, says: 'On September 17th, 1950, when examining the Limicolae on the Perry Oaks Sewage Farm in company with Messrs. P. J. Hayman, W. N. Mitchell, and W. R. Philipson, I found a small wader which I immediately thought was a Bonaparte's Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), or a Baird's Sandpiper (C. bairdii). After a short while the bird was seen to fly a few yards, and the dark rump continuing right down the centre of tail was plainly seen; this proved that the bird could not be a Bonaparte's Sandpiper, and after further observation at close quarters I was sure the bird was a Baird's Sandpiper.
Later on the same day this bird was shown to Messrs. C. A. Ashby, R. C. Homes, and R. H. M. Ryall. I would like to mention that P. J. Hayman and R. H. M. Ryall agreed with my identification immediately they had critically examined it. Unlike many rarities this bird fortunately stayed on the farm, and was present from September 17th until September 22nd inclusive, and I was able to show it to at least 50 observers during its stay.
All who saw this bird, and who cared to express an opinion confirmed my identification, and in addition I would like to say that I was informed by C. W. G. Paulson that he also saw this bird before it finally left, and he agrees with our identification, having seen the species in America.
I was able to spend many hours watching this bird, and in view of its rarity in the British Isles, and the possibility that this constitutes the first "field" identification in this country (it appears that the majority if not all other British records were from "obtained" birds) the following field notes might be of some interest:
A small wader being larger than Little Stint (Calidris minuta) and smaller than Dunlin (C. alpina). At times it was observed right alongside these species. Curlew-Sandpipers (C. testacea), American Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos), Sanderling (Crocethia alba), an smaller than Dunlin (C. alpina). At times it was observed right alongside these species. Curlew Sandpipers (C. testacea), American Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos), Sanderling (Crocethia alba), and Ringed Plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) were also near by for comparison.
It frequently presented a dumpy, content appearance with head well tucked in. Straight black bill about same length as head. Bill fairly slender, but when right alongside Little Stint it seemed not so delicate as the stint's bill. White patch above bill, also white chin and throat, which, when the bird was facing the observer, gave it an appearance of white around the whole base of the bill. Whitish eye-stripe, and inconspicuous whitish circle around eye. A buffish line through eye, more pronounced on ear-coverts. Crown and nape rich-brown with darker streaks. The crown and nape gave the appearance of a "cap", especially brought about by the eye-stripe, but not so pronounced as the Pectoral Sandpiper's. Mantle and wings greyish, but strongly marbled due to dark brown feathers with light edges. Primaries ashy grey. Whole breast suffused with buff, being more pronounced by the shoulders, but when a near view was obtained I distinctly saw sides of breast finely striated with dark brown. Breast markings, ending abruptly from the white belly and flanks, gave a somewhat similar appearance to Pectoral Sandpiper's, but buff did not end in a chevron as in that species. In strong sunlight just before sundown the centre of breast frequently appeared white, but this was due entirely to sunlight, and it could be plainly seen under duller conditions to have a band right across the breast. Remainder of underparts white. No noticeable wing bar in flight, but some light mark seen on secondaries once when about to settle. Dark rump continued right down centre of tail, with narrow whitish sides to rump. Legs black, or very dark.
Once the bird, when entirely alone on small mud patch, suddenly held up its wings over its back; it then flew 20 yards or so to another muddy patch which held no other wader. Immediately upon rising and settling it gave a single note, which sounded to me like "kree".
While feeding it generally picked at the surface, but it frequently ran and pulled food from the mud, and in doing so tugged vigorously, stretching backwards and jerking its head sideways and with its tail touching mud. Just before flying it occasionally held its wings up over its back in a "tern-like" way. The white axilliaries were then noted, the white extending along the centre of the under-wing towards the tips, the remaining colour of the under-wing appearing greyish. I found that when the bird was seen at a distance or in failing light it could easily be' mistaken for Little Stint, and even Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper in transitional plumages.
This might seem extraordinary, when theoretically these species are easily distinguishable in the field, but it bears out the opinion of some American ornithologists who state that "Baird's has unfortunately nothing characteristic about it", and that it is "much of a muchness with American Stint (Calidris minutilla), American Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis), and Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), but under good conditions these species can easily be distinguished in the field".
In this connection Rowan in a series of articles in British Birds (Vol. XX. pp. 138 et seq.) gives the field characteristics of these six species, and the following has been extracted from these articles: The American Stint is appreciably smaller than the Little Stint, it has a streaky back pattern, and the leg colour is pale, not dark like Baird's. The American Pectoral Sandpiper has a distinctly striped pattern on back - reminiscent of Snipe. Bonaparte's Sandpiper has white rump. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper has a general buff coloration, paler on crown than Baird's, and the rump lacks the clear cut white at sides and black centre of that species; it also has yellow legs, and the white throat and pale eye-stripe of Baird's are entirely wanting, also it is very much like a plover in carriage and poise. The Semipalmated Sandpiper apart from having a heavy and stumpy bill, has in all plumages what appears to be a half-collar running from bill backwards to behind the ear-coverts, and this is never present in Baird's.
These are only a few of the differences given between the five species and Baird's, but they suffice to show the Middlesex bird was not one of these, and that it was undoubtedly a Baird's Sandpiper.
This constitutes a new record for the county.'
3). 1952 Kent/Sussex The Wicks, 19th to 27th September, photo.
(E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1952: 14; G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1952: 20; W. G. Fluke, British Birds 46: 304-305, plates 44-46; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).
History E. H. Gillham (1952) in the Kent Bird Report, Vol. I. p. 14, says: 'One at the Wicks, Dungeness, from Sept. 19 - 27 was first seen by W.G.F. and R.C., and subsequently by many observers. The Editors of British Birds have confirmed that this record will be published in due course, therefore, the supporting details are omitted from this Report. This bird was also seen on the Sussex side of the boundary and is the fourth record for that county but the first for Kent.'
W. G. Fluke (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 304-305, says: 'On September 19th, 1952, with R. Codd and A. G. Cooke, I found a bird at the Wicks, Dungeness, that we eventually decided was a Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii). Later the same day I watched it again, this time in company with M. Barry and M. Hall. On September 20th the identification was confirmed by D. D. Harber and W. S. Nevin with Miss H. M. Rowland and on September 21st by G. des Forges, I. J. Ferguson-Lees and C. W. G. Paulson. Photographs were taken by Mr. des Forges and three of these are reproduced on plates 44-46.
It was subsequently watched on both sides of the county boundary by many observers on most days until September 27th when it was last seen by Dr. L. A. Collins and Mr. Harber. For the most part it did not associate with other small waders, but both Dunlins (C. alpina) and Little Stints (C. minuta) were present by the same pools and these afforded a basis for comparison. I made a field-sketch and the following description is based upon this and upon notes made by Messrs. Harber, Ferguson-Lees, Paulson and Nevin.
In appearance it was roughly the shape of a Little Stint, but larger; it was distinctly smaller than the Dunlins, but trimmer and not so stout with the wings projecting noticeably beyond the tail. The bill was black and rather deceptively shaped : at certain angles it appeared slightly decurved and longer than the head, but it is borne out by the photographs (vide plate 45) that this was an exaggerated effect. The legs were also black, but not so dark as the bill and had a greenish tinge in certain lights. The cheeks and sides of neck were buffish, the crown darker. Light superciliary stripes met over the bill forming a whitish forehead and emphasizing a "capped" appearance. The chin and throat were white and the breast buff noticeably streaked and with the markings finishing abruptly giving the appearance of a Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos). The rest of the under-parts were pure white. The mantle and wings were very strikingly marked with a "scaly" pattern produced by pale buffish edgings to dark-centred feathers. In flight the wings showed no distinctive pattern, though there was a greyish, transverse line. The tail was rather pointed, with the central feathers dark (except at the tips) and the outer feathers smoky-grey. The lateral upper tail-coverts were whitish. The bill, though obviously not nearly so long nor so thick as those of the Dunlins, gave a misleading effect of length and decurvature which caused preliminary doubts about the bird's identity but careful examination showed that this effect was exaggerated and that the bill in fact was compatible with that of a Baird's Sandpiper.
The bird was extremely tame and was often approached to within a few feet; the photographs were obtained with only rudimentary attempts at concealment. It obtained its food both by probing and by picking it from the surface. Its call was variously noted as a short "krip", "treek", "whrrup", "twillink" and "pruwick" this being normally uttered in flight; in addition a more drawn-out "tchwereep" and a short, liquid whistle were heard.
This is the seventh British record, the fourth for Sussex and the first for Kent.'
Comment There is a description also in the Sussex Bird Report. Its actually the first for Sussex, previous three were 'Hastings rarities'.
NOT PROVEN
0). 1900 Sussex Rye Harbour, juvenile female, 11th October.
(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 11: 27; M. J. Nicoll, Field 8th Dec., 1900: 892; W. Fallon, Field 15th Dec., 1900: 937; M. J. Nicoll, Zoologist 1901: 31-32; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 15-16; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1900) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XI. p. 27, at the 74th Meeting of the Club held on 21st November 1900 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ernst Hartert exhibited a Baird's Sandpiper, new to the British List of birds: - Heteropygia bairdi. The example was shot at Rye Harbour, Sussex, on October 11th, 1900, and was sent to Mr. Hartert by its discoverer and owner, Mr. Michael John Nicoll, for identification. Mr. Nicoll wrote that before he shot the bird he was convinced that it was a species unknown to him. The flight was more like that of a Common Sandpiper for the first few yards, then it rose straight in the air for a considerable height, and then dropped suddenly towards the ground. It did this every time it was put up. Its cry was a shrill twitter, different from that of any British species. The bill and legs were jet-black. It is a young female. The bird was seen in the flesh by Mr. Ruskin Butterfield.'
M. J. Nicoll of St Leonards-on-Sea (1900) in The Field of 8th Dec., Vol. XCVI. p. 892, in a Letter, says: 'The letter, signed W. J. Fallon, under this heading in your last issue, has been brought to my notice, and as the greater part of it is, to say the least of it, incorrect, I think that a true statement of the facts is called for. I shot the bird (Baird's Sandpiper) myself, and the account in the last paragraph of Mr. Fallon's letter is substantially correct, though written without my knowledge, and expressly against my wishes.
The true facts are briefly as follows: I shot the bird, on Oct. 11, on the west side of Rye Harbour. It was seen in the flesh by Messrs. Ticehurst, Ruskin-Butterfield, and others, and was skinned by Mr. Geo. Bristow, of this town. It was a female by dissection, and I sent it, as soon as the skin was dry, to Dr. Ernest Hartert, of the Tring Museum, for identification.' [The only point of interest being the elicitation of the details concerning the sandpiper in question, we omit our correspondent's criticism of the details of the day's shooting, the accuracy of which he calls in question. - Ed.]
W. Fallon (1900) in The Field of 15th Dec., Vol. XCVI. p. 937, in a Letter, says: 'Mr. Nicoll's letter taxing me with inaccuracy regarding my statements concerning his shooting a specimen of Baird's Sandpiper at Rye on Oct. 11 is a matter with which I will deal privately. I should like it known, however, that Mr. M. J. Nicoll has never expressed any wish to me with regard to publication, and I can but reiterate what I have already stated as being exactly what occurred, the only detail omitted being that I myself emptied two barrels at the bird at very long range after Mr. Nicoll's first miss.
As regards the details of the day's shooting previous to the following of five ducks which led to the flushing of the sandpiper, the letter enclosed will, I think, settle that matter clearly with yourself.'
Michael John Nicoll of St Leonards-on-Sea (1901) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. V. pp. 31-32, says: 'On Oct. 11th, 1900, at Rye Harbour, Sussex, I shot a nice specimen of Baird's Sandpiper (Heteropygia bairdi, Coues, cf. Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Museum, XXIV. p. 570), an immature female. It was identified by Dr. Ernst Hartert, of the Tring Museum, to whom I sent it for that purpose, and was seen in the flesh by both Messrs. A. R. Ticehurst and W. Ruskin Butterfield. It was skinned by G. Bristow, of St Leonards. I found it feeding by a large pool in the beach on the west side of Rye Harbour. Its cry was a shrill kind of twitter. Its flight resembled the Common Sandpiper for the first few yards, when it rose for a considerable height, and then plunged suddenly head first to the ground.
It was exhibited by Dr. Hartert to the members of the British Ornithologists' Club at their meeting on Nov. 21st. This is, I believe, the first British record, and also, I believe, the first European one. Its length was 6-6¼ in.; length of wing, 5 in.; spread of wing about 6¾ in.; tarsus, ⅞ in.; hind toe, ¼ in.; bill in length, 1 in., narrow, straight and tapering; toes slightly webbed at joint of foot; bill and legs jet black. The specimen is now in my collection.'
Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 15, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: 'At Rye Harbour, on October 11th, 1900, Mr. M. J. Nicoll noticed and obtained a young female example of this species, subsequently exhibited by Dr. E. Hartert (Bull. B.O.C., XI. p. 27).'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 172-173) says: '...It remained in Nicoll's possession until 1912, when, along with the rest of his collection, it was bought by the Booth Museum, Brighton, in the 5th edition of the Catalogue (1927, p. 256) of which (this is the bird's first appearance in the latter) it is wrongly written down as an immature male. The Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist makes a similar blunder (Vol. IV. p. 35).'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1903 Norfolk Hunstanton, 16th September.
(H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 15-16; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1909: 124; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 3: 29; Seago, 1977).
[M. J. Seago, British Birds 86: 22; BOURC (1994), Ibis 136: 253].
History Howard Saunders (1907) in British Birds, Vol. I. pp. 15-16, under 'Additions to the List of British Birds since 1899', says: 'Mr. Nicoll has informed me that on September 19th, 1903, he examined in the flesh another specimen shot three days before at Hunstanton, Norfolk. The bird is a well-known North American species, occurring in the Chukchi Peninsula, North-eastern Siberia, but not recorded in Europe till now.'
J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1909) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIII. p. 124, says: 'New Norfolk Species. - The county is credited with two new birds...The other species is Baird's Sandpiper, Tringa bairdi (Coues), which was shot at Hunstanton on Sept. 16th, 1903, a month which, on referring to The Zoologist will be seen to have witnessed a great East Coast immigration (cf. Zool., 1904, p. 209). This rarity, which was not recorded at the time, and has only recently been brought to the knowledge of Norfolk naturalists' was received on the 19th by Mr. George Bristow, taxidermist, St. Leonards, and examined while still in the flesh by Mr. M. J. Nicholl, himself the shooter of the first British T. bairdi (British Birds, I. p. 15), and it has since passed into Sir Vauncey Crewe's collection at Calke Abbey....These two additions bring the Norfolk list up to three hundred and eighteen, only seven short of Mr. Nelson's total for Yorkshire.'
H. F. Witherby (1909) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 29, says: 'In his "Ornithological Report for Norfolk" (Zoologist, 1909, p. 124) Mr. J. H. Gurney makes the important announcement that a specimen (sex and age not noted) of Baird's Sandpiper (Tringa bairdi) was shot at Hunstanton, Norfolk, on September 16th, 1903. The bird, "which was not recorded at the time, and has only been recently brought to the knowledge of Norfolk naturalists, was received on the 19th by Mr. George Bristow, taxidermist, St. Leonards, and examined while still in the flesh by Mr. M. J. Nicoll, himself the shooter of the first British T. bairdi". This second specimen has since passed into Sir Vauncey Crewe's collection at Calke Abbey. It will be remembered that the late Howard Saunders included Mr. Nicoll's specimen in his "Additions to the list of British Birds since 1899", contributed to our first number (Vol. I. p. 15).'
Comment Handled by Bristow, who was notorious for the Hastings rarities fraud (Nicholson & Ferguson-Lees 1962). Not acceptable.
0). 1912 Sussex Rye Harbour, female, obtained, 16th September, now at Leicester Arts & Museums (Acc. No. Z28.2006.124.11).
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 6: 193; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 34: 281; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 43; Walpole-Bond, 1938; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 111: 228-230).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1912) in British Birds, Vol. VI. p. 193, says: 'Another example of Baird's Sandpiper (Erolia bairdii) was obtained at Rye Harbour on September 16th, 1912. This makes the fourth example obtained in the British Isles, and of these, two have been obtained at Rye Harbour. I examined the bird in the flesh on September 17th, when it proved to be a female. The bird is the size of a Dunlin, but the markings are almost the same as a Curlew Sandpiper in immature plumage; the legs, toes, and bill, are also shorter than a Dunlin, and the wings project beyond the tail.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1914) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXIV. p. 281, on the unexpected occurrences for 1912, says: 'Female shot, Rye Harbour (Sussex), September 16th.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 173).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex Rye Harbour, adult male, 23rd September, now at Leicester Arts & Museums (Acc. No. Z28.2006.124.10).
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 8: 174; Walpole-Bond, 1938; A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 111: 228-230).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VIII. p. 174, says: 'I have to record the occurrence of an example of Baird's Sandpiper (Erolia bairdii), obtained at Rye Harbour, Sussex, on September 23rd, 1914. I examined it in the flesh, and it proved to be an adult male in very fine condition. It was in company with a very large number of waders, including Turnstones, Knots, Dunlin, Sanderling, Redshank, etc., that frequent the mud flats at this season. This is the fourth British example.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 173).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1955 Cheshire & Wirral/Lancashire & North Merseyside Billinge Green, near Northwich, Cheshire, 27th to 29th May; same, Marston, to 5th June.
(A. W. Boyd, British Birds 48: 417-418; Hedley Bell, 1962; Walters, 1993).
[D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers, British Birds 99: 463].
History A. W. Boyd (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 417-418, says: 'On 27th May 1955 I saw two waders feeding on the mud by a flash at Billinge Green, near Northwich, Cheshire. One was a Dunlin (Calidris alpina), and the other a smaller bird quite new to me. I succeeded in getting within a few yards and examining both birds in detail with a telescope. On 29th May Mr. T. Dixon and I saw the bird in the same place, and also on the muddy bank of a wide canal some 300 yards distant, to which it flew when disturbed, only to return to its original mud-patch.
It was distinctly smaller and shorter in the leg than the Dunlin. Its grey-brown back and wings were what I wrote down as "mottled", but the word "scaly" (used in Peterson's American Field Guide) describes its appearance even better. Its breast was marked with buff-grey vertical striations which came to an abrupt stop, reminding me (as I wrote down at the time) of the breast-markings of a Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). There were similar striations along the top of the crown. Its belly, under tail-coverts and under-side of its tail were pure white. In flight it appeared' to have a very slight wing-bar and T.D. noticed a white patch on either side of its upper tail-coverts; rump, upper tail-coverts and tail dark. Virtually no eye-stripe when seen from the side. Bill, black, slightly decurved when seen from some angles and about as long as the width of its head. Legs very dark brownish-black or black. Iris black; I thought I detected a very fine white circle round the eye, but only for a brief moment. Flight erratic and very swift. T.D. heard its call, which he wrote down as "chickiwick".
On 5th June Mr. G. Trelfa found a small wader by a flash in Marston village, just over 3 miles from Billinge Green. It proved to be the same or a similar bird. Together we watched it for a long time from a few yards. I was able on this occasion to see it closely as it faced me, a view of its head I had not had on the earlier days. We saw two pale streaks from near the eyes which almost met at the base of the bill, forming a sort of V, but could discern no eye-stripe above or behind the eye. We had excellent views of all the other points mentioned above. We were satisfied that it was a Baird's Sandpiper (C. bairdii), a bird new to Cheshire. There is some evidence that it was seen but not identified by another observer a few days earlier.'
D. I. M. Wallace, C. Bradshaw & M. J. Rogers (2006) in British Birds, Vol. XCIX. p. 463, in a review of certain rarities during the period 1950-57, found this record to be unacceptable.
