Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) (125, 15)

Photo © Phil Woollen - Burton Mere, Cheshire & Wirral, 5 May 2023

Ex BBRC species 31/12/2016

STATUS

Cosmopolitan, between 35°N and 40°S. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Formerly known as the Long-legged Plover, Black-winged Longshank and Stilt Plover.

Shorebirds (Marchant, Prater & Hayman 1986) state the tarsus measurement of this species as 100-137 mm. whereas the confusion species of Spotted Redshank measures 52-64 mm.

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RECORDS

1). 1684 Dumfries & Galloway "A lake near Dumfries", Dumfriesshire, shot, undated.

(Sibbald, 1684; Pennant, 1776; Fleming, 1828; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; Gladstone, 1910; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History Pennant (1776 (2): 476) under 'Long-legged Plover', says: 'Sir Robert Sibbald records a brace that were shot in Scotland.'

Fleming (1828: 112) says: 'Sir Robert Sibbald appears to have first recorded the occurrence of this bird in these islands, Scot. III. 18. tab. xiii. fig 2., an individual having been examined by him which was shot at a lake near the town of Dumfries; where a second example was shortly afterwards killed.' Jenyns (1835) p. 202, says: 'Sibbald mentions a pair which were killed in Scotland.'

Gray (1871: 303) says: 'This curious bird is figured in Pennant's Caledonian Zoology, Plate IV., and simply catalogued as a Scottish species on page 35 of that work - the author's authority for its introduction being apparently Sir Robert Sibbald, who states, in the work referred to by Pennant, (Hist. Scot. lib. III. 18 tab. xi. xiii.) that two specimens had been obtained at a lake near Dumfries; one of these had been examined by the author.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 305-306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

H. Gladstone (1910: 377-379) says: 'I am indebted to my cousin Mr. Robert Gladstone, jun., for the following translation of Sir Robert Sibbald (1684, part 2, book 3, p. 18): - "The Himantopus of Pliny...This bird (of which two drawings, one large and the other small, made from the bird itself, are included among our illustrations) was sent to me by William Dalmahoy, an officer of the Royal Guards, and an excellent ornithologist. It had been shot with a gun at a lake near the town of Dumfries, where also a second specimen was subsequently shot, but, through some carelessness on the part of my military friend, was lost". He adds: "I presume that both birds (i.e. the one which Dalmahoy sent to Sibbald and the one which was lost) were shot by Dalmahoy, - though the text does not actually say so much".'

Comment The "lake near the town of Dumfries", where these first Black-winged Stilts were shot, cannot now be identified. The Darduff, Black and Sand Lochs were within two miles of the north of the town and would have answered the description, but they have long since been reclaimed and ploughed over, though in a map of Dumfriesshire, published in 1853 by Messrs. William Blackwood and Sons, the Black and Sand Lochs are both shown. Darduff Loch is marked in the map accompanying Dr. Singer's General View of the Agriculture in the County of Dumfries, published in 1812; or perhaps Maxwelltown Loch (Kirkcudbrightshire), formerly known as Babington's Loch, may have been the actual spot where they were obtained. A translation of ornithological data from Sir Robert Sibbald's Scotia Illustrata sive Prodromus (1684) by W.H. Mullens (British Birds Vol. VI) includes "Himantopus", giving a full and accurate description of one of two shot by William Dalmahoy at a loch near Dumfries.

There is insufficient evidence for the second bird even to be considered (I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds Vol. XXIII. p. 77). Only one acceptable.

2). c. 1718 Cornwall Near Penzance, five, shot, autumn.

(Moyle MS.; Harting, 1880; Penhallurick, 1978).

History Harting, Editor (1880: 311) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, under 'Appendix' says: 'Five specimens of the Black-winged Stilt were killed at a shot near Penzance in the autumn of 1718 (Moyle).'

Penhallurick (1969: 146) says: '1718, Walter Moyle records how one "Himantopus of Pliny...was killed with four others at a shot...near Penzance"....'

7). Pre 1776 Oxfordshire Stanton Harcourt Common, shot, undated.

(Pennant, 1776; Fleming, 1828; P. R. Lowe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 41: 77; Aplin, 1889).

History Pennant (1776 (2): 476) under 'Long-legged Plover', says: 'Another was shot a few years ago on Stanton-Harcourt common near Oxford.'

Fleming (1828: 112) says: 'Pennant states, that one was shot at Stanton Harcourt Common, near Oxford (Brit. Zool. II. 476).'

P. R. Lowe, Editor (1920) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLI. pp. 76-77, at the 260th Meeting of the Club held on 13th December 1922 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Dr. G. C. Low sent a short note on recent occurrences of the Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in Great Britain and Ireland....As regards old records there was... Pennant, however, recorded another example himself, shot a few years before 1776, at Stanton-Harcourt Common, near Oxford [Brit. Zool. 4th edition, Vol. II. p. 476 (1776)].

White, apparently had not read this later edition of British Zoology, as in his letter he states, "Mr. Pennant never met with it in all Great Britain, but observed it in the cabinets of the curious at Paris". This observation applies to the first edition. White's record, therefore, comes third.'

Accepted locally by Aplin (1889: 149) who quotes Pennant's reference as (British Zoology, 1812, Vol. II. p. 101).'

8). 1779 Surrey Frensham Pond, Farnham, six, five killed, late April.

(Latham, 1785; White, 1789; Montagu, 1802; Jenyns, 1835; Macgillivray, 1837-52; Yarrell, 1845; Jardine, 1853; Bucknill, 1900; P. R. Lowe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 41: 76-77).

History Latham (1785 (3): 196) says: 'Mr. White of Fleet-Street is in possession of another, which was shot out of a flock of six or seven, in Frensham ponds, in Hampshire. The plumage of this bird was wholly white, except the wings, and the back as far as the rump, which are black: bill and legs as the other. We believe this to differ in sex merely; the more so, as two birds, answering to the above descriptions, are placed in the Leverian Museum as male and female.'

Gilbert White of Selborne (Letter xlix) writing to the Hon. Daines Barrington on 7th May 1779, says: 'In the last week of last month five of those most rare birds, too uncommon to have obtained an English name, but known to naturalists by the terms of himantopus, or loripes, and charadrius himantopus, were shot upon the verge of Frinsham [sic] pond, a large lake belonging to the Bishop of Winchester, and lying between Walmer Forest, and the town of Farnham, in the county of Surrey.

The pond keeper says there were three brace in the flock; but that, after he had satisfied his curiosity, he suffered the sixth to remain unmolested. One of these specimens I procured, and found the length of the legs to be so extraordinary, that, at first sight, one might have supposed the shanks had been fastened on to impose on the credulity of the beholder: they were legs in caricatura; and had we seen such proportions on a Chinese or Japan screen we should have mad large allowances for the fancy of the draughtsman. These birds are of the plover family, and might with propriety be called the Stilt Plovers.

My specimen, when drawn and stuffed with pepper, weighed only four ounces and a quarter, though the naked part of the thigh measured three inches and a half, and the legs fur inches and a half. Hence we may safely assert that these birds exhibit, weight for inches, incomparably the greatest length of legs of any known bird....Our writers record it to have been found only twice in Great Britain (Jardine's Edition, 1853, p. 176).'

Montagu (1802) says: '...is now in the possession of Mr. White in Fleet Street, where we saw it. This bird is wholly white, except the wings and back as far as the rump, which is black.'

Fleming (1828: 112) says: 'Mr. White states, that six individuals of this species were observed at Frinsham [sic] Pond, near Farnham, Surrey, (Nat. Hist. Selborne, II. 42).'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 630, 2nd ed.) says: 'White of Selborne notices five that were killed out of a flock of six, that visited Frinsham [sic] Pond, a large piece of water lying between Wolmer Forest and the town of Farnham, during the last week of April 1779.'

Macgillivray (1852 (5): 311) says: 'It is stated by Montagu, that "six of this species were shot out of seven in a flock, in the month of April, at the verge of a lake not very far distant from Farnham, in Surrey. One of them was preserved by the late Rev. Mr. White, of Selborne", and was seen by Montagu with Mr. White, of Fleet Street. It was "wholly white, except the wings and back as far as the rump, which were black".

Bucknill (1900: 291) adds: 'From Latham (Gen. Hist. of Birds, Vol. IX. p. 318) and Montagu (Orn. Dict. Vol. II) it appears that the specimen preserved by Mr. White was a female, and passed into the hands of a Mr. White, of Fleet Street, in whose possession it was in 1802.'

P. R. Lowe, Editor (1920) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLI. pp. 76-77, at the 260th Meeting of the Club held on 13th December 1922 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Dr. G. C. Low sent a short note on recent occurrences of the Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in Great Britain and Ireland....As regards old records there was, of course, the classical one by Gilbert White of five specimens of Himatopus himantopus having been shot on Frensham Pond in the last week of April, 1779. [The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, Bennett's standard edition, revised by J. E. Harting, 1889, Letter xlix, p. 273.] White, in this letter, remarked: "Our writers record it to have been found only twice in Great Britain". Harting, in a footnote, suggests that he referred to a pair shot near Dumfries, Scotland, and recorded by Sibbald in 1864 [1684] [Scotia Illustrata, II. III. p. 18], and mentioned by Pennant [Caledonian Zoology, p. 35, pl. iv.] Pennant, however, recorded another example himself, shot a few years before 1776, at Stanton-Harcourt Common, near Oxford [Brit. Zool. 4th edition, Vol. II. p. 476 (1776)]. White, apparently had not read this later edition of British Zoology, as in his letter he states, "Mr. Pennant never met with it in all Great Britain, but observed it in the cabinets of the curious at Paris". This observation applies to the first edition. White's record, therefore, comes third. In 1832 another specimen was obtained at Frensham Pond, and by 1889 about thirty other instances had been reported. Of these quite a large number - some seventeen - have come from Norfolk, and most of the southern English counties have contributed their quota.'

14). 1793 Anglesey No locality, shot, undated.

(Montagu, 1813; Fleming, 1828; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1871-85; Forrest, 1907; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History Montagu (1813) says: 'A bird of this rare species was shot in Anglesea in the year 1793, an account of which is related in The Naturalist's Miscellany, as received from Mr. Davies of Aber.' Fleming (1828) p. 112, says: 'The last occurred to Mr. Davies of Aber, killed in Anglesea, (Nat. Miscellany, tab. 195. Mont. Orn. Dict. Supp.) The species frequents Africa, Asia, and eastern Europe.'

Selby (1833 (2): 248) in a footnote, says: 'I am informed that there is a coloured figure and description of this bird, under its former title of Long-legged Plover, in Dr. Shaw's Naturalists' Miscellany, (a periodical work of considerable ability, but now difficult to be met with), taken from a recent specimen transmitted to that distinguished naturalist by a clergyman in Wales, where the bird was killed.' Jenyns (1835) p. 202, says: 'Has been killed in Anglesea.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Montagu, in his Supplement, notices one that was killed in the Isle of Anglesea.'

Forrest (1907: 338) says: 'Col. Montagu, in his Ornithological Dictionary, records, under 'Black-winged Stilt' "a bird of this rare species was shot in Anglesey in the year 1793", an account of which was related in The Naturalists' Miscellany as received from Mr. (Rev. Hugh) Davies, of Aber.'

15). 1822 Norfolk Hickling Broad, seen, 9th June, shot, 10th June.

(Paget & Paget, 1834; Yarrell, 1845; Stevenson, 1870; A. H. Patterson, Zoologist 1901: 100).

History Paget & Paget (1834: 10) say: 'A pair shot at Hickling, in 1822.' Yarrell (1845) 2nd ed. Vol. II. pp. 630-631, says: 'The Rev. Richard Lubbock sent me an account as follows. "On the ninth of June, 1822, I was returning in the evening from fishing upon Hickling Broad, when a bird of this species flew past the boat within thirty yards. The legs were extended behind, even more in proportion than those of a Heron; the wings were much arched; the flight vigorous and regular; the colour and the length of limb made me guess what it must be. I asked the fenman who was with me what he guessed it to be. He considered it a Ruff which had been caught, as is sometimes the case in our marshes by a horsehair snare, and had broken away with it. When I told him that I believed it to be a very rare and valuable bird he wished to go in immediate pursuit; but I over-ruled that, as there was not more than half an hour's light remaining, and the bird, if shot at ineffectually, might leave the country in the night.

We searched for it early the next morning and found it precisely in the same place as the evening before. When shot, it was standing in a shallow pool of water mid leg deep, apparently snapping at insects in the air as they buzzed round it.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 245) in a footnote, adds: 'This bird, which is also noticed in Mr. Hunt's "List", was presented by Mr. Lubbock to Mr. J. Postle, of Colney, who was then a collector, and at his death, it came into the hands of his son, the late Rev. Edward Postle, of Yelverton, and is now in the possession of Mr. Henry Postle, of Little Witchingham.'

Southwell (1879: 91, 2nd ed.) in Lubbock's Fauna of Norfolk mentions only one bird. A. H. Patterson of Great Yarmouth (1901) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. V. p. 100, says: 'A pair shot at Hickling in 1822 (Paget).'

Comment Some discrepancy over how many involved. One individual not acceptable.

16). 1822 Norfolk Northwold Fen, killed, June.

(Stevenson, 1870; Riviere, 1930).

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 244) says: 'Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear did not include this bird in their "List", published in 1824; but in Mr. Lombe's MS. notes, I find mention of one killed in Northwold Fen, in June, 1822, on the western side of the county.'

Further, p. 247, Stevenson adds: 'A pair of Black-winged Stilts in Mr. Lombe's collection at Wymondham, includes one of the 1826 Stoke Ferry individuals along with possibly this individual.'

17). 1824 Norfolk River Bure, Great Yarmouth, obtained, summer, now at Saffron Walden Museum.

(Paget & Paget, 1834; Yarrell, 1845; Stevenson, 1870; A. H. Patterson, Zoologist 1900: 168; Patterson, 1905; Allard, 1990; Wood, 2007).

History Paget & Paget (1834: 10) say: '...another shot two miles up the North river, in 1824, and in Mrs. Baker's collection.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 632, 2nd ed.) says: 'Another was received from Norfolk. In the intestines of this last specimen, which I examined, was a species of tape-worm, six inches in length, broad, flat, and jointed.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 246) adds: 'Again in 1824, according to the Messrs. Paget, another was shot "two miles up the North River" (Bure), which at the time their "Sketch" was published, was said to be in Mrs. Baker's collection. In all probability this was the same bird which, as Mr. Rising informs me, made its appearance at Horsey, for one day only, in the summer of 1824, and escaped uninjured.

It is also, I imagine, the same which is thus incidentally referred to by Yarrell "...While my own specimen from Lincolnshire was with Mr. Leadbeater for preservation, another was received from Norfolk". Stevenson in a footnote on the same page, adds: 'This is no doubt the specimen mentioned by Hunt in 1829, as in Mr. C. S. Girdlestone's collection at Yarmouth, which passed into the hands of his sister Mrs. John Baker.'

A. H. Patterson of Great Yarmouth (1900) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. IV. p. 168, says: 'Mr. B. Dye has a Stilt Plover, undoubtedly the same referred to by the Pagets as having been shot on the North River, which he purchased at the sale of the late Town Clerk, T. M. Baker's, effects.'

Patterson (1905) adds: 'At the sale of Mr. T. Baker's (the son's) effects a few years ago this bird came into the possession of Mr. B. Dye.'

Wood (2007: 59) states that this specimen is in the Saffron Walden Museum.

18). 1826 Norfolk Stoke Ferry, pair, shot, spring.

(Yarrell, 1845; Stevenson, 1870).

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 631, 2nd ed.) says: 'A pair was shot by Mr. Salmon at Stoke Ferry, in the spring of 1826, the female had eggs within her in a forward state: one of these last is now in the collection of Mr. Lombe.'

20). 1837 Dorset Lodmoor, Weymouth, shot, undated.

(Yarrell, 1845; Harting, 1872; Mansel-Pleydell, 1873, 1888; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 200; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 630, 2nd ed.) says: 'It has been obtained in Dorsetshire, near Poole.'

Mansel-Pleydell (1873: 32) says: 'One was seen on Lodmoor in 1837 (Mr. [W.] Thompson)', and again (1888) p. 85, says: 'One was shot at Lodmoor in 1837 (W. Thompson).'

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 200, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', who adds: '...it seems to be the only reliable record.'

21). 1839 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, seen, September.

(Stevenson, 1870; Ticehurst, 1932; Allard, 1990).

History Stevenson (1870 (2): 247) says: 'Another example appears to have been seen, but not killed, at Yarmouth, in 1839, as shown by the following extract from a letter to Mr. H. Doubleday, of Epping, from the late Mr. [T. C.] Heysham, of Carlisle, (dated September 15th, 1839), for which I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun.: - "From a letter which I received a day or two ago, from a friend in Norfolk, I find that a specimen of the Black-winged Longshank was lately seen on Breydon, which, however, I understood, escaped.'

Accepted locally for Suffolk (Ticehurst 1932: 379).

22). 1840 Dorset Mudeford, shot, undated.

(Harting, 1901).

History Harting (1901) lists one shot by Captain Henry Arnott, at Mudeford, Christchurch, Hants., 1840. In collection of E. Hart, Christchurch.

23). 1842 Norfolk Hickling Broad, first-summer female, shot, about 7th May.

(J. H. Gurney, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 9: 353; W. R. Fisher, Zoologist 1843: 182; Yarrell, 1845; Stevenson, 1870; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 209).

History J. H. Gurney of Norwich (1842) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, Vol. IX. p. 353, dated 9th May, 1842, says: 'I beg to mention that a specimen of the Stilt Plover which has not been killed in Norfolk for many years, was shot a few days since at Hickling, near Yarmouth; it is apparently a bird of last year, and is a female, containing ova of about the size of a shot.'

W. R. Fisher (1843) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. I. p. 182, says: 'Occurred here about 7th May 1842.' Henry Stevenson (1876) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 209, read 1st March 1876, adds: '...a female was shot on Hickling Broad on the 7th of May, 1842.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 247) says: 'In Mr. J. H. Gurney's collection is a female shot near Yarmouth, about the 7th of May, 1842. In the Annals of Natural History (Vol. IX. p. 353), the same is stated by Mr. Gurney to have been killed at Hickling, "apparently a bird of last year and a female, containing ova of about the size of a shot".'

24). 1842 Suffolk River Blyth, near Yoxford, obtained, undated.

(Harting, 1901).

History Harting (1901) lists one on the Blyth, near Yoxford, Suffolk, 1842. In the collection of Sir John Blois.

25). Pre 1845 Kent Near Faversham, shot, undated.

(Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Dowker, 1889; Ticehurst, 1909; Harrison, 1953; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History Harting (1872) says: 'One, Faversham, Kent: in the Canterbury Museum*.' Further, in a footnote, he adds: '*A bird recorded as the Black-winged Stilt, shot at Stanningfield, near Bury St Edmunds, in May, 1871 (Zool., 1871, p. 2684), proved to be the Dusky Redshank (Zool., 1872, p. 3064).'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. Harting records (Hbk. Brit. Birds, p. 136) a specimen killed at Faversham, in the Canterbury Museum.'

Ticehurst (1909: 442) says: 'The inclusion of the Stilt among the birds of Kent rests upon the occurrence of a single specimen, which no longer exists, but since the record has been accepted by all the authoritative writers on British birds, there is no reason for doubting its authenticity. The bird appears to have been shot at Faversham some date prior to 1845, and is first mentioned by Thompson as having come under his own observation in the Canterbury Museum. It must have disappeared from there before 1889, as Dowker says that it "was in the Canterbury Museum". The specimen is certainly not there.'

Harrison (1953 (1): 394-395) says: 'This example, shot at Faversham, some time prior to 1845, is included on the authority of Thompson, who had seen this specimen in Canterbury Museum, but by 1889 it had disappeared.'

Comment Thompson is not mentioned in the Bibliography of any Birds of Kent!

26). Pre 1848 Avon Near Thornbury, Gloucestershire, obtained, undated.

(Dillwyn, 1848; Yarrell, 1871-85; Swaine, 1982; H. E. Rose, Avon Bird Report 2000: 171).

History Dillwyn (1848: 8) under 'Long-legged Plover' says: 'In the Swansea Guide, this interesting bird is said to be 'very rare in low moist meadows;' and I suspect that it has been misplaced in our Fauna, for Dr. Turton. who assisted Mr. Oldisworth in the compilation, told me that the only specimen he ever saw was shot near Thonbury, in Gloucestershire.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'One was obtained near Thornbury, in Gloucestershire (Dillwyn, Fauna of Swansea, p. 8).'

Swaine (1982: 214) does not accept the species for Gloucestershire, however, it has been accepted by H. E. Rose (2000) in the Avon Bird Report.

27). 1848 Surrey Near Vachery Pond, Cranleigh, found dead, undated, now in Charterhouse Collection.

(Bucknill, 1900; Wheatley, 2007).

History Bucknill (1900: 292) says: 'The last record is a specimen now in the Charterhouse collection, which was purchased by Stafford from a Mr. Henry Piper, of Guildford, who obtained it from a man who found it dead near Vachery Pond, Cranleigh, in 1848.'

28). Pre 1849 Oxfordshire Shiplake, near Henley, killed, undated.

(A. & H. Matthews, Zoologist 1849: 2601-02; Yarrell, 1871-85; Aplin, 1889; O. V. Aplin, Zoologist 1903: 450-451; Noble, 1906; Radford, 1966; Swash, 1996).

History A. & H. Matthews (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. pp. 2601-02, under 'The Birds of Oxfordshire', say: 'A specimen of this rare and curious bird was killed at Shiplake, near Henley, in this county: it was for some time in the possession of Mr. Kirtland, who obtained it soon after its capture, but is at present in the collection of the Rev. H. Roundell.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.

O. V. Aplin of Bloxham (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. pp. 450-451, from the notes of C. A. Stubbs, says: 'One shot many years ago at Shiplake; was preserved by Hewer. It passed into the hands of Mr. Sotham, and from him went to Oxford, where it was lost sight of.' [This is evidently the specimen stated by Messrs. Matthews to have been for some time in the possession of Mr. Kirtland, who obtained it soon after its capture, "but is at present in the collection of the Rev. H. Roundell" (of Fringford), (Zool., 1849, p. 2602). I should be glad to know what became of this collection, which contained many Oxfordshire rarities.]

Noble (1906 (1): 161) in the Victoria County History of Berkshire, says: 'Shipley, or Shiplake, is in Oxon, but inasmuch as the river here divides the two counties, and the bird was probably taken on the banks, I have claimed a share for our county.'

Swash (1996) stated it was uncertain whether it was on the Berkshire side of the river and therefore does not accept it.

29). 1850 Clyde River Clyde, near Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, immature, obtained, undated.

(J. A. Smith, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 10 (1852): 72; Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; McWilliam, 1936; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History John Alexander Smith (1852) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, Vol. X. 2nd series, p. 72, says: 'I am indebted to my young friend Mr. W. Dumbreck for being able to exhibit to the Society a Scottish specimen of a very rare bird, the Black-winged Stilt, or Long-legged Plover (Himantopus melanopterus, Temm.).

It is one of the accidental visitors to Britain which are met with now and then at very uncertain intervals, and of which only some two or three instances are recorded of its occurrence in Scotland. This I hope will be a sufficient apology for exhibiting it; although it was killed a good many years ago, and no notice has ever been given of its capture.

It was shot in the breeding season on the south bank of the river Clyde, nearly opposite to Dumbarton Castle, and when seen was squatting on the ground, so that it was at first supposed to be merely a young Lapwing, or some such bird.

It is easily distinguished by its extremely long stilt-like legs, with three toes in front and none behind; and it appears to be a young bird the back part of the head and neck being dusky, the scapulars brownish black, the rest of the wing greenish black; and the length of the primaries from the carpal joint to their extremity being only 5.5 inches, instead of 8 inches as in the adult, in which they extend considerably beyond the tail; whereas in this specimen they do not reach to within 1.5 inch or so of its extremity. The tail is ash-coloured, and the rest of the body is white. It measures about 13 inches in length, and from the termination of the feathered part of the tibia to the foot it is 7.5 inches long.'

Gray (1871: 303) says: 'I can find no other record of its appearance in any part of Scotland until 1850, when a specimen, killed on the banks of the Clyde, near Port Glasgow, was exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, by Dr. J. A. Smith, the society's secretary.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, (Witherby et al. 1940-52; Baxter & Rintoul 1953 (2): 605).

Comment Unfortunately, no mention of this can be found in the proceedings of this society, volume one of which was not published until 1853.

30). 1850s Cheshire & Wirral River Mersey, Latchford, adult male, shot, undated, now at Grosvenor Museum, Chester.

(Coward & Oldham, 1900; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 228; Hardy, 1941; Hedley Bell, 1962).

History Coward & Oldham (1900: 207) say: 'An example of this rare straggler, an adult male, was obtained on the Mersey at Latchford by Mr. R. Nunnerley, senior. He shot this bird and other rarities, in the county about forty or fifty years ago, but unfortunately the exact dates of the occurrences have not been preserved. Mr. R. Nunnerley of Congleton, a keen sportsman and collector himself, in whose possession the birds are now, vouches for the localities, having heard his father frequently recount the circumstances of their capture.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 228, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

31). c. 1851 Cornwall Swanpool, Falmouth, shot, undated.

(W. P. Cocks, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 1: 114; Bullmore, 1867; Penhallurick, 1969).

History W. P. Cocks (1851) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 114, and Bullmore (1867) p. 29, say: 'Selby. Shot at Swanpool by Mr. J. Genn, silversmith. - vide Mr. Cock's list.'

Penhallurick (1969: 146) says: '1851, one shot at Swanpool, near Falmouth.'

32). c. 1851 Yorkshire Aike Carr, near Beverley, two: adult and immature, shot, undated.

(Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Yarrell, 1871-85; Nelson, 1907; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

History Clarke & Roebuck (1881: 73) say: 'Aike Carrs, near Beverley, two, old and young, shot by the keeper; formerly in the collection of the late Mr. Hall, of Scorborough, now in that of Mr. John Stephenson, of Beverley, who informs me that a woman living at Aike well remembers their being shot and shown to her.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 307, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. W. E. Clarke says that two were obtained near Beverley, in Yorkshire, many years ago.'

Nelson (1907 (2): 590-591) says: 'The claim of this straggler to rank as a Yorkshire species rests on the occurrence of an adult, and an immature specimen, obtained in Aike Carr, near Beverley; these were formerly in the possession of the late James Hall of Scorborough, and were purchased at the sale of his collection, in 1878, by Mr. John Stephenson of Beverley, who was informed by Miss Hall, in a letter dated 25th July 1881, that they were shot by Lord Hotham's keeper "about thirty years ago". Mr. Stephenson knew a woman who lived at Aike, and who remembered the birds being killed and shown to her on account of their long legs.'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 268-269; Mather 1986).

34). c. 1855 Bedfordshire Pinfold Hole, between Chicksands and Shefford, shot, autumn.

(Steele-Elliott, 1901; Trodd & Kramer, 1991).

History Steele-Elliott (1901: 149) says: 'It was shot about 1855, from Pinfold Hole, a disused sandpit which is along the road-side between Chicksands and Shefford. It must have passed into the immediate possession of Mr. Tanqueray, then residing at Chicksands Priory, from whom Mr. J. S. Wright, taxidermist, of Clifton, received the bird when in the flesh. My friend, Mr. J. King, viewed the bird a few days afterwards and mentions that to the best of his memory it was killed in the autumn by a labourer, who shot it through a hole in a barn standing alongside the pit, whilst the bird was wading in the water. Through the kindness of Mr. Tanqueray I was enable to examine this bird which had formerly belonged to his father.'

35). 1855 Sussex Bosham, shot, December.

(E. Newman, Zoologist 1856: 4946; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

History Edward Newman, Editor (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XII. p. 4946, says: 'A magnificent specimen of this very rare bird was shot and preserved during the present month at Bosham, in Sussex, by Mr. A. Cheeseman: its legs measured eight inches in length, and its weight was but 4¼ ounces.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In Sussex one was observed at Bosham in December, 1855.'

Accepted locally (Borrer 1891: 216) and by Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 213) who adds: '...In connection with which it should be noted that the date is most unusual, inasmuch as nearly all the records relative to this bird's appearances in our Islands go to late spring, summer and early autumn, and chiefly to late spring and early summer.'

Comment Saunders is misleading, stating that it was observed. At eight inches of leg it cannot be anything else!

36). Pre 1858 Somerset Near Bridgwater, obtained, undated.

(M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1881: 309; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1888: 220; M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 39: 129; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

History Murray A. Mathew of Stonehall, Wolf's Castle, R.S.O., Pembrokeshire (1881) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. V. p. 309, says: 'Mr. H. Mathias, of Haverfordwest, has a small collection of Somersetshire birds which he purchased some few years ago at the sale of Mr. Spalding [sic], of Chilton Poldon, near Bridgwater, who was a collector of local antiquities and rare birds. Among these last were a Black-winged Stilt...all obtained near Bridgwater.'

Murray A. Mathew (1888) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XII. p. 220, says: 'One, now in the possession of Mr. Henry Mathias of Haverfordwest, was shot near Bridgwater, and was for some time in Mr. Straddling's [sic] collection. I remember hearing of this bird so long ago as 1858, from Mr. Wm. Brodrick, at that time residing at Ilfracombe.'

M. A. Mathew (1893) in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society, Vol. XXXIX. p. 129, states nothing new to above.

Accepted locally stating that it is in the Stradling collection (Ballance 2006).

37). 1859 Sussex Near Trotton, female, shot, 17th May.

(Eds., Field 25th June 1859: 508; A. E. Knox, Ibis 1: 395-397; A. E. Knox, Field 9th June 1860: 490; A. E. Knox, Zoologist 1860: 6979-80; Eds., Field 20th May 1871: 400; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

History In an Editorial (1859) in The Field of 25th June, Vol. XIII. p. 508, he says: 'On the 17th ult., A. E. Knox, Esq., obtained a beautiful specimen of the Black-winged Stilt, or Long-legged Plover (Himantopus melanopterus), and placed it in the hands of Mr. Swaysland, naturalist, Queen's Road, Brighton, by whom it has been mounted. It was shot on the banks of a pond in the neighbourhood of Midhurst. This is the first instance on record of the occurrence of this species in Sussex.'

A. E. Knox (1859) in The Ibis, Vol. I. pp. 395-397, and in The Field of 9th June, Vol. XV. p. 490, and (1860) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVIII. pp. 6979-80, says: 'On the 17th of May last, a specimen of the Black-winged Stilt was killed on the banks of a small pond about a mile from this place, in a partially enclosed district surrounded by unreclaimed moorland, near the junction of Midhurst and Bepton commons. This is the first time that the Stilt has ever been obtained or seen in the county of Sussex; and it would appear to be nearly equally scarce in all parts of the British Islands.

Opportunities for observing the habits and manners of these rare and accidental visitors so seldom occur, that I shall make no apology for the length of this communication....The bird was first noticed by an intelligent lad, the son of a small farmer of the name of Pearson, while driving the cows home to be milked in the evening. It was then standing nearly up to its belly in the water, and rapidly extracting the insects from the flowers, or, as the boy supposed, picking the petals themselves. It allowed him to approach within twenty yards before it took flight, when it extended its long red legs behind it, after the manner of a heron, and, alighting again on the opposite bank, immediately recommenced wading out to the water-plants. Young Pearson then hastened home to his father, who lives at a short distance from the pond; and the latter, hurrying to the spot with a loaded gun, found the bird employed as before among the flowers of the Water Crowfoot. But it was now exceedingly shy and wary of the gun, flying from one side of the pond to the other, before Pearson could get within shot (but never uttering any cry or sound), so that at last he found it necessary to resort to stratagem, and to endeavour to "stalk" the bird. This a newly made ditch and bank, one extremity of which approached within a few yards of the water's edge, enabled him to do successfully. On raising his head above the bank, just before he fired, he perceived the Stilt within twenty yards of him, knee-deep in the water, in the midst of a cloud of gnats and midges, at which he was snapping right and left, much after the manner (to use Pearson's own simile) of a dog when teased by the flies in hot weather.

The bird, fortunately but little injured by the shot, was brought to me on the following morning, and on subsequent dissection proved to be a female. The ovarium contained several eggs, the largest of which was about the size of a pea. The stomach was crammed with beetles and gnats in a half-digested state, the elytra of the former showing that different species had been captured. After the first pleasurable sensations on possessing and examining in the flesh a perfect specimen of so rare a visitor had passed away, I could not help being struck with the remarkable tenuity of the tips of the mandibles, as well as by the more obvious peculiarity from which the bird has derived its name (the extraordinary length of its legs); but after listening to the simple story of George Pearson and his son, I perceived that the mystery was solved, and that here was a new instance of the wonderful adaptation of means to an end, of structure to habits, such interesting examples of which are continually presenting themselves to the observant naturalist.'

In an Editorial (1871) in The Field of 20th May, Vol. XXXVII. p. 400, says: '...In the adjoining county of Sussex a Black-winged Stilt was shot near Trotton in May, 1859; and a capital account of the habits of this species, as observed in this particular individual, was published by Mr. Knox, the author of Ornithological Rambles in Sussex, in The Ibis, for 1859, p. 395.'

Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds and accepted locally by (Borrer 1891: 216-217) and by Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 213) who adds: 'Our next specimen - wrongly described by a writer in The Field as the first for Sussex ....'

Comment Obviously Knox did not know about the December, 1855, occurrence recorded in The Zoologist in 1856, or he knew something about it (very late date) which he didn't want to record. Perhaps the first record for Sussex was rejected without acknowledging the fact in print. Who knows!

Although in the hands of Swaysland, who has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98), I do not think there has been a fraud committed here.

38). 1866 Norfolk Great Yarmouth, seen, 19th May.

(Stevenson, 1870; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 209; Patterson, 1905, 1907; Allard, 1990).

History Henry Stevenson (1874-79) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 209, says: '...one, which escaped the gunners, was seen on the beach on the 19th of May, 1866.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 247) adds: 'It was observed on the beach, as Mr. F. Frere informs me, with other birds, whilst the artillery were practising their big guns, and being thus disturbed at the time, it was followed up by a gunner as far as Caister, where he made a long shot at it and missed it, and it was not heard of again.'

Patterson (1905) says: 'One is reported to have been seen at Yarmouth on 19th May 1866, on the beach. A gunner who followed it to Caister made a long shot at it and missed.'

Patterson (1907: 107-108) says: 'The late Fielding Harmer, noting the Black-winged Stilt, remarks: "I saw one on Breydon, May 19th, 1866, very wild [sic]. Same day it was shot at on Caister beach, but missed, and went away uninjured in a N.E. direction". What a pity it is we have not a line respecting its manners and its doings; the whole entry seems to suggest the injunction "Shoot it!".'

39). 1873 Dorset Blackberry Point, Christchurch Harbour, Hampshire, adult male, shot, 10th July, now at Horniman Museum, London (NH.83.3/202).

(Kelsall & Munn, 1905; Hart MS.; Clark, 2022).

History Kelsall & Munn (1905: 292) say: 'There is a male bird in the Hart collection obtained at Christchurch in July, 1873.'

Edward Hart writing in April 1927 states that this cased adult male was shot by me at Blackberry Point, Christchurch Harbour on 10th July 1873 and mounted by me.

40). 1875 Norfolk Ingham, adult female, shot, 20th May.

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1875: 4631; H. Stevenson, Field 9th Oct., 1875: 390; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 208-209; Eds., Field 24th Sep., 1887: 486).

History Henry Stevenson (1874-79) in The Zoologist (1875) 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4631, and The Field, of 9th October, Vol. XLVI. p. 390, and with the same story in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 208, says: 'An adult female of this rarity was shot at Ingham, near Stalham, on the 20th of May. The brown tint of the back, as compared with the dark green of the wings and the dusky feathers of the occiput, indicated the sex, and on dissection I found the ovary contained four eggs varying in size from a pea to a hemp-seed, and the rest not larger than small millet. The stomach was filled with minute fragments of Coleopterous water insects, with some largest pebbles and gritty matter. Three days after death the legs and feet were reddish orange - a sort of orange and vermilion blended.

The following were the principal measurements:- length from tip of bill to end of tail, 14 inches; bill, along the upper mandible, 2⅜ in.; wing, from carpal joint to end of first quill, the longest, 9⅛ in.; tarsus, 4¾ in.; tibia, bare portion, 3½ in.; middle toe and nail, 1⅝ in. Irides rich red, almost vermilion. The tongue is short for the length of the bill, and fits, as it were, into a groove, being just one inch and three-eighths short of the tip of the beak.'

In an Editorial (1887) in The Field of 24th Sep., Vol. LXX. p. 486, they say: 'On the 12th inst. Messrs. Spelman sold by auction, at Norwich, the collection of Norfolk birds formed by Mr. H. Stephenson [sic], the well-known ornithologist. Among the buyers were Mr. T. Southwell, representing the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, and Mr. Tuke, representing the Saffron Walden Museum. Among the principal lots sold during the day the following may be mentioned: a Black-winged Stilt Plover, taken at Ingham, May, 1875, £13.13s. (Mr. Gunn).'

41). 1875 Norfolk Hellesdon, seen, 6th June.

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1876: 5119; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 317).

History Henry Stevenson (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. p. 5109, and the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 317, says: 'Stilt Plover. Since I recorded, last year, the occurrence of two specimens of this rare wader in Norfolk - one at Ingham on the 26th of May and one at Ditchingham about the end of July - I have ascertained that a bird of this species, either a third example or possibly the same subsequently shot at Ditchingham, was observed on several occasions, in June, in the Hellesdon meadows, about two miles from Norwich.

Mr. John Henry Walter, who resides at Hellesdon, informs me that he first saw the bird on the 6th of June, and described it in his note-book at the time as having "long red legs, white body, and black pointed wings, about the size of a plover. It flew like a heron, with its legs out behind it". Altogether he saw it about half-a-dozen times, always about the same locality, and could have shot it easily as it flew close to his boat, or when feeding on the land.'

42). 1875 Suffolk Outney Common, Bungay, male, late July.

(H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1875: 4634-35; H. Stevenson, Field 9th Oct., 1875: 390; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4697; H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 208-209; Babington, 1884-86; Riviere, 1930; Ticehurst, 1932).

History Henry Stevenson (1874-79) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 208, and The Field, of 9th October, Vol. XLVI. p. 390, says: 'Two months later a second Stilt Plover was killed at Ditchingham, near Bungay, towards the end of July. The bird was shot by a labouring man as it was feeding in a broad but shallow piece of water on Outney common, known as the "old river". It was quite alone and as from its plumage and measurements, so far as I could ascertain them after the bird was mounted it is no doubt a male, it may possibly be the male of the female previously shot at Ingham. The sex was not ascertained by dissection. Bill along the upper mandible, 2¾ inches; carpal joint to end of first quill, the longest, 9¾ inches; tarsus, 5¼ in.; bare part of tibia, 3¼ in.; middle toe and claw, 1⅝ inches. Being badly stuffed in the first instance, the total length of this bird could not be ascertained with any certainty.'

Henry Stevenson of Norwich (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. pp. 4634-35, dated 11th September 1875, with the same story initially, but then adding: '...Mr. J. H. Gurney informs me that in skins of Egyptian stilts brought home by his son three males exceed three females in the length of the tarsus by about one third of an inch. I have also measured the tarsi of a young female from Mr. Gurney's collection, with the following result: - Immature female (Egypt) 4¾ inches; adult female (Ingham, Norfolk) 4¾ inches; supposed male (Ditchingham, Norfolk) 5¼ inches. This, I think, therefore, with the colour of its plumage on the back and wings, may decide the sex of the latter specimen.'

J. H. Gurney, jun. (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4697, says: 'I observe that, in recording two Norfolk-killed specimens of the stilt, Mr. Stevenson refers to some shot by me in Egypt. I have lately returned from that country with a very fine collection of nearly six hundred birds, and among them several stilts, and I am very much puzzled about the plumage. I should be much obliged if any one could tell me whether the white-headed ones are the summer plumage and the dark the winter? That is my idea, though some books on Natural History state the contrary, but can give no reason. We always found, as Mr. Stevenson says, that the dark-backed birds were males; but I am sure the difference in the head - or rather in the nape - cannot be ascribed to sex. In most of the specimens we shot it was brown, but in a few it was black, and in some it was almost white. I never got one quite like the Ditchingham example, having black feathers "sprouting" out of the occiput and the rest of the head white; but I shot several in most perplexing plumage. I fancy that the Ditchingham bird, if it had been killed a few weeks or days earlier, would have been found to have the occiput and hind neck entirely white - like one in my collection, which was killed on Breydon in 1823.'

Accepted locally (Babington 1884-86: 239; Ticehurst 1932: 379).

43. 1880 Sussex Between Eastbourne and Polegate, seen, 6th May.

(A. Clark Kennedy, Zoologist 1880: 300; A. Clark Kennedy, Field 15th May 1880: 596; Lilford, Midland Naturalist 3: 160-161; Borrer, 1891; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1895: 434; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 4: 253; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

History Alexander Clark Kennedy of Eastbourne (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 300, says: 'On May 6th, in the marshes between Eastbourne and Polegate, my attention was attracted to my fox-terrier, who was pursuing a large bird along a ditch, where the bird had evidently been feeding. It ran with long strides for a few yards, and then rose into the air and flew close past me, and at the height of about four feet only from the ground. I saw at once, by its great length of leg, black and white plumage, and flight, that it was a Stilt - certainly a scarce species nowadays in this country. The bird appeared very tired, as it only flew some two hundred yards, alighting in a deep ditch, amongst long rushes, whence I did not again dislodge it.'

A. Clark Kennedy of Eastbourne (1880) in The Field of 15th May, Vol. LV. p. 596, says: 'On the afternoon of May 6 I was walking in the marshes between Eastbourne and Polegate, and was watching the few pairs of Green Plovers that were nesting there, and speculating on the probable reason of the great decrease in their numbers in these fields, where they bred in large quantities a few years ago, when my attention was attracted to my fox terrier, who was pursuing a large bird along a ditch, where the bird had evidently been feeding. It ran with long strides for a few yards, and then rose into the air and flew close past me, and at the height of about four feet only from the ground. I saw at once, by its great length of leg, black and white plumage, and flight, that it was a Stilt - certainly a scarce species nowadays in this country. The bird appeared very tired, as it only flew some two hundred yards, alighting in a deep ditch, amongst long rushes, whence I did not again dislodge it. I may mention that I have seen this species often on the Nile and in the Delta of Egypt, where I have also shot it, and where it was often found sitting tamely in little pools of water in the streets of the villages.'

Lord Lilford (1880) in the Midland Naturalist, Vol. III. pp. 160-161, says: '...In the case of what we call rare birds the above objections apply still more forcibly, especially for this reason - that many species common on the continent of Europe are now rare in England, simply and solely because they are not allowed to exist here; several of such birds, at least, if left unmolested, would, I firmly believe, become common, breed, and establish themselves amongst us, do no appreciable harm, and add vastly to the enjoyment and interest of the country walks of all rational beings. The difficulty here arises in the question how local collections of birds are to be rendered complete without the destruction of the uncommon birds aforesaid. The question is a perfectly fair one, and not a very easy one to answer. The suggestion that I would offer is, to make our collection as complete as possible of birds actually obtained in our district, by beginning with our common species, whose loss will be imperceptible, and, in a few special instances, advantageous to certain classes of the community; to represent our less common species by foreign specimens; above all, never to offer money for so-called rare birds; to trust to the liberality of those who may and do not share our, perhaps, I should say my, feelings on this subject, and who are inclined to favour us with such specimens as they unfortunately kill, and to keep an accurate and circumstantial record of all occurrences relating to this branch of science.

On this subject I may, perhaps, be allowed to read two letters which have lately appeared in The Field, one from my friend, Captain Clark-Kennedy, and the other from myself: - Naturalists and the Wild Birds Act.

It is only a week since I wrote you word of the occurrence of a Black-winged Stilt in the marshes near Eastbourne, in Sussex, where I am temporarily residing. I saw the bird within a few yards of the spot where I was standing, and therefore was easily enabled to identify it with absolute certainty, especially as I am well acquainted with the bird, and have observed its habits, flight, and domestic economy generally in Africa and Northern Asia.

Now, I have invariably made it a rule to record, either in your columns or in those of The Zoologist, the fact of any rare bird's appearance in this country; and this I think any Ornithologist is bound to do, for the benefit of his brother naturalists in general, and for the advancement of the study of Ornithology in particular. We all know, of course, that no sooner is any account published of a scarce bird's occurrence in this country, than all those who think they can turn an honest (?) penny by killing it (and afterwards selling it to the highest bidder if possible] at once search for the unfortunate bird throughout the district in which it was reported to have been seen. I was quite cognisant of this fact as far as dealers in natural history wares were concerned; but hitherto I had not thought that naturalists and gentlemen were equally mean in endeavouring to exterminate our rarer feathered visitors merely for their own selfish ends, at the same time figuring as examples of law-breakers. For this very reason I did not send you the note of the occurrence of the Black-winged Stilt until ten days should elapse between the day on which I saw the bird and the day of publication of The Field of last week.

The Field, as everyone knows, is published on Saturday, and on Monday morning the principal local bird-stuffer here (Eastbourne) had several letters, begging him to at once obtain this rare visitor, and forward it to the writers. I was very much surprised to learn that no less than three of these gentlemen were well known naturalists, one being a clergymen as well as a magistrate. Now, I do not wish to give publicity to such proceedings as these, but for this reason, that I think every right-thinking lover of birds will agree in saying that when a law is made it ought to be upheld; and how is such an end possibly attainable when those gentlemen who ought to be an example to others in a lower (and poorer) station of life are the first to offer money to induce bird-stuffers and others to break the law ?

I also am informed, on the best authority, that for two whole days a collector (a gentleman ?) from near Brighton, was in the marshes where I saw the Stilt, endeavouring to obtain it - but, I am glad to say, without success.'

J. E. Harting, Editor (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. p. 434, in an Editorial, says: 'One of the last recorded was a bird seen in the marshes between Eastbourne and Polegate by the late Capt. Clarke-Kennedy, on May 6th, 1880.'

N. F. Ticehurst (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. p. 253, says: '...there appear to be only three previous records from Sussex (the last on May 6th, 1880, near Eastbourne) and only a single one from Kent.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 213).

44). 1895 Norfolk Castle Acre, immature female, killed, 12th October, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1954Z1.588).

(T. M. Hudson, Field 26th Oct., 1895: 786; T. M. Hudson, Zoologist 1895: 434; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1896: 176; Watson, 2010).

History Thos. Moore Hudson of the Manor House, Castleacre, Swaffham (1895) in The Field of 26th Oct., Vol. LXXXVI. p. 786, says: 'On Oct. 12 my son shot, on the common near here, a specimen of this rare bird, which we identified from the very true description given of it in Mudie's British Birds. It has been forwarded for preservation to Mr. Gunn, of Norwich.'

T. Moore Hudson of The Manor House, Castle Acre (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. p. 434, says: 'On Oct. 17th [sic] my son shot a very rare bird, the Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus candidus, on the common, about a quarter of a mile from this house. We identified it from the description in Mudie's British Birds, with which it perfectly agrees, and, having ascertained its rarity, forwarded it to Mr. T. E. Gunn, of Norwich, for preservation.'

[The Black-winged Stilt is perhaps the rarest of all the European wading-birds which visit us in spring and autumn, never remaining here to breed. We have not heard of one for the past fifteen years, if we except a specimen reported (Zool., 1889, p. 387) to have been shot on the Trent near Nottingham, but subsequently shown (Zool., 1890, p. 25) to have been mounted from a foreign skin and fraudulently put forward as a British specimen by a unscrupulous dealer.

One of the last recorded was a bird seen in the marshes between Eastbourne and Polegate by the late Capt. Clarke-Kennedy, on May 6th, 1880. In 1883 three were reported to have been seen near Rye on Sept. 3rd (Zool., 1883, p. 495) but the species was not satisfactorily identified. They may have been Avocets, or possibly Oystercatchers. - Ed.]

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1896) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XX. p. 174, says: 'October 12th. A Black-winged Stilt, a young female with some black feathers coming on the upper wing-coverts, the only indication of any change, was shot on Castleacre Common (T. M. Hudson, Zool., 1895, p. 434). This species has not turned up in Norfolk, except in one unconfirmed anonymous instance (St James' Gazette, Jan., 1889), since 1875, when, as in the present case, a pair appeared.'

Watson (2010) in detailing the W. R. Lysaght collection in the Birmingham Museum lists this juvenile female specimen from Castle Acre, Norfolk, obtained on 12th October 1895, without further detail.

45). 1896 Somerset Polsham, Sedgemoor, shot, 1st July.

(S. Lewis, Zoologist 1897: 511; S. Lewis, British Birds 32: 156; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

History Stanley Lewis of Wells, Somerset (1897) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. I. p. 511, says: 'I have recently received a present of a specimen of the Black-winged Stilt, shot at Sedgemoor in July, 1896, a distance of four miles from here. The gentleman from whom I obtained it, and who had it in the flesh - Mr. C. Hooper, taxidermist, of Wells - thought it was some species of Snipe. The legs are ten inches in length. This is, I believe, the first mention of the bird from Somerset, and the second from the west of England, one having been reported from Anglesea by Montagu. I shall be happy to send it for any naturalist's inspection.'

Stanley Lewis (1938) in British Birds, Vol. XXXII. p. 156, says: '...One was obtained in Somerset on July 1st, 1896, which I recorded in The Zoologist for November 15th, 1897, p. 511. This bird I sent to the Rev. Murray A. Mathew for his inspection.'

46). 1902 Suffolk Thorpe Mere, Aldeburgh, adult, shot, 5th July, now at Ipswich Museum.

(Ticehurst, 1932).

History Ticehurst (1932: 379-380) says: 'An adult with a white head, was shot by Alexander at Thorpe Mere on 5th July 1902, and is in the Ogilvie Collection in Ipswich Museum.'

47). c. 1905 Isles of Scilly St Agnes, two, obtained, undated.

(Penhallurick, 1978; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007).

History Penhallurick (1978: 431) under 'Supplement' says: 'c. 1905, two obtained on St Agnes, Scilly (Abbey Records).'

49). 1906 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, two, seen, 21st August.

(Patterson, 1907).

History Patterson (1907: 196, 212) says: 'Through the courtesy of H. A. Frederick, Esq., Secretary to the Breydon Protection Society, I had the opportunity of overhauling the notebooks kept by the two Breydon watchers, viz. "Ducker" Chambers, who held the post from 1888 to 1899 inclusive, and "Newcome" Jary, who was appointed in 1899, and continues to occupy the position....1906. August 21st. This morning saw a couple of stilts flying across Breydon, going W.'

Comment In the previous years' notes he refers to Avocet by name, so, presumably of this species.

51). Pre 1907 Yorkshire Kilnsea, obtained, late spring.

(Nelson, 1907; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 229; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

History Nelson (1907 (2): 591) says: 'The third specimen was procured at Kilnsea, near Spurn, many years ago, by the late John Clubley, who described the bird to Mr. F. Boyes so accurately as to leave no doubt as to its identity. He did not know the date, but it was in late spring.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 229, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who say: 'A third specimen for the county was shot at Kilnsea in Holderness "many years ago" (T. Nelson, B. of Yorks., p. 591).'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952: 268-269).

52). 1915 Devon Locality in the North, seen, 6th November.

(F. B. Hinchliff, Field 20th Nov., 1915: 882; Eds., British Birds 9: 215; Moore, 1969).

History F. B. Hinchliff (1915) in The Field of 20th Nov., Vol. CXXVI. p. 882, says: 'On Nov. 6 I saw a Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus melanopterus) in North Devon. I flushed the bird four times, and each time it flew about 150 yards and alighted close to the water's edge. When flushed it would rise about 30 ft. into the air, uttering a peculiar note. Its flight was remarkable, the wings being pointed down very markedly. There was no mistaking the bird, as it rose very close to me, close enough to see its long red legs and all its plumage. The head, neck, body, and tail appeared to be pure white, and the wings and back deep black. It is very similar to a bird that is very common in Argentina, and which is known as teru-réal (Royal Plover).'

[The Black-winged Stilt has been met with on several previous occasions in Devonshire, as at Braunton, Ashburton, and Slapton Ley; but it is one of the rarest wading birds which visit us irregularly during the period of migration in spring and autumn. - Ed.]

In an Editorial (1916) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 215, they say: 'Mr. F. B. Hinchliff notes (Field, 20.xi.15) that he saw a Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), on November 6th, 1915, in North Devon. He gives an accurate description of the bird and its characteristic flight; he flushed it four times and had clear views of it.'

Comment F. B. Hinchcliff lived at Instow, north Devon.

53). 1917 Cornwall/Devon Tamar Lakes, found dead, undated.

(F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendry, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 17: 50; A. C. Leach, British Birds 38: 78; Penhallurick, 1969).

History F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendry, R. W. Howell & H. G. Hurrell (1944) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XVII. p. 50, says: 'Bude Reservoir. A man here showed me a stuffed bird found dead "during the last war", probably in the spring. Another alive, near it, flew away. A very odd bird with 8 in. of leg. (S.C.).'

A. C. Leach (1944) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 78, says: 'A short while ago I was informed of the existence in a farm labourer's cottage near Tamar Lake in North Cornwall of a stuffed specimen of a Black-winged Stilt. I identified the bird and found that it had been picked up dead on the Cornish side of the lake in 1917. There was a second bird present at the same time, which was not seen again. This is, I believe, the first and only record for the county.'

Comment It is not clear if the second bird was of this species and is unacceptable.

54). 1918 Greater London Brent Reservoir, Middlesex, two, seen, September.

(Nichols, 1945; R. C. Homes, British Birds 43: 344; London Natural History Society, 1957).

History R. C. Homes (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. p. 344, in a Letter, says: 'Sirs. - In the course of preparation for a projected History of the Birds of the London Area, 1900-50, by the London Natural History Society it has come to my notice that Mr. J. C. M. Nichols in Shooting Ways and Shooting Days (London, 1945) wrote on page 157, that "in 1918 I walked up a pair of Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus h. himantopus) on the muddy foreshore of Kingsbury reservoir...".

In answer to my enquiries Mr. Nichols has informed me that in September, 1918, he flushed the two birds at about twenty yards. The great length of leg was very noticeable, especially in flight, and he adds that their colour was a dull white except for the back and wings, which were practically black. Mr. Nichols enclosed some rough sketches of the birds, and as he knew Avocets well at the time, there seems to be no doubt of the identification of these birds. The reservoir at the time was empty except for the deep water channel, and was a big mud-flat with a largo number of wading birds. This appears to be the first record of this species for Middlesex.'

56). 1919 Kent Romney Marsh, adult, seen, 16th May.

(W. H. Mullens, British Birds 13: 272; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 131; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History W. H. Mullens (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XIII. p. 272, says: 'The following were observed by Mr. M. J. Nicoll and myself; on May 16th, 1919, near Brookland, an adult Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), which we had under observation for over an hour.'

57). 1920 Dumfries & Galloway Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire, adult, seen, 17th October.

(M. Portal, British Birds 14: 164; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 41: 27; Eds., British Birds 16: 30; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Thom, 1986).

History M. Portal (1920) in British Birds, Vol. XIV. p. 164, says: 'On October 17th, 1920, I observed a Black-winged Stilt on the upper shore of Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire. It was an adult bird with a pure white head and neck, and was not wild - it settled within sixty yards of the nearest gun - and I got my keeper's telescope on to it for some time. When disturbed by some cows coming along it flew out to nearer low-water mark. Later on it rose again and went away at a fair height to the S.S.E. Its distinctive call first attracted attention. The last ones I saw and observed closely were on the Lake of Belahm not far from Gaza, Palestine.'

In an Editorial (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 29, in a Review of the 'Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1920, including Migration', by Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora J. Rintoul, they say: 'As the Stilt has very rarely occurred in Scotland, it is curious that two should have appeared in one year...while another was recorded in our pages (Vol. XIV. p. 164) at Loch Ryan, on the other side of Scotland on October 17th.'

Admitted nationally (Witherby et al. 1940-52; Baxter & Rintoul 1953 (2): 605; Thom 1986).

58). 1922 Berkshire Reading Sewage-farm, four: two males, female & immature, seen, 17th to 21st May.

(N. H. Joy, British Birds 16: 53-54; P. R. Lowe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 41: 77; Radford, 1966; Swash, 1996).

History Norman H. Joy (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 53-54, says: 'I have been fortunate enough this year (1922) to have had permission to wander over a piece of marsh-land in Berkshire, where I have seen the following interesting birds: - Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). - On May 18th with two friends, I had the good fortune to see four Black-winged Stilts. Two of these allowed us to approach within about fifty yards. Both had black heads, and were therefore males according to Miss Jackson (British Birds, Vol. XII. p. 147). The others were rather wild. One had a white head, and was therefore probably a female. The other had a few dark marks on the head, so was probably a last year's bird. They had been seen the day before and were last seen on May 21st.'

P. R. Lowe, Editor (1920) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLI. p. 77, at the 260th Meeting of the Club held on 13th December 1922 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Dr. G. C. Low sent a short note on recent occurrences of the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in Great Britain and Ireland. He referred to the announcement by Mr. Wallis at the last Dinner of the Club of the recent occurrence of this species on a sewage-farm near Reading, and also to the fact that Mr. Hale seemed to be a little doubtful of the identity, the latter stating that it had been so rarely observed in England....'

62). 1923 Hampshire Beaulieu, seen, 23rd to 26th November.

(T. H. C. Troubridge, British Birds 17: 212; Cohen & Taverner, 1972; Clark & Eyre, 1993).

History Thomas H. C. Troubridge (1924) in British Birds, Vol. XVII. p. 212, says: 'A bird, which without doubt must have been a Black-winged Stilt (H. himantopus), frequented the neighbourhood of Beaulieu in the latter half of November, 1923. Major Cecil Paddon saw it on the 23rd and 25th, at rather long range, on the mud near Needs Oar Coastguard Station. "On the 26th", he writes, "it was on the gravel spit our side of the golf house and I crept up opposite to it on the old links - it would be about 120 yards away. As I had my glasses there was no possibility of mistaking it; there were a few Redshanks near it and it simply dwarfed them. The moment I saw plate 74 in Vol. II. of Coward's book, it was quite obvious as to what it was". Major Paddon also informed me that it was very long in the leg, with a small body, and looked very black and white.

He has done a lot of wild-fowling, and during the last five years some bird-watching on the Norfolk coast, so that he knows the ordinary waders well, but had never seen a Stilt before.'

63). 1929 Norfolk Hickling Broad, two, seen, 24th May.

(B. B. Riviere, British Birds 23: 287; Riviere, 1930; J. M. Ferrier, Field 14th Mar., 1931: 355).

History B. B. Riviere (1930) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 287, in the 1929 Norfolk Bird Report, says: 'Two were seen at Hickling on May 24th (J. Vincent).'

Judith M. Ferrier (1931) in The Field of 14th Mar., Vol. CLVII. p. 355, says: '...was recorded at Hickling, Norfolk, in May, 1929, by Mr. James Vincent. In size the bird is a little larger than a Redshank, in colour black and white with a lovely green sheen on the wings. Its absurdly long legs are bright pink, its bill black, and its eyes a vivid carmine....'

65). 1935 Devon Yealm Estuary, Newton Ferrers, three, seen, 17th September.

(F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, H. G. Hurrell & F. C. Pidcock, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1935: 21; Moore, 1969).

History F. C. Butters, E. W. Hendy, H. G. Hurrell & F. C. Pidcock (1935) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. VIII. p. 21, say: 'Yealm Estuary at Newton Ferrers. Sept. 17th, morning after the fierce gale. Three were seen at close quarters. (O. Hunt).'

68). 1937 Sussex Near Lewes, seen, 30th August.

(M. Parsons, Field 9th Oct., 1937: 888; R. Whitlock, South-Eastern Bird Report 1937: 51; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

History M. Parsons of Mousehole, Forest Row, Sussex (1937) in The Field of 9th Oct., Vol. CLXX. p. 888, says: 'On August 30th I was lucky enough to both see and hear a Black-winged Stilt on the marshland between Lewes and the sea. It stood in some shallow water on extraordinarily long, thin red legs. As Coward says in his Birds of the British Isles, "a novice could identify it".'

Ralph Whitlock, Editor (1937) in the South-Eastern Bird Report, Vol. IV. p. 51, says: 'One was reported in The Field as having occurred on marshland between Lewes and the sea on Aug. 30th.'

Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 214) says: 'Lastly, on August 30th, 1937, a specimen was seen in the levels between Lewes and the sea (Field, 9/x/1937).'

69). 1938 Somerset Cheddar Reservoir, seen, 4th September.

(S. Lewis, British Birds 32: 156; F. L. Blathwayt, Report on Somerset Birds 1938: 28; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).

History Stanley Lewis (1938) in British Birds, Vol. XXXII. p. 156, says: 'On the morning of September 4th, 1938, on coming up over the bank on the west side of Cheddar reservoir, I saw, standing and preening itself on the concrete steps of the inner bank what I thought with the naked eye must surely be a Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus h. himantopus). The bird seemed too busy cleaning itself to be aware of my presence so I approached a little nearer and watched it through my binoculars. It remained stationary while preening except that first one wing was lifted, then the other, and jerked slightly before being resettled. Rather suddenly the bird flew up and crossing the bank alighted by the side of a rhine. I followed, and it flew again passing out of sight in the meadows, farther west. At first sight as the bird stood in the sunlight, its gleaming white breast and underparts contrasted strongly with the black wings, and with its long pink legs and black bill it was easy to identify it clearly even with the naked eye. One was obtained in Somerset on July 1st, 1896, which I recorded in The Zoologist for November 15th, 1897, p. 511. This bird I sent to the Rev. Murray A. Mathew for his inspection. The present example makes the third recorded for the county.'

F. L. Blathwayt (1938) in the Report on Somerset Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 28, adds nothing new.

70). 1942 Kent Romney Marsh, seen, May.

(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 6: 131; Harrison, 1953; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History N. F. Ticehurst (1943) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. VI. p. 131, says: 'One seen, the Wicks in May (C. Southerden). The observer knows the species well.'

Accepted locally (Harrison 1953).

71). 1945 Kent Cooling Marshes, two, seen, 9th May.

(R. S. R. Fitter & E. R. Parrinder, British Birds 38: 336; Eds., British Birds 40: 61; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History R. S. R. Fitter & E. R. Parrinder (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 336, under 'The 1945 Immigration of Black-winged Stilts [Kent]', say: 'On May 9th, 1945, we had a close view of two Black-winged Stilts in a shallow pool on Cooling Marshes, North Kent. The long legs were often partially concealed by the depth of water in which the birds were wading, but together with the black and white plumage they made the birds unmistakable. Both stilts had similar plumage with black mantle and wings and the rest of the body white except for a dark grey smudge above and behind each eye; this smudge was rather more pronounced in one bird than in the other. The birds were not seen on May 13th, when E.R.P. again visited the marsh. This appears to be the fourth occasion on which Black-winged Stilts have been seen in Kent.'

73). 1945 Devon Bovisand, ten, seen, 10th May.

(Western Morning News 14th May 1945; M. Brooks-King et al., Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1945: 61-62; Eds., British Birds 38: 337; Moore, 1969).

History In an Editorial (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 337, they say: 'The Western Morning News of May 14th, 1945, published a letter from Mrs. D. Jones, Bovisand, dated May 10th, enquiring the identity of a flock of ten birds which from the description were unmistakably Black-winged Stilts, seen in a sandy cove near Bovisand. It is stated that the birds were very shy and were harried by gulls. As a sandy cove is a quite unusual type of place for Stilts to frequent, it may be supposed that they had just arrived. They evidently soon passed on, as the Rev. F. C. Butters informs us that no other Devon observers have reported them.'

M. Brooks-King et al. (1945) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XVIII. pp. 61-62, quoted from the Western Morning News. It was accepted locally (Moore 1969).

Comment Although apparently not seen by an ornithologist the record stands on the fact it was in an invasion year.

83). 1945 Kent Stodmarsh, pair, 12th May.

(R. Whitlock, South-Eastern Bird Report 1945: 48; Eds., British Birds 40: 61; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History R. Whitlock (1945) in the South-Eastern Bird Report, p. 48, says: 'A pair on an East Kent marsh on May 12th (T.C.G.).'

In an Editorial (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. p. 61, in a Review of the South-Eastern Bird Report, for 1945, they say: 'A record of a pair of Black-winged Stilts in East Kent on May 12th is additional to those published by us.'

85.0). 1945 Nottinghamshire Nottingham Sewage-farm, seen, two pairs reared four young (3 and 1) 13th May, one dead, 10th July, seven, 5th August, last juvenile, 2nd September, photo.

(J. Staton, British Birds 38: 322-328, plates 7-10).

History J. Staton (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. pp. 322-328, says: 'It has been the privilege of the writer and others to observe, during the summer of 1945, the first breeding of the Black-winged Stilt to have occurred, so far as is known, in the British Isles, and the following chronological account of the event is based on the notes, (often made jointly), of the writer, P. W. P. Browne, R. J. & T. W. Raines. At various times during the stay of the birds, a number of other observers, sometimes in company with the above, visited the nesting area, and as their notes, though small individually, have enabled better continuity to be achieved, a list of these is appended at the close of this paper. The manager of the Nottingham Sewage Farm is thanked especially for periodical permits to visit the area (which is not normally accessible to the public), and for allowing steps to be taken to save a threatened nest.

The diary begins: May 13th, 1945.- 9 a.m. Writer, passing a section of the Nottingham sewage farm, noted one adult female Stilt, with brownish-black mantle and wings, which flew by and settled, about 70 feet away. The bird then rose calling "kiweuk-kiweuk". Left to fetch two other observers, and on return put up three Stilts from this area. One went away out of site, and of the two visible birds, one was identical with the first described bird, but the wings of the other were decidedly blacker, and in addition there was a small black patch on the back of the head, from which the bird seemed to be an adult male.

May 19th. - excellent views of three Stilts on a sewage area one mile from the original area, but detailed examination for sexing purposes could not be made, as the birds were continually harassed by Black-headed Gulls, in the midst of whose nests the Stilts were. Call was now "kik-kik-kik".

May 20th-26th. - A period of wandering for the Stilts, during which four were seen in the air together. Associations of twos and three were also noted, the birds moving about between the different areas of the farm over a distance of 2½ to 3 miles. Two females were identified, and beside the male already identified, a second was seen with scanty dark shading on nape and hind neck. Though out of sequence, it may now be said that by early in the second week in July, the very slight dark areas on the heads of the males had completely disappeared, so that sex was only distinguishable by the browner wings and mantles of the females.

May 27th onwards. - The two pairs now definitely settled in a small corner of one section of the sewage farm, not being seen outside an area roughly 200 x 150 yards. Very aggressive to other birds notably Carrion Crows and Black-headed Gulls, passing through the area, and continually mobbing human intruders. Considerable variety of vocal expression, and short display noted (see special notes). Possibility of breeding first suspected, and from the general behaviour of the birds, a likely site was defined.

June 14th. - Party of three searched the likely area, unsuccessfully, the birds rising at too great a distance for accurate marking down. The birds were much distressed, and when one of the observers left, the other two made a further search. They were rewarded by the finding of two nests in the suspected area, containing three eggs each, and watching from a distance showed the return of the Stilts to the approximate site of the nests, though owing to intervening vegetation it was not possible to see the birds actually on the nests.

June 17th. - Same party of three observers and one other went to verify identity of nests and eggs. Four birds rose from the nest area on approach. Arrival at the nest-site revealed partial tragedy, for the area was being slowly submerged as a new soakage bed, one set of eggs already completely submerged and stone cold. In these circumstances a detailed examination was held in abeyance; the submerged eggs were taken up and wrapped safely pending a decision on the best procedure. A workmen was found, who kindly stopped the inflow of water and breached the bank on the lower side to drain out the water, and while this was in progress a detailed examination of the nests and site was made. The two nests were in diagonally opposed corners of an oblong sewage bed roughly 40 feet x 15 feet, there being a distance of 20-25 feet between the nests. The bed had only recently been prepared and was bounded by low earthen ridges, while the floor was fairly well covered with young growth of persicaria, mayweed, dock and chickweed. The nest which had escaped damage was next examined. This contained three eggs of a pale "stone" ground colour, with blackish spots distributed fairly evenly over the egg except for a fairly clear zone at the small end. The resembled a common type of Lapwing's egg very closely, and but for their decidedly smaller size and less clear-cut spots could have casually been mistaken for such. The nest was a barely perceptible scrape amongst the stems of a chickweed plant growing on a slight ridge of bare soil. Other nearby plants were mayweed and common dock. There were a very few dead stems of herbage lining the scrape, but a most noticeable feature was the presence of about half-a-dozen small white stones in the nest hollow. One of these is noticeable in Plate 8, a little to the right of, and in line with the top of the nearest egg. No similar stones could be seen anywhere in the vicinity of the nest, the inference being that the birds placed them there after bringing them from some distance. By now the water was subsiding somewhat, but was still an inch or two deep over the second nest. Several small white stones could be seen in this nest also, and the possibility of there being some ceremony in connection with these should not be overlooked by future workers. It was now decided to build up a small mound of dry soil on this nest site, and fashion a rough scrape on this in which to place the eggs. One of the eggs was found to be damaged, and was later submitted to Mr. B. W. Tucker, but the remaining two were placed in the artificial nest. These two closely resembled the clutch in the other nest, but the damaged egg had a heavily blotched zone in the form of a ring towards the larger end. The observers then retired a good distance, whereupon the Stilts returned, one of them being seen to go right on to the undisturbed nest and commence incubation. Another Stilt then approached the "built-up" nest within a few feet, whereupon it was decided to leave the birds to themselves after so much disturbance. Later, the damaged egg was found to contain specifically recognisable embryo. At intervals while near the nests, five Stilts were noted in the air together.

June 21st. - On a brief visit by one observer, four Stilts were seen to rise from the nest area, which on approach was found to have dried out completely. The eggs in both nests were warm, and a very few strands of vegetation had been added to the reconstructed nest.

July 1st. - Area not visited since last date. Four Stilts extremely vociferous as nest site approached, continually circling and swooping down almost on to the heads of the observers, and were shortly joined by a fifth bird. The undisturbed nest was found empty, save for a considerable number of very small fragments of eggshell. From the appearance of these, and the behaviour of the adults, it seemed certain that hatching had taken place, and this was confirmed a few minutes later by one of the farm workers who knew of the nest, but not its identity. This man stated that all three eggs in this nest hatched on June 25th, and that he saw the three young in the nest on that day, but not afterwards. The other nest was now examined, and was found to contain a few shell fragments only. The workman stated that this nest contained one egg only on June 27th, and that this was damaged by Crows on June 30th. From this it seemed possible that one egg from this nest had hatched about the same time as the three in the other nest, supporting evidence being the minute pieces of shell in the nest and the present behaviour of all the adults. A search revealed the crow-damaged egg, in the portions of which was a full-term embryo. Shortly after, a torrential downpour of rain brought the adult Stilts to ground, and from the posture of two of them it was evident that the were brooding young. The nearest of these, a male with faint flecks of dark feathering on back of crown and hind neck, was marked down, and was walked up when the rain eased a little, when a single young one was found crouching on the spot. This was obviously only a few days old, and Stilt characteristics were noted in the long bill and long legs with no hind toe. The down was a cold shade of ashy brown with fine black speckling about the head, a dark line from bill to eye, and dark longitudinal lines on the body. The legs and feet were a darkish olive brown. More detail was not obtained, as further torrential rain made undue exposure of the young one risky, so this was returned to the brooding place, and the party retired. One or other of the adults occasionally broke into display during this period, great anxiety doubtless finding expression in what was, at such a time, a most inappropriate manner! For details see section on display.

July 8th.- There was much fresh excreta on the vegetation surrounding the nests, and examination of the undisturbed nest proved of interest. All the old nest debris had been removed, all eggshell fragments cleared away, and the scrape considerably deepened, the largest white stone originally in the nest alone remaining. This suggests a carrying over or resumption of sexual activity some days after the hatching of the young. A long watch suggested that the young were in a wet meadow adjoining the nesting area, but the adults refused to brood, and a short search did not reveal the young. The party then moved off, leaving one member in concealment, who was able to see one pair of adults call up one young one. This was the first real evidence that the one egg left unaccounted for from the built-up nest had hatched, and the only sight obtained of all four young.

July 10th. - Writer received from the manager of the sewage farm a dead young Stilt found crushed on the morning of the 9th. Later evidence showed this to be one of those hatched on June 25th, and it was therefore 14 days old. Description - down ashy brown above with two dark lines half-an-inch apart down the back. Head, speckled dark above, with dark line from crown to hind neck, and dark line either side from just above gape to eye. Dark line along front edge of wing. Tail tuft black, dark line coming forward either side from this, dividing early, one branch passing to abdomen over leg-joint, the other passing towards hinder part of sternum. Tips of wing-coverts showing dark brown, 27mm. in length from forehead to tip. Leg, greyish olive, inclining to dull orange hinder edge and inside toes. Tarsus 40mm. No hind toe. Toes webbed at base, outer two to first joint. Iris pale grey. The bird was photographed, and then preserved for a local collection. Between this date and July 26th, the adults remained in the wet meadow adjoining the nest site, and were exceedingly vociferous and demonstrative on human intrusion, but in spite of much watching on many occasions, no further sight of the young was obtained in the period.

July 26th. - Two young Stilts flew up from near the nest site, and were immediately joined by two adults, who flew in close attendance calling excitedly. These were of those hatched on June 25th, the casualty referred to above being the third of the brood. It is known that no flight had taken place on July 24th, but as they seemed fairly competent in the air, they may have flown first on the 25th, or early on the morning of this observation. Thus, the fledging period ended on either the 30th or 31st day from hatching. The two young were but two-thirds the size of their parents, and the legs shorter proportionately. The wings were distinctly brownish, and shorter proportionately, as well as rounder, than those of the adults. The head, neck, upper back and scapulars, appeared palish buff at 100 yards range, rump and tail much as adult at same distance. The legs had changed much since the dead young one was received, being now about the same shade as those of the adults figured in The Handbook, which, it may be added, is much paler than the adults present here. The young flew around and settled in the wet meadow. They were again flushed, when curious behaviour of adults was noted. All four adults flew up, one pair in close attendance on the young ones. One of the other adults repeatedly flew down to, and several times struck one young one on the back, buffeting it with wings and bill, and seemingly with the legs on two or three occasions, until the young one dropped several feet in the air. The parents then intervened, and a "free-for-all" fight developed in mid-air. Eventually the two young came down on a mudflat, and the attacking pair went back to the wet meadow. Their behaviour here suggested that the single young bird not yet accounted for was still there, not yet able to fly.

July 29th. - Four adults and three young now in flight in a flock.

August 2nd.- On arrival at the breeding ground, complete silence greeted the observers instead of the noisy demonstration of the past few weeks, but a quarter of a mile further along the sewage beds the familiar sound was again heard, and first the family of four appeared, and then the three joined them, forming an excited flock above the observers heads. One juvenile went down to a pool ahead, and after wading belly-deep, passed out of its depth and swam a few yards to shallower water. It swam high in the water, in gull or phalarope fashion, with wings and tail high out of the water, giving meanwhile a call rendered as "wicki-wicki-wicki-wicki". The tie of the breeding ground was now evidently broken, the Stilts ranging over two large sewage areas half-a-mile apart.

August 5th. - The seven Stilts using both areas as above, and taking long, high flights over a considerable area around.

August 9th. - Two adults and one juvenile only on all area.

August 16th. - Three adults and three juveniles again. From this date, variable numbers were seen, as though the birds frequented some other place frequently, and at times some of these were thought to be other than those of the local breeding area.

August 26th and 30th. - One juvenile only.

September 2nd. - These notes concluded; on this date the one juvenile was still present, but was not seen subsequently.

Sectional notes. Habitat.- The Nottingham Sewage Farm lies in the Trent Valley close to the river on the alluvial plain, here about 1½ to 2 miles wide. The nests were on an area of newly-formed sewage beds, but closely adjoining old beds in which the formal shape was largely lost owing to growth of vegetation, with lagoon-like expanses and mudflats, which were the main feeding area. A wet pasture adjoining was much used when the young were hatched. General Habits.- The four adults (and sometimes the fifth adult, which was lost sight of later) invariably mobbed intruders as a group while incubating and rearing was in progress, coming out 150 yards from the nest sites on being approached, for this purpose, and "seeing off" visitors to a like distance. The skulking habits of the young were remarkable, for in spite of much watching for the purpose, no sight of them was obtained between July 8th, and the date on which two were first seen to fly, July 26th. On one occasion, an adult was flying in the normal way, with the legs trailing behind, when it brought one leg forward to scratch the region of the gape, an amazing performance to witness in so long-legged a bird.

Voice.- Considerable variety of notes were heard, but as these were mostly heard under stress of the excitement due to approach or proximity of observers, it was not possible to relate them, except in a few cases, to special phases of behaviour. The normal "kik-kik-kik" became under excitement a rapid "kiwikiwikiwiki" with an occasional preliminary "kee-kee-kee" and intermixed medley of low notes and rather whistling notes. Commonest anxiety note while incubating and when the young were about was a loud croaking "urk-urk", audible hundreds of yards away. The note of the young is given in the diary section. Display and Posturing.- The only joint display noted was when two males and one female were on the ground together. After a chase of one male by another, with head lowered and neck outstretched, a male returned to the female and began dancing from one leg to another and flapping wings in the display described below, whereupon the female lowered her head till the bill touched the ground, and then jerked it up quickly. The other male then approached, whereupon the displaying male flew at him with violently beating wings, and struck him in the back with forwardly stretched legs. The wing-flapping display consisted of any individual bird prancing up and down on one spot, with the body in a curious, almost vertical position, and the wings extended forward and beating slowly and rhythmically. It was almost an exact parallel of the wing-waving of unmated Starlings, and though it doubtless occurred earlier, was seen by observers chiefly in the late stages of incubation and during the early days after the chicks were hatched, particularly when nest-site or vicinity of chicks were approached. In these circumstances it seemed that thwarted desire to incubate or brood found outlet in inappropriate display, much as Kirkman's Black-headed Gulls adopted irrelevant behaviour in like circumstances (Bird Behaviour, 1937). Occasionally the wing-flapping was done with the whole tarsus resting on the ground, varied with springing in the air at intervals.

Conclusion. - Such, then, are the notes obtained on the first breeding in the British Isles of the Black-winged Stilt. The small number of observers, and their very limited time available, prevented much interesting detail being obtained in the early stages of the event, but the essential thing is that the Stilts were successful in rearing three young on British soil. Towards the close of these observations it became known that a clutch of three eggs was taken in ignorance by a local boy, on another section of the farm, and earlier than the successful clutches, though he could not remember the date precisely. Two of these eggs, unblown and rotten, were seen in July by one of the chief observers, and were instantly recognised as Stilt's eggs. This clutch may have been laid by the fifth bird which disappeared during the breeding cycle of the others or a mate of this bird. With regard to this possibility, it is of interest to note that two of the intermittent observers are fairly confident that there were six birds present early in the proceedings.

Besides the observers responsible for the main notes, the following saw the birds intermittently, or on single occasions: W. B. Alexander, G. Felstead, P. Gamble, T. A. M. Hill, F. Hind, A. E. Jolley, and the Ornithological Section, Literary & Philosophical Society of Leicester, B. K. Montgomery, G. H. Spray, A. R. Stone, H. N. Southern, B. W. Tucker, A. Whitaker and R. G. Williams.'

93). 1945 Hampshire Warren Flats, Beaulieu, four, seen, mid-May.

(C. Popham, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society 1945: 304; R. Whitlock, South-Eastern Bird Report 1946: 9; Eds., British Birds 41: 253; Cohen & Taverner, 1972).

History C. Popham (1945) in the Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society, p. 304, and R. Whitlock (1946) in the South-Eastern Bird Report, p. 9, says: 'Several birds were present on the Beaulieu during May [1945], four being reported together at one occasion. Two were seen by observer feeding in a little pond on May 17th.'

In an Editorial (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. p. 253, in a Review of the South-Eastern Bird Report, for 1946, they say: 'The Hampshire report, as noted above, is for the year 1945. At least four Black-winged Stilts were present on the Beaulieu in May of that year, a notable addition to the record of the 1945 immigration unfortunately not reported at the time.'

97). 1945 Berkshire Ham Fields Sewage-farm, Old Windsor, two, seen, 17th May.

(P. Gladstone, British Birds 38: 337; Radford, 1966; Fraser & Youngman, 1976; Swash, 1996).

History P. Gladstone (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 337, under 'The 1945 Immigration of Black-winged Stilts [Berkshire and Buckinghamshire]', says: 'On May 17th, 1945, two Black-winged Stilts were seen by myself and other members of the Eton College Natural History Society at Ham Fields Sewage Farm, near Old Windsor, Berkshire. The birds also flew over on to the Buckinghamshire side of the Thames and so can be claimed for both counties. One bird had the back dark brown with grey on the head and down the back of the neck; the other had the back black.'

99). 1945 Cambridgeshire Cambridge Sewage-farm, two, seen, 25th May.

(A. S. McLean & R. J. Raines, British Birds 39: 189; Bircham, 1989).

History A. S. McLean & R. J. Raines (1946) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIX. p. 189, say: 'An occurrence of Black-winged Stilts Himantopus h. himantopus, during the 1945 immigration which was not recorded at the time took place at the Cambridge Sewage-Farm on May 25th, 1945. Two birds were seen here by R.J.R. and B. K. Montgomery. One bird showed some brown on the head, especially near the eye and was presumably not fully mature. The birds were also seen on the afternoon of the same day by Fl. Lt. R. G. Mayall and P. S. Burns, who had excellent views and noted that one was very dark and the other brown on the back. Both had red or very deep pink legs. They were also observed by A.S.McL. the same evening, but it was by then too dark to obtain proper descriptive details.'

85.1). 1945 Leicestershire & Rutland Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland, seen, two, 26th May, possibly the pair that bred in Nottinghamshire.

(P. G. Summers, British Birds 38: 337-338; A. E. Jolley, Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society 1945: 49; Hickling, 1978; Mitcham, 1984; Allard, 1990).

History P. G. Summers (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. pp. 337-338, under 'The 1945 Immigration of Black-winged Stilts in Leicestershire and Rutland', says: 'On May 26th, 1945, in company with three boys of Kingswood School, D. A. Clutterbuck, C. G. Jackson and D. J. Short, I had good views of two Black-winged Stilts at the Eye Valley Reservoir on the borders of Leicestershire and Rutland. The salient features, black wings, white head and underparts, straight black bill, and long red legs, were clearly seen with field-glasses, though owing to the absence of cover it was not possible to approach very closely. The tremendous length of leg was not apparent at first, as the birds were wading, but when they flew they drew up the legs like herons, so that they projected, it seemed, at least six inches. At the time we were not aware that the sexes differed and, owing to the distance and the fact that we did not specially look for the point, we cannot be certain that there were no dark feathers on the nape of either, though the heads of both birds were definitely white.

The birds were first observed on a spit of land presumably on the county border, as the Eye Brook, which is the county boundary, runs through the centre of the reservoir. They shortly afterwards flew to the far bank, which is in Rutland, and on our approaching them more closely they flew in a wide circle, crossing the Leicestershire border and back into Rutland again. On May 27th, I re-visited the reservoir, but there was no sign of the birds and they had evidently left.'

A. E. Jolley (1945) in the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, p. 49, says: '...It is interesting to note that these birds were not there the following day (nor were they seen again), but the "Nottingham birds", which by now had taken up residence, were increased by two.'

101). 1945 Berkshire Slough Sewage-farm, two, 22nd June.

(P. Gladstone, British Birds 38: 337; Fraser & Youngman, 1976; Swash, 1996).

History P. Gladstone (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 337, under 'The 1945 Immigration of Black-winged Stilts [Berkshire and Buckinghamshire]' says: '[On May 17th, 1945, two Black-winged Stilts were seen by myself and other members of the Eton College Natural History Society at Ham Fields Sewage Farm, near Old Windsor, Berkshire. The birds also flew over on to the Buckinghamshire side of the Thames and so can be claimed for both counties. One bird had the back dark brown with grey on the head and down the back of the neck; the other had the back black].

On June 22nd, 1945, two Stilts were also watched on Slough Sewage Farm, Buckinghamshire, by R. A. Whistler, of Eton College. It may be mentioned that whereas the legs of the birds seen at Ham Fields were definitely reddish, the legs of those seen at Slough were pink.'

103.0). 1945 Suffolk Dunwich Marshes, pair, 13th to 28th July, one male until 6th August.

(P. Pardoe, British Birds 38: 338; F. C. Cook, Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society 5: 243-245; Payn, 1978).

History Peter Pardoe (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 338, under 'The 1945 Immigration of Black-winged Stilts in Suffolk', says: 'On July 13th, 1945, I first observed a pair of Black-winged Stilts on an extensive marsh at Dunwich, Suffolk.

Though I visit the marsh almost daily I cannot guarantee when the birds arrived, owing to its large area. The male bird had a broken leg when first seen. It appeared to improve during his stay and he certainly became far more inclined to fly of his own accord before he left. I searched the whole marsh to the best of my ability and could find no sign of a nest or young and I personally am satisfied that breeding was not attempted. The female left on July 28th and the male on August 6th. It has been suggested that in flight stilts use their long legs as a balance. I have watched the female on many occasions give a wonderful display of acrobatics: she combined all the amazing powers of flight so characteristic of most waders with the "tumble" of the Peewit [Lapwing] Vanellus vanellus, but try as I might I was never able to discern the slightest suspicion of leg movement. I may also mention my belief that the birds swim occasionally. They certainly wade, like Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa, well up to their bellies, and on one occasion I observed them in water which I believed was too deep to allow them to walk. I afterwards measured the depth and found it 10 inches, which, if not conclusive proof, must be near the limit at which the birds could touch the bottom.'

F. C. Cook (1945) in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, Vol. V. p. 243-245, dated 28 Oct. 1945, says: '...By Major P. Pardoe's kindness, several local Ornithologists were enabled to watch, for the first time, a pair of the delightful Black-winged Stilts, Himantopus caudicus, Bo., who turned up upon a Dunwich marsh on 13 July. On 21st a party of us motored there and at once came upon an example, out on an open mud-flat: this we presumed to be the female. Through the glass, her mantle and wings appeared to be brownish-black, with a greyish patch on the nape and hind neck.

Very soon the male flew out of cover and joined her on open marsh. One of his legs was broken and hung down at an angle of almost 45 degrees as he flew. The upper and under sides of his wings were more intensely black than those of the female, and his underparts were suffused with a delicate roseate tinge. No nesting seems attempted. Both escaped gunners; the former left 28 July and the latter 6 August.'

103.1). 1945 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, seen, lame, 26th August; same as one of Suffolk individuals.

(C. E. Gay, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1945: 19-20; J. A. G. Barnes, British Birds 38: 376; Seago, 1977).

History C. E. Gay (1945) in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, 1945, pp. 19-20, under 'Miscellaneous Notes', says: 'A pair of these birds occupied some marshes near Dunwich in Suffolk for several weeks in June and July. The male had a damaged leg which gave it a limp and which it held at an angle of forty-five degrees with its body when it flew. Several people, including myself, had the pleasure of seeing the birds for the first time in this country, due to the kindness of Major Pardoe.

Later, on August 26th, a Stilt was seen at Breydon Water by a visitor to Norfolk from Westmoreland, Mr. A. G. Barnes. He described the bird as being lame which points to the fact that the male from Dunwich had moved further north along the coast. (C.E.G.).'

J. A. G. Barnes (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 376, says: 'On 22nd August 1945, I had a good view of a Black-winged Stilt flying inland along the south bank of Breydon Water. The remarkable leg-length was made particularly conspicuous by the fact that one leg, presumably injured, was carried at an angle of 45° from the horizontal. This peculiarity suggests that the bird may have been the male of the pair seen at Dunwich in July.'

85.2). 1945 Greater Manchester Altrincham Sewage-farm, Lancashire, juvenile, 10th November to 16th December; presumed one of Nottinghamshire individuals.

(A. W. Boyd, British Birds 39: 189; Oakes, 1953).

History A. W. Boyd (1946) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIX. p. 189, says: 'On November 10th, 1945. Mr. L. L. Turner watched for some time a Black-winged Stilt Himantopus h. himantopus on a sewage-bed on the outskirts of Manchester. He kindly told me of this and on the following days I was able to watch it closely. It was an immature bird with dusky mouse-grey head to below the eye, nape and sides of breast and a narrow dusky band which appeared to meet across the throat; back and wings darker; a white tip to some of the secondaries was apparent when it was at rest; the white of its fore-head was quite narrow. When feeding it walked quickly and I saw it sifting the mud by swinging, its bill repeatedly from-side. to side after the fashion of an Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, or as I have seen a Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, act. From time to time it stopped this movement and picked something up.

From then until December 16th, when it was last seen by Mr. Turner, the bird was continually watched there, and at an extensive pool some three miles away, by a number of observers, including Messrs. P. Askey, R. H. Dunt, W. Ramsden, A. R. Sumerfield and Dr. E. L. Arnold; Mr. Dunt observed the sweeping side to side movement of the bill at this second pool.

On November 26th, I was watching it as it flew at some height and saw it drop from the sky in a sort of twisting dive at remarkable speed; Mr. Turner also witnessed a similar descent.'

85.3). 1946 Nottinghamshire Nottingham Sewage-farm, four, 5th May; returning individuals.

(J. Staton, Birds of Nottinghamshire Report 1946-49: 48).

History J. Staton (1949) in the Birds of Nottinghamshire Report, p. 48, says: '1946. After the first British breeding in 1945 near Nottingham, hopes were again raised on May 5th, 1946, by 4 very noisy and excitable Stilts appearing near their former breeding ground (R.J.R.), but further search on following days produced no further sight of the birds.'

105). 1947 Suffolk River Alde, 2nd August.

(F. M. Peacock, Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society 6: 159; Payn, 1978).

History Ffloyd M. Peacock (1947) in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, Vol. VI. p. 159, dated 22nd August, says: 'A solitary specimen of the Black-winged Stilt was observed to be standing on the mud of the River Alde's east bank adjoining the Lantern Marshes at 5 p.m. on 2 August last. It was identified with no hesitation by Mr. J. W. Cable of Aldeburgh then in charge of a motor launch conveying a party, including my sister-in-law, Mrs. Wainwright of Aldeburgh, who kindly sends the record.'

[Only nine examples of this vagrant visitor to the east and south English coasts were known in Suffolk before 1945. - Ed.]

106). 1947 Essex Martello Tower Dyke, St Osyth, seen, 17th and 27th November.

(R. W. Arthur, British Birds 41: 356; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984).

History Reginald W. Arthur (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. p. 356, says: 'I have observed Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus h. himantopus) on three occasions recently on the St Osyth marshes, Essex. A single bird was seen on November 17th and 27th, 1947, at Martello Tower Dyke.'

107). 1948 Essex St Osyth Marshes, two, seen, 12th April.

(R. W. Arthur, British Birds 41: 356; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984).

History Reginald W. Arthur (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. p. 356, says: 'I have observed Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus h. himantopus) on three occasions recently on the St Osyth marshes, Essex....and two on April 12th 1948...'

109). 1949 Isle of Wight West Yar, five: two males and three females, 18th April.

(J. Stafford, Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1953: 293-294; Cohen, 1963).

History J. Stafford (1953) in the Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1953, pp. 293-294, says: 'Five (2 males and 3 females) at Yarmouth, April 18th, 1949; very good views were obtained at ranges down to about 12 yards (M.C.A.). Although the observer was then inexperienced, notes made at the time leave no doubt concerning this record. Shortly afterwards Black-winged Stilts were reported elsewhere in England, some of which may have been the same birds - five in Norfolk on April 20th, five in Suffolk on April 22nd, and four in Devon on May 6th.'

Cohen (1963) says: 'Two males and three females at West Yar in the Island on 18th April 1949 resting on the mud at ebb-tide among many gulls; seen at 12 yards and the two males distinguished by black nape patches (five were reported from Norfolk and Suffolk two and four days later). These birds were seen by two boys aged 15 and 13 and by Col. O. H. Mitchell, District Scout Commissioner - one of the boys was a Sea Scout and the other Adams, has since blossomed into a good and reliable ornithologist, frequently quoted in these pages - so, although this is the first Island record since early in the nineteenth century it would seem to be acceptable as the species can really not be mistaken for anything else however inexperienced the observer. It is worth mentioning that an invasion of this species occurred in Holland that year (Brit. Birds 43).'

114). 1949 Suffolk Buss Creek, Reydon, five, 22nd to 25th April, two 26th, one 27th to 29th April.

(G. B. G. Benson, British Birds 43: 132-133; G. Baker, Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society 7: 38; H. Waller, Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society 7: 38; J. M. Browton, Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society 7: 39; Payn, 1978).

History G. B. G. Benson (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. pp. 132-133, says: 'At approximately 15.30 (B.S.T.) on April 22nd, 1949, four Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) were seen by W. E. Rowe and D. Baker on a small marsh immediately to the north of Southwold, Suffolk. Later that day five were seen. Five birds were subsequently seen on April 23rd, 24th and 25th, two only on the 26th and one on the 27th, 28th and 29th. Many besides myself saw five together, and though the evidence for the presence of a sixth appeared good, it is noteworthy that no one saw six at once, that no exactly-timed counts in different areas of the marsh were made, and that the one bird recorded on April 27th, 28th and 29th flew off and returned several times, leading one to suppose that two pairs had moved on and left an unmated bird.

It appeared that there were three males and two females, but I see, on consulting The Handbook, that one supposed male may have been a first year female, as the head and nape were distinctly greyish-brown, not black. One female was distinctly smaller than the remainder, as was noted by several observers. The birds were remarkably tame, ignoring almost entirely a continual procession of heads above the dyke wall, the buzz of conversation, and even a movie camera, all at a distance of 30 yds., and sometimes even less. They could at times be seen without glasses from the road. Apart from occasional resting, sometimes on one leg, with bill tucked behind in usual wader fashion, they fed busily in the pools of the brackish marsh. Normally food seemed to be taken from the surface, but several times I saw a bird immerse bill, head, and neck. The slow, graceful walk was at times quickened to a run for a few steps. In deep water the tibio-tarsal joint was so sharply bent that the tibia lay flat along the belly and under tail-coverts. They would wade to the belly feathers, but usually preferred shallower water. I saw one pair copulate on April 23rd.

All five birds had immediately before been on the wing, and after they alighted only a minute or so elapsed before I saw a female standing in shallow water with body, neck, head and bill in one straight line, the bill tip either on or very close to the surface, the whole forming an angle of about 45° to the water. If there had been a previous courtship display, it must have been very short. The remainder of the action was very similar to that of mating Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta), the male preening on one side of the female, walking round to the other side, turning always in towards the female, and repeating the performance the other side. On mounting, the male raised his wings, and on completion both birds moved forward and went on feeding.

Throughout their stay the birds were silent except when they flew, but they rarely flew even a few yards without making the sharp repeated single note, written in The Handbook as 'kik', which I should myself have written 'keek.' Gliding in to land was regular. In flight the green gloss on the sharply pointed wings was clearly visible, and the 6 or 7 inches of thin leg stretched out beyond the tail formed an unmistakable picture. The birds appeared so settled that hopes were entertained of their nesting, and the Press representatives obligingly agreed not to mention the locality; but none of the birds has been seen since in this neighbourhood.'

George Baker of Reydon Post Office (1949) in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, Vol. VII. p. 38, dated 24 April, says: 'My son David, when out on the afternoon of 22 April with the local scoutmaster L. Rowe who is a keen naturalist, saw a small group of Stilts Himantopus candidus, Bonn. They have been watched by various naturalists here almost continuously for the last forty eight hours, and a total of six has been ascertained to constitute the flock. Throughout this period they have remained, where they were first observed, on the Reydon Marshes near the Buss Creek, which separates Reydon from Southwold.'

Henry Waller (1949) in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, Vol. VII. p. 38, dated 27 April, says: 'I have had a most interesting time, watching four or five Stilts that have taken up their quarters in the Buss Creek at Southwold.'

[Great news indeed! Never before have more than isolated specimens been noted in our county, and they total only nine, thus: Boyton near Woodbridge 1822-3, Breydon 1823 and 1837, near Yarmouth and at Orfordness later, Bungay 1875 (set up and sold in 1901: Trans. supra IV, 285), two singly at Hollesley 1900 and Aldeburgh-Thorp 1902. So this "vagrant to England, mainly the east and south coasts", after a hiatus of forty-seven years has returned at length in definite numbers. - Ed.]

Miss J. M. Browton of Walberswick (1949) in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society, Vol. VII. p. 39, says: 'Mr. Cleminson told me of the Stilts in Southwold Marshes, and there I saw five of them on 24 April, pecking about in shallow water. I went again on 29th to see if they had moved, and could find only one; later I was told all had flown to Nottingham the previous evening. On enquiring how their destination could be ascertained, I learned that a pair had bred at a Nottingham sewage-farm last year. However, one of them certainly remained at the Buss Creek where I watched it for a considerable time at fairly close quarters; but I did not see it after 29 April.'

119). 1949 Devon River Exe, Countess Wear and same, River Clyst, Topsham, four, 6th May.

(F. R. Smith, British Birds 43: 133-134; M. Brooks-King, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1949: 52; Moore, 1969).

History F. R. Smith (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. pp. 133-134, says: 'On May 6th, 1949 in the early morning, I watched four Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) on a shingle bed, uncovered at low tide, in the middle of the River Exe below Countess Wear. The birds were watched later in the morning by Dr. G.S. Steele-Perkin at the same place until the rising tide disturbed them and they flew down river. In the evening Mr. R. G. Adams and Mr. H. Pearson, on their way to look for the birds, found them on the River Clyst near Topsham, feeding on the mudbanks, and examined them in detail at close quarters.

They were later seen by Mrs. V. R. Smith and Miss M. Smith and were last seen resting in the late evening on the mudbank beside the River Exe near Topsham. The birds were in different stages of plumage, two with brown backs and wings and two with black backs and wings with a greenish gloss, and all had white tails and under-parts. One with lighter brown wings also had a very light coloured head with dusky streaks on the head and nape and dusky areas on the upper breast. The other brown-winged bird had a dark crown and nape, light forehead and dusky areas on the upper breast. The black-winged birds also had dark crowns and napes with pale foreheads and varying amounts of dusky areas on the upper breasts. The enormously long legs of the darker birds were vermilion and of the browner birds pinkish red, the shade varying with the light. The notes were a sharp "kit-kit" and "kyark" and occasionally a low fluty chattering. Their behaviour suggested that they were two pairs.'

M. Brooks-King (1949) in the Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXII. p. 52, says: 'Countess Wear, May 6, four. Two with brown backs and wings, two with black backs and wings, white tail and underparts. One with pale-coloured head, the rest had dark crowns and napes and pale foreheads. All with some dusky colouring on upper breast. Enormously long legs, vermillion on darker birds, pinkish-red on browner birds. Notes: 'kit-kit-kit', 'kyark', and a fluty chattering. Seen later on R. Clyst near Topsham, and lastly on Exe at Topsham. The birds were also watched during the day by G.S.S-P. and R.G.A. (F.R.S.).'

Comment In the members list at the back of Devon Bird Report the persons involved are Dr. G. S. Steele Perkins and F. R. Smith, the other person must have been a non-member.

123). 1949 Sussex Rye Harbour, three, seen, 9th May.

(G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1949: 25; N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 7: 196; James, 1996).

History G. des Forges & D. D. Harber (1949) in the Sussex Bird Report, Vol. II. p. 25, say: 'Three at Rye Harbour gravel-pits on May 9th.'

1950-57 RECORDS

126). 1951 Isles of Scilly St Mary's, 12th to 16th January; same, Tresco, 7th February.

(B. H. Ryves, A. G. Parsons & H. M. Quick, Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report 1951: 40; Eds., British Birds 46: 146; Penhallurick, 1969; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007).

History B. H. Ryves, A. G. Parsons & H. M. Quick (1951) in the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXI. p. 40, say: 'January 12th - 16th. One on St. Mary's beaches. W.P.K. February 7th. One on Tresco. A.A.D-S.'

Accepted locally (Flood, Hudson & Thomas 2007).

127). 1952-54 Gwent Caldicot Moor, Monmouthshire, pair, early summer, photo.

(Gwent Bird Report 1990; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History Lovegrove, Williams & Williams (1994) say: 'The 1990 Gwent Bird Report places on record a hitherto unpublished account of the presence of a pair of Black-winged Stilts on Caldicot Moor in the early summer of one year in the 1950s (probably 1952, 1953 or 1954). The birds apparently attempted to breed but were disturbed by the flow of local people interested in seeing them. Contemporary photographs confirm the identification and show the habitat of semi-flooded pasture lane.'

129). 1953 Highland Ardgay, Sutherland, undated; presumed same, Gordonbush, Brora, Sutherland, 20th April.

(E. Eldred, Field 11th Jun., 1953: 1086; J. Tyser, Field 2nd Jul., 1953: 41; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 102; Angus, 1983; Vittery, 1997; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77).

History E. Eldred of Ardgay House, Ardgay, Ross-shire (1953) in The Field of 11th Jun., Vol. CCI. p. 1086, says: 'We have recently seen in this village a very unusual bird. It was white except for the black wings and had extraordinary long pink legs. It was quite alone and fairly tame. I think it was a Black-winged Stilt. Is it very unusual for this bird to be seen so far north?'

[Although Mr. Eldred gives no indication of size, the description does fit the Black-winged Stilt. This bird is rare in Britain and most of the birds seen have been on the south and east coasts, especially in Norfolk. Former records for Scotland total about 10 birds. There is always the possibility that a "fairly tame" bird is an escape. - Ed.]

J. Tyser (1953) in The Field of 2nd Jul., Vol. CCI. p. 41, says: 'In The Field of June 11th I was interested to see a letter reporting a Black-winged Stilt see in Ross-shire. About April 20th I saw one on my river (Brora) at my home, Gordonbush, Brora, Sutherland, and one of my shepherds said he saw two of them next day. The one I saw seemed a tired bird - but not really "tame" - and although I looked for it many times after that day, I never saw it again.

It is the first time I have ever seen one in Sutherland. I have lived there 33 years.'

E. V. Baxter (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 102, says: 'A stilt recorded from Ardgay, East Ross, without date (Field, 11th June 1953: 1086), and one seen on 20th April 1953 at Gordonbush, Brora (South-east Sutherland) were presumably the same bird (Field, 2nd July 1953: 41). There is an old and unconfirmed record from Ross-shire and none from Sutherland.' Thom [a list in SOC archive] wrote "rejected" without further comment.

130). 1953 Kent Shellness, Sheppey, immature, 15th September.

(E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1953: 21; D. D. Harber, British Birds 49: 363; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History E. H. Gillham (1953) in the Kent Bird Report, Vol. II. p. 21, says: 'An immature bird seen well at Shellness, Sheppey, on Sept. 15 (D.F.M.). Full details and a sketch of head have been received, and seeing that this bird is so distinctive it seems only necessary to say that the observer clearly noted the extraordinarily long pink legs and long thin black bill. For part of the time it was in company with a Redshank.'

131). 1954 Northumberland Wallsend Swallow Pond, 4th September.

(G. W. Temperley, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 11: 113; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

History G. W. Temperley (1954) in the Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society, Vol. XI. p. 113, says: 'On September 4th at Wallsend Swallow, N., a single bird was seen to fly in to the flooded ground, where it alighted for a short period before flying away to the north. It was very clearly seen both in flight and at rest. Its contrasting black and white plumage and its long trailing legs were most distinctive in flight. It was no seen subsequently either there or elsewhere, though it was diligently searched for (J.A., T.H.A.). This is the first record for the species in Northumberland.'

Galloway & Meek (1978-83) say: 'One at Wallsend Swallow Pond on 4th September 1954 is the only record.'

132). 1955 Greater London/Surrey Beddington Sewage-farm, Surrey, 17th August.

(P. Bond, Surrey Bird Report 1955: 18; Parr, 1972; Wheatley, 2007).

History P. Bond (1955) in the Surrey Bird Report, p. 18, says: 'On Aug. 17th one circled Beddington S.F. but did not settle (B.S.M.).'

133). 1955 Greater London/Surrey Epsom Sewage-farm, two, 9th September.

(F. H. Jones, London Bird Report 1955: 22; P. Bond, Surrey Bird Report 1955: 18; Parr, 1972).

History P. Bond (1955) in the Surrey Bird Report, p. 18, says: '...While making the evening rounds of Epsom S.F. on Sept. 9th K.D.E. saw two Stilts glide down on to a flooded field and managed to approach with ten yards of them.

A full description has been received: The birds towered above the Lapwings amongst which they were feeding, and in flight the legs projected beyond the tail which, with the fairly long narrow wings, gave the bird an odd appearance. While feeding the legs were bent at the ankle and the birds seemed nervous, for they were constantly standing erect as if frightened by something.'

135). 1955 Kent Lower Halstow Creek, adult, 26th September.

(E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1955: 17; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History E. H. Gillham (1955) in the Kent Bird Report, Vol. IV. p. 17, says: 'An adult in transition watched at c. 50 yards range on Lower Halstow Creek on Sept. 26 (D.B.C., J. Robbins).

Full details of this striking bird have been received; the very long pink legs and long black bill and distinctive plumage were clearly seen.'

136). 1956 Dorset Abbotsbury, 26th July.

(A. J. Bull et al., Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 78: 43; Prendergast & Boys, 1983).

History A. J. Bull (1956) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXXVIII.p. 43, says: 'One was present at Abbotsbury on July 26th (F.L.). The only reliable previous county record appears to be of one shot at Weymouth in 1837.'

137). 1957 Suffolk Aldeburgh, two, 10th June.

(F. K. Cobb, Suffolk Bird Report 1957: 16).

History F. K. Cobb (1957) in the Suffolk Bird Report, p. 16, says: 'Two at Aldeburgh on June 10th, feeding in flood-water, afterwards were seen to fly out to sea, disappearing in S.E. direction (J.F.C.).'

139). 1957 Kent Shellness, Sheppey, two, 29th September.

(E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1957: 21; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History E. H. Gillham (1957) in the Kent Bird Report, Vol. VI. p. 21, says: 'Two in flight at eighty yards range at Shellness, Sheppey, on Sept. 29 (D.F.M., J.J.M.F.), is the third record - all in second half of Sept. - in five years. The points noted were: white bodies with black wings and dark patch on nape; long thin bills; and fantastically long pink legs stretching well beyond tail.'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1793 Perth & Kinross Ben Lawers, seen, August.

(Don, 1812; Gray, 1871).

[Harvie-Brown, 1906; Thom, 1986; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Gray (1871: 303) says: 'The next occurrence of the Black-winged Stilt is thus alluded to by Don in his Forfarshire list, published in 1812; - "I once saw one bird of this species on the mountains of Clova: I have never observed but another, which was on Ben Lawers, in Perthshire, in August, 1793: it is a rare bird, and, I believe, but few naturalists have seen it alive.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306. 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The statement by Don in his account of Forfarshire (1812), that it had been seen in such unlikely localities as the mountains of Clova, and on Ben Lawers in August, 1793, may be open to doubt.'

Not accepted locally as the record was placed in square brackets (Harvie-Brown 1906: 308) or nationally (Thom 1986).

Comment Misidentified. The sighting of one on the mountains of Clova is so vague as to be dismissed. Not acceptable.

0). 1814 Orkney Lopness, Sanday, two, shot, undated.

(Baikie & Heddle, 1848; Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; Buckley & Harvie-Brown, 1891; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Baikie & Heddle (1848: 64) say: 'Two specimens of this singular bird were killed at Lopness [Sanday] in 1814, with which exception we have not heard of it in Orkney.'

Gray (1871: 303) says: 'Two specimens were also killed at Lopness, in Orkney, in 1814.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Baikie and Heddle mention two examples in Orkney in 1841.'

Accepted locally (Buckley & Harvie-Brown 1891), nationally (Witherby et al. 1940-52; Baxter & Rintoul 1953).

Comment Very little information available. Saunders erroneously gives the date as 1841. Probably misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1819 Devon Braunton, shot, undated.

(Harting, 1880; Harting, 1901).

[KAN].

History Harting, Editor (1880: xxx) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, under 'Intruduction', in a letter from Walter Moyle dated 1819/20 to Dr Sherard, says: 'The finest Birds I have lately added to my collection are the...Himantopus...It was killed above a Year since, with four others at a shot near Penzance in Cornwall. Mr. Stephens, to whom I showed it, assured me that another of them had been shot since that time at Brampton [sic], on the North Sea [sic] in Devonshire.'

Harting (1901) lists it as circ. 1726

Comment Third-hand report. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1820 Essex Near Saffron Walden, seen, undated.

(Christy, 1890).

[Glegg, 1929].

History Christy (1890: 240) says: 'Mr. J. Clarke notes (MS.) that one was seen about 1820 round the pond at his residence, "The Roos", near Saffron Walden. He still remembers being hurriedly called by a man to see "a bird with legs a yard long", but was only in time to see it fly away.' Locally, Glegg (1929: 239) placed the record in square brackets.

Comment An apt description, but unfortunately not seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1822-23 Suffolk Near Woodbridge, shot, winter.

(Ticehurst, 1932).

[Wood, 2007].

History Ticehurst (1932: 379) says: 'One in Boulton's collection at Beverley (Yorkshire), said to have been shot in the winter of 1822-23, near Woodbridge (Boynton in litt.).' Wood (2007: 57) states that one from Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1882, is in the Boulton collection in Chelmsford Museum, but it is of doubtful origin.

Comment Ticehurst's wording of "said to have been" lacks confidence. I think there has been a slip of the pen here with the year; the site and the collector are the same as the record from 1882. Not acceptable.

0). 1823 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon, adult male, shot, May.

(C. R. Bree, Field 9th Nov., 1867: 385; Stevenson, 1870; A. Newton, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 2: 404; Ticehurst, 1932; Allard, 1990).

[Babington, 1884-86].

History C. R. Bree of Colchester (1867) in The Field of 9th Nov., Vol. XXX. p. 385, with details of a letter written on 23rd June 1828, between J. D. Hoy and J. P. Selby, says: 'A Long-legged Plover was shot on the banks of Breydon Broad, near Yarmouth, in May, 1823, in which neighbourhood, also, most of our rare water birds have been met with during the last eight or ten years.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 246) says: 'In Mr. E. S. Preston's possession at Yarmouth is a specimen formerly belonging to his uncle Mr. C. Preston, of that town, which was shot on Breydon in May, 1823, by old John Thomas, a noted gunner on those waters; the same bird referred to by the late Mr. Hoy, in a letter to Selby, as published by Dr. Bree in The Field (Vol. XXX. p. 385), in that gentleman's description of Mr. Hoy's collection at Stoke Nayland.'

Alfred Newton (1874-79) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. II. p. 404, in a damaged letter from J. D. Hoy to P. J. Selby, which has been transcribed as saying "A Long-legged Plover was shot on the banks of Breydon Broad, near Yarmouth, in May, 1823, in which neighbourhood also, most of our rare water birds have been met with during the last 8 or 10 years".

Babington (1884-86: 239) says: 'One said to have been shot on Breydon in May 1823 (Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., bought it off Mr. E. S. Preston, but never felt quite satisfied as to its authenticity).' However, it was accepted locally (Ticehurst 1932: 379) and Piotrowski (2003: 139) who adds: 'Nine individuals to 1902 with the first in 1823.'

Comment Doubted by Gurney and Babington who used the words "said to have been" placing no faith in the record. Not acceptable.

0). 1824 Lincolnshire No locality, obtained, July.

(W. Yarrell, Zoological Journal 2: 25; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 62-63).

[Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History W. Yarrell (1824) in the Zoological Journal, Vol. II. p. 25, says: '1824. July. A female of the Long-legged Plover (Charadrius himantopus) was sent to the London market from Lincolnshire; and about the same time, a very fine male bird was shot in Norfolk; in the intestines of this male bird was a species of tape worm, six inches in length, broad, flat and jointed.'

Jenyns (1835: 202) adds: 'Has been killed more recently in Lincolnshire.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 632, 2nd ed.) says: 'My own specimen, from which the figure and description here given was derived, was obtained in the London market in July 1824, and was sent up for sale from Lincolnshire: while this bird was in the hands of Mr. Leadbeater for preservation, another was received from Norfolk.'

F. L. Blathwayt (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. pp. 62-63, says: 'The figure in Yarrell's British Birds, ed. 4. is from a specimen obtained in Lincolnshire in July, 1824.'

Comment I am not keen on specimens bought at markets as they lack a certain trail of evidence. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1830 Devon Dawlish Warren, obtained, undated.

(E. Moore, Transactions of the Plymouth Institution 1830: 331; E. Moore, Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History 1: 323; Yarrell, 1845).

[KAN].

History Edward Moore of Plymouth (1830) in the Transactions of the Plymouth Institution, Vol. I. p. 331, says: 'Mr. Comyns has one shot in Devon.' Later, E. Moore (1837) in Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 323, says: 'Mr. Comyns has a specimen killed in Devon.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 630, 2nd ed.) says: 'It has been obtained in Devonshire.'

Comment As Comyns was from Dawlish Warren it is accepted as the locality, although it lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1830 Devon Slapton Ley, shot, undated.

(E. Moore, Transactions of the Plymouth Institution 1830: 331; E. Moore, Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History 1: 323; Yarrell, 1845; Harting, 1872).

[KAN].

History Edward Moore of Plymouth (1830) in the Transactions of the Plymouth Institution, Vol. I. p. 331, says: 'Mr. Gosling informs me that a specimen was shot on Slapton Ley.' E. Moore (1837) in Charlesworth's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. I. p. 323, says: 'Mr. Gosling informs me of another, shot on Slapton Ley, near Dartmouth.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 630, 2nd ed.) says: 'It has been obtained in Devonshire.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). 1832 Surrey Frensham Pond, Farnham, shot, December.

(F. Holme, Zoologist 1856: 5041; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85).

[Bucknill, 1900; Parr, 1972].

History Frederick Holme (1856) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIV. pp. 5041-5042, in a letter to E. H. Rodd dated January 1834, says: 'An itinerant birdstuffer, named Burl, showed me lately a specimen of the Scissor-tailed Goatsucker of S. America, which he assured me he himself shot at Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, June 19th, 1825: I should not of course give implicit credit to a birdstuffer's account of a bird which he had on sale...The same man told me that in December, 1832, he saw a specimen of the Long-legged Plover at Frensham pond (the same place whence White's specimen came from), but could not get at it; at the same time there were some specimens seen there of the Egyptian Spur-winged Plover, one of which was shot....He had also a pair of buff herons, shot near Dover, in January, 1832.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'One was shot at the same place [Frensham Pond] in 1832 (Zool., p. 5041).'

Bucknill (1900: 292) after quoting from the above, says: 'To my mind the latter part of the letter seems to be so dubious that I am inclined to doubt the correctness of the earlier portion.'

Comment Burl would appear unreliable regarding British killed specimens. Not acceptable.

0). 1834 Buckinghamshire Near Beaconsfield, caught, spring.

(Clark Kennedy, 1868).

[KAN].

History Clark Kennedy (1868: 192) says: 'In the spring of 1834, a bird which so exactly answered the description of this species that it could be none other, laid two eggs by the side of a large pond in a wood near Beaconsfield, and was captured in a net while sitting upon them. Nobody knew at the time what this bird was, but a person who saw it told me it had exceedingly long legs, and was like a Plover in the shape of its body, which was black and white; it was kept alive for some days, being fed upon small fish, but it eventually died, and was stuffed in Eton. Both the eggs were sold, and I believe the bird was also disposed of, but I have never been able either to obtain a view of it or learn any further particulars.'

Comment Lacks adequate details and not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Clark Kennedy was aged sixteen when his book was published. Not acceptable.

0). 1836 Highland Glen Shiel, Ross & Cromarty, seen, undated.

(New Statistical Account, 1836; Gray, 1871; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[Thom, 1986; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History John M'Rae (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, xiv, "Glensheil", 1836, p. 189) says: 'The rare long-legged Himantopus melanopterus has been found [in Glensheil parish, Easter Ross].'

Gray (1871: 303) says: 'Later still it is mentioned as a rare species found in the parish of Glenshiel, in Ross-shire, by the Rev. John M'Rae who published his statistical account in November, 1836.'

Accepted nationally (Witherby et al. 1940-52). However, Baxter & Rintoul (1953 (2): 605) state that this statement is not confirmed. Not accepted nationally for Scotland (Thom 1986).

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1840-45 Lincolnshire Long Sutton, killed, undated.

(Lilford, 1895).

[KAN].

History Lord Lilford (1895 (2): 31) says: 'The only record that I possess of the occurrence of the Stilt in the localities of which I am treating is contained in the list of birds furnished to me by Mr. A. Elliot, late of Stamford, who, writing in 1876, states: - "Long-legged Plover. This remarkable bird, now in the possession of Dr. Tootel, Newark, was killed about 1840-45, in the fen district of Long Sutton". The village is within a short distance of Wisbech, and although not in Northamptonshire...'

Comment I have no faith in any of A. G. Elliot's records. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1843 Shetland No locality, seen, undated.

(T. Edmonston, Zoologist 1844: 463; W. D. Crotch, Zoologist 1861: 7342; Saxby, 1874; Hartert et al., 1912; Venables & Venables, 1955).

[Evans & Buckley, 1899; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History T. Edmonston (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. II. p. 463, under 'A Fauna of Shetland' says: 'Long-legged Plover (Himantopus melanopterus). A bird of this species was observed some years ago by my father, associating with a flock of the following species [Golden Plover].'

W. D. Crotch (1861) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XIX. p. 7342, says: 'Likewise seen by the Doctor, who is not so inhospitable to strangers as ever to desire to kill them merely because they arrive but seldom.'

Saxby (1874: 197) says: 'Dr. Lawrence Edmonston observed one among some Golden Plovers some years prior to 1843, but neither the year nor the date can be remembered.'

It was not accepted locally (Evans & Buckley 1899: 160) who placed the record in square brackets, and it was listed by Baxter & Rintoul (1953) as "less well substantiated", but accepted nationally (Witherby et al. 1940-52).

Comment I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor (Scottish Birds 23: 77) found it unacceptable through lack of detail; also, not accepted locally (Pennington et al. 2004).

0). Pre 1844 Moray & Nairn River Spey, near Grantown-on-Spey, two, seen, undated.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1896).

[Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1896].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1896 (2): 186) recording the record in square brackets, say: 'The only mention we have of this species in our district is in a letter from T. Macpherson Grant to Dr. Gordon, dates 21st November 1844: - "Some years ago I saw two remarkable birds not far from Grantown, which I supposed to be Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus melanopterus of Jenyns). They rose out from among the long grass by the margin of a small lake in a piece of wet meadow ground near the Spey, and frequently lighted again, but always at a great distance. They were so extremely shy that I found it impossible to get within shot, and having no telescope, I could not make myself certain of the species. They had long legs, with much of the plumage pure white, and seemed to be about the size of the Stilt. My want of success in procuring one of them disappointed me greatly, and I have always much hesitation in recording a rare species, unless I have actually handled it".'

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1845 Hampshire Near Havant, adult, shot, undated.

(Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

[Clark & Eyre, 1993].

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 630, 2nd ed.) says: 'Mr. William Borrer, jun., sent me word that an adult specimen had been shot near Havant in Hampshire, which had been prepared, and was now in the possession of F. Hopkins, Esq. of Hubborne Lodge, near Christchurch.'

It was accepted locally (Kelsall & Munn 1905: 292) but not later (Clark & Eyre 1993: 194).

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Borrer (1814-1898) was the author of Birds of Sussex.

0). 1848 Nottinghamshire Perlethorpe, seen, 30th January.

(Felkin, 1866; Sterland, 1869; Yarrell, 1871-85; Sterland & Whitaker, 1879; Whitaker, 1907; Witherby et al., 1940-1952).

[KAN].

History Felkin (1866: 53) says: 'I quote from the same authority [Sterland] - was seen at Perlethorpe, January 30th, 1848, but not shot.'

Sterland (1869: 194) says: 'Of still greater rarity is the Black-winged Stilt, and I am pleased to note its appearance, though only on one occasion. This was on the 30th of January, 1848, when one was seen standing in a ditch of shallow water in an ash-holt at Perlethorpe, by Mr. Mansel and his father. It was apparently feeding when they caught sight of it, and on being disturbed rose with a shrill "squeal", flying low in the direction of the river that bounds the ash-holt.

Mr. M. would have shot it had not his father stood in the way, so it continued its course unharmed. Its extraordinary long legs gave it a most singular appearance when standing in the water, and still more so during flight, for they were then stretched out behind, and the clear contrast afforded by its black and white plumage and red legs was very striking. It was doubtless a visitor from the Continent, for this species has, I believe, been seldom seen of late years in this country.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84) in Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed. Vol. III. p. 306, says: 'On the 30th January, 1848 a straggler was obtained as far inland as Perlethorpe, Nottinghamshire (Sterland, Birds of Sherwood Forest, p. 194).'

Whitaker (1907: 261) says: 'The only instance of this rare British bird having occurred in Nottinghamshire, was at Perlethorpe, near Ollerton, on January 30th, 1848, when Mr. Mansel and his son saw one feeding in a shallow dyke in an ashholt bordering the stream there; it rose with a shrill cry and flew low towards the river. They had a clear view of the bird, both standing and flying, and had no doubt of its identity.'

Comment Probably misidentified. Winter dates are extremely unusual. Not acceptable.

0). 1855 Highland Brora, Sutherland, shot, July.

(Harvie-Brown & Buckley, 1887).

[Thom, 1986].

History Harvie-Brown & Buckley (1887) say: 'Mr. Macleay, Inverness, has an entry in his ledger of a bird of this species shot at Brora in July 1855, which had been sent to Mr. Snowie to be stuffed. It belonged to a Mr. Essington who fished the Brora for many years. At his death his collection of birds was sold, and we have been unable to trace this specimen. Being such a rare bird, especially in the north, we have entered it as an "Obs." in case the species was wrongly identified.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1860 Isle of Wight No locality, obtained, undated.

(A. G. More, Zoologist 1860: 6855; Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

[KAN].

History A. G. More (1860) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVIII. p. 6855, under 'Rare Birds recently observed in the Isle of Wight', says: 'Has been ascertained by Mr. Bury to have been once killed at the western end of the Island; date not known.'

Kelsall & Munn (1905: 292) say: 'Our first record is the bird mentioned by [Mr. C. A.] Bury as having been obtained near Yarmouth [Isle of Wight] early in the last century.'

Comment Lacks a precise date and locality for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). 1867 North-east Scotland Tile Burn, near Donmouth, Aberdeenshire, seen, 15th September.

(Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 373).

[Sim, 1903; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Phillips, 1997; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Gray (1871: 303-304) says: 'The first information I received was from my indefatigable correspondent, Mr. Angus, of Aberdeen, in the following note: - "15th September, 1867. - I observed a bird in the Tile Burn, near Don mouth, which, on close inspection, I recognised as the Stilt Plover. It stood at an angle across the water, with its head to the wind, which at the time was blowing hard from the south-west. It appeared to be a bird of the year; certainly the plumage was not that of the adult. The under surface of the body was dirty white; head dusky, with dark streaks; the upper parts dusky brown, or appeared to be so, viewed with a binocular glass under a clear sun, at a distance of one hundred and thirty yards; the legs orange; iris, beautiful red. Not having seen this species before, I was particularly struck with its comportment. It would now and then thrust its head and a great part of its neck into the water, as if catching something that swam or floated up with the rising tide; or it would suddenly snap at some object in the manner of a dog catching flies. For half an hour the bird was thus engaged without moving a foot, until the flowing water caused it to remove to a place of safety. It then flew a considerable way up the burn, and alighted on the bank, where it walked and ran, in the most lively manner, in search of insects. Its flight was slow, regular, and graceful. When on wing the neck was considerably arched, the wings remarkably convex, and the legs thrust out behind. All its movements, whether on wing or on foot, were characterized by comeliness and agility. "The author of the charming history of Selborne thought it would be "a matter of great curiosity to see the stilt plover move". At best it could be but a bad walker.' It wanted the back toe - "that steady prop to support its steps"; would perpetually vacillate, and "seldom be able to preserve the true centre of gravity". Such was the speculation of one of our best observers regarding this peculiar bird. I note the passage as showing the futility of attempting to throw any light on the habits of our feathered favourites, except by actual observation.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In 1867, in which year it is also said to have been seen near Aberdeen.'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 373, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union, admits this record. Not included by Witherby et al. (1940-52), nor admitted by Sim (1903) p. 171, who placed the record in square brackets, saying: 'The Stilt's eye is under a quarter-of-an inch in diameter. Let anyone view an eye four times that size placed at the same distance, and see if he can say if it is a "beautiful red" or any other colour, especially under a clear sun!'

Baxter & Rintoul (1953 (2): 605) stated it as "a less well authenticated record".

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1867 Clyde Possil Marsh, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, seen, three or four days in October.

(Gray, 1871; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Gray (1871: 304) says: 'In the month of October following [1867], a Black-winged Stilt was seen at Possil marsh, within four miles of Glasgow. It frequented the place for three or four days, and was distinctly observed by different persons. Notwithstanding repeated attempts on its life, the bird luckily escaped.' It was accepted (Baxter & Rintoul 1953).

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent ornithologist. Not acceptable.

0). 1867 Dumfries & Galloway Near Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, shot, October.

(Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[Thom, 1986; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Gray (1871: 304) says: 'Writing from Dumfriesshire, on 25th December, of the same year [1867], Sir William Jardine has sent me the following note: - "My gamekeeper gave me the description of a bird he saw six weeks ago [= mid November], that I could make out to be nothing but a Black-winged Stilt, and I heard of it being killed about eight miles off [from Jardine Hall, north of Lockerbie, Dumfries-shire], but it had been thrown out, and not a feather was to be got".'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 306, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Sir William Jardine recorded an example that was shot in October [1867] in Dumfriesshire.'

Baxter & Rintoul (1953) stated it as "a less well authenticated record", but it was accepted (Witherby et al. 1940-52).

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1870 Gloucestershire Vale, near Cheltenham, shot, undated.

(Mellersh, 1902).

[Swaine, 1982].

History Mellersh (1902) says: 'Two shot in Vale near Cheltenham about 1870 and 1875.' However, it was not accepted locally (Swaine 1982).

0). 1871 Suffolk Stanningfield, female, killed, mid-May.

(W. Clarke, Field 20th May 1871: 400; J. G. Tuck, Zoologist 1871: 2684).

[J. G. Tuck, Zoologist 1872: 3064; Harting, 1872].

History W. Clarke of Bury St. Edmunds (1871) in The Field of 20th May, Vol. XXXVII. p. 400, dated 10th May, says: 'A Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus melanopterus) was killed this week within a few miles of Bury St. Edmunds, and is being preserved for my collection by Mr. Ellis, of Swaffham. Is not this a rare bird in England?"

[It is a rare summer visitant to this country, and comparatively few notices of its occurrence are on record. Between the years 1822 and 1869 a dozen examples only are recorded as having been observed or procured in Norfolk (see Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, II. pp. 244-248).

Five at various times have been noted in Scotland, on the authority of Sir R. Sibbald, Mr. Don, and Dr. J. A. Smith. Gilbert White has recorded the occurrence of six at Frensham Pond, Hants., and since his day Mr. W. Borrer has noticed the appearance of a single bird of this species in the same county. In the adjoining county of Sussex a Black-winged Stilt was shot near Trotton in May, 1859; and a capital account of the habits of this species, as observed in this particular individual, was published by Mr. Knox, the author of Ornithological Rambles in Sussex, in The Ibis, for 1859, p. 395.

Of the other examples which have been noticed from time to time, one was killed near Oxford (Pennant), one in Anglesey (Montagu), one in Lincolnshire (Yarrell), one at Swanpool, Cornwall (Bullmore), Cornish Fauna, and one in Cork (Thompson). We shall be glad if any of our correspondents can add to this list. - Ed.]

J. G. Tuck (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2684, undated, but in the July issue, says: 'In the third week of May a female specimen of the Black-winged Stilt was shot at Stanningfield, a village a few miles from Bury St Edmunds, and taken to one of the Bury birdstuffers. I was most unfortunately away from home at the time, or I could have had the bird in the flesh; however, the birdstuffer sold it in the flesh for ten shillings, a price very low for so valuable a bird. I regret that I am unable to give any particulars of the circumstances under which it was obtained, whether it was alone or otherwise, its condition, &c.'

J. G. Tuck (1872) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VII. p. 3064, dated 26th March 1872, adds: 'Allow me to correct a note of mine which appeared in The Zoologist (s.s. p. 2684). I then made a statement to the effect that a Black-winged Stilt had been shot at Stanningfield, in Suffolk, in May, 1871, on the authority of a birdstuffer whom I considered quite competent to recognize the species; but today, having for the first time seen the bird and thoroughly examined it, I find it to be a Spotted Redshank, in nearly full breeding plumage, which, although by no means a common bird, especially so far inland (nearly thirty miles from the sea), is far less valuable than the Black-winged Stilt. I am extremely sorry that the mistake should have occurred, but it shows the necessity of examining a supposed rare visitant, and not recording it on the authority of others.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1875 Sussex Eastbourne, two, seen, May.

(Land and Water; H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1875: 4632).

[des Forges & Harber, 1963].

History Henry Stevenson of Norwich (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4632, dated 11th September, 1875, says: 'I believe a record of a pair of Stilt Plovers having been seen at Eastbourne, in May of this year, appeared in Land and Water.' Not noticed by Borrer (1891: 215-217) and also missed by Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 213) who recorded everything, good or bad. Not accepted locally (des Forges & Harber 1963).

Comment On the detail we have it is safer to reject this record. Haven't seen the original journal which is difficult to find. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1875 Gloucestershire Vale, near Cheltenham, shot, undated.

(Mellersh, 1902).

[Swaine, 1982].

History Mellersh (1902) says: 'Two shot in Vale near Cheltenham about 1870 and 1875.' However, it was not accepted locally (Swaine 1982).

0). 1882 Suffolk Woodbridge, obtained, undated, now at Chelmsford Museum.

(Ticehurst, 1932; Wood, 2007).

[Wood, 2007].

History Ticehurst (1932) says: 'One in Boulton's collection at Beverley (Yorkshire) is said to have been shot in the winter of 1822-23 near Woodbridge (Boynton in litt.).'

Wood (2007: 57) states that one from Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1882, is in the Boulton collection in Chelmsford Museum, but it is of doubtful origin.

Comment I think there has been a slip of the pen here with the year; the site and the collector are the same as the record from the winter of 1822. Not acceptable.

0). 1883 Sussex Rye, three, seen, 3rd September.

(T. Parkin, Zoologist 1883: 495; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1895: 434].

History Thomas Parkin of Halton, Hastings (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 495, says: 'Mr. F. Bucknill informs me that, when shooting in the Nook at Rye on Sept., 3rd, he saw three birds which were quite unknown to him; from his description, they could have been nothing else but Black-winged Stilts, Himantopus candidus. I know the species well, having obtained specimens in Egypt; still great doubt remains in my mind as to the identity of the birds in question.'

[The birds may have been Avocets. Both being black and white, with long legs, Avocets and Stilts may be easily confounded at a distance. - Ed.]

J. E. Harting, Editor (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. p. 434, in an Editorial, says: 'In 1883 three were reported to have been seen near Rye on Sept. 3rd (Zool., 1883, p. 495) but the species was not satisfactorily identified. They may have been Avocets, or possibly Oystercatchers.'

Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 213-214) says: 'On September 3rd, 1883, at Rye, Mr. F. Bucknill saw three birds which Mr. T. Parkin recorded in The Zoologist as Black-winged Stilts. But for some reason (unexplained) the Editor of that monthly suggested that they may have been Avocets....Borrer did not mention this trio.'

Comment I believe Borrer published his Birds of Sussex as did des Forges & Harber (1963) without the records they believed were not proven. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1888 Nottinghamshire River Trent, near Nottingham, shot, January.

(D. S. W. Nicholl, Zoologist 1889: 387).

[D. S. W. Nicholl, Zoologist 1890: 25-26].

History Digby S. W. Nicholl of Cowbridge (1889) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIII. p. 387, says: 'I have lately purchased for my collection, from Mr. J. Cording, taxidermist, of Cardiff, a fine specimen of this rare bird. It was shot on the banks of the Trent, near Nottingham, by Mr. White, in January, 1888.' [An unusual date surely for this species. - Ed.]

Digby S. W. Nicholl of Cowbridge (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. pp. 25-26, says: 'I was sorry to let the December number of The Zoologist be published without a letter from me of explanation about the Black-winged Stilt, stated (p. 337) to have been killed at or near Nottingham.

Correspondence with Mr. J. Whitaker, of Rainworth, and with Mr. Cording, of Cardiff, has since led me to believe that the Stilt in question was never killed in England at all, but is a foreign skin. White, the man who Mr. Cording says, shot the Stilt, is at the present time working for him at his shop in Cardiff. Mr. Whitaker asked a man in Nottingham, who knew White well, and he elicited from him that, so far as he knew, White had not handled a gun for the last two years. Moreover, as this Nottingham birdstuffer knew White well, and was also in the habit of communicating the occurrence of any rare or interesting bird to Mr. Whitaker, it seems highly improbable that the occurrence of such a rarity as the Black-winged Stilt should have been unmentioned. I think it only right that I should at once lay these facts before the readers of The Zoologist, for there is no doubt whatever in my mind that Mr. Cording disposed of a foreign-killed bird as a British one, and I think that such practices (too common with birdstuffers generally, I am afraid) should be immediately exposed, and collectors put on their guard.'

Comment Imported. Not acceptable.

0). 1888 Lincolnshire Wainfleet, undated, now at Lincoln Museum.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union 1915: 192).

[Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1915) in the Transactions of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, Vol. III. p. 192, says: 'One in the Lincoln Museum from the collection of the late R. J. Ward is labelled "Wainfleet, 1888".'

Locally, Smith & Cornwallis (1955) state that the evidence is not satisfactory.

0). 1889 Northumberland Holywell Dene, seen, spring.

(J. M. Charlton, Zoologist 1912: 301).

[J. M. Charlton, Zoologist 1912: 301].

History J. M. Charlton (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. p. 301, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'One believed to have been seen by Mr. Proudlock near Holywell, spring 1889. It was by an inland pond, and was clearly observed both before and when in flight.'

0). 1889 Lincolnshire Kirton Marsh, 1st September.

(Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

[Lorand & Atkin, 1989].

History Lorand & Atkin (1989) say: 'One is alleged to have been obtained on Kirton Marsh on 1st September 1889.'

0). 1893 Dorset Worbarrow Bay, Purbeck, flock, seen, summer.

(N. M. Richardson, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 15: 196).

[KAN].

History Nelson M. Richardson, Editor (1894) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XV. p. 196, says: 'Black-winged Stilt. (E.R.B.). Charles Orchard, a well-known and experienced farmer of Wareham, declares that he observed and watched a large flock of this species in Worbarrow Bay, Purbeck, in the summer of 1893.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Probably misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1893 Sussex Rye Harbour, adult male, obtained, 2nd May, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMS.Z.1913.203).

(J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 104: 543).

[J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 104: 543].

History J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan (2011) in British Birds, Vol. CIV. p. 543, in a Letter, under 'Hastings Rarities in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh', state that the following species were sold to the museum during 1913 and 1914 by George Bristow, the taxidermist of St Leonard's, who was at the heart of the fraud known as the 'Hastings Rarities', just before Witherby challenged him in 1916 over the amount of rarities recorded in the area. An adult male Black-winged Stilt from Rye Harbour on 2nd May 1893 (Acc. No. 1913.203).

0). c. 1900 Suffolk Shingle Street, two, shot, undated.

(Ticehurst, 1932).

[Ticehurst, 1932].

History Ticehurst (1932: 379) says: 'In 1910 Mr. Langmaid, of the Life-boat Inn at Shingle Street, informed me he had shot two Stilts there about the year 1900, but I cannot vouch for them.'

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1903 Sussex Near St Leonards-on-Sea, seen, 7th August.

(Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 214) says: 'On August 7th, 1903, the doughty Nicoll ("Private Notes") detected one of these Stilts in the marshes between St. Leonards-on-Sea and Bexhill.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1905 Norfolk Hickling Broad, two, seen, 28th May.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1906: 127; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 228).

[KAN].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. p. 127, says: 'May 28th. Two Black-winged Stilts on the Broads (M. Bird). These Stilts may have been the birds mistaken for Avocets on the 19th.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 229, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. No identification details of this sight record. Not acceptable.

0). 1906 Norfolk Hickling Broad, seen, 29th April.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1907: 127; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 228).

[KAN].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1907) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XI. p. 127, says: 'April 29th. W.N.W., 4. A Black-winged Stilt reported on the Broads, and also an Osprey (Nudd). I hope they were not shot, even though it leaves the identity of the former uncertain.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 229, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. No identification details of this sight record. Not acceptable.

0). 1908 Norfolk Hickling Broad, seen, 29th April.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1909: 127).

[KAN].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Keswick Hall, Norwich (1909) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XIII. p. 127, says: 'April 29th. A Stilt reported to Mr. Bird on our largest Broad; as far as we know it was not shot. It flew within a few yards of the Broadman.'

Comment Same date as the one seen in 1906. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. No identification details of this sight record. Duplicate? Not acceptable.

0). 1910 Sussex Crowhurst, immature male, 3rd to 9th October, when shot, now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.

(N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 4: 252-253; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 30: 271; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 304, 305; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History N. F. Ticehurst (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. pp. 252-253, says: 'At the beginning of October, 1910, a Stilt (Himantopus candidus) arrived in the marshes on the western outskirts of St. Leonards, locally known as "the Salts". On the 3rd it was seen by Mr. M. J. Nicoll from the top of a tram on which he was travelling from Bexhill. The bird, he told me, was feeding in a field by the roadside in company with four Lapwings, and was so close to the passing tram that he had no difficulty in identifying it and could make out that it was an immature bird, I daily expected to hear that it had been shot, but, though constantly pursued, it was not until October 9th that it finally met its inevitable fate about a mile inland from where it first appeared. It proved to be a male and, as Mr. Nicoll stated, it was a bird of the year, with a dusky stripe down the back of its neck, and yellowish legs.

It is perhaps a little surprising that the Stilt is such a rare straggler to the south-east of England, and it is hardly likely that such a striking bird would escape notice, nevertheless there appear to be only three previous records from Sussex (the last on May 6th, 1880, near Eastbourne) and only a single one from Kent.'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1912) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXX. p. 271, on the unexpected occurrences for 1910, says: 'One seen, St. Leonards-on-Sea (Sussex), October 3rd (shot on 9th).'

E. N. Bloomfield (1911) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. pp. 304, 305, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has sent me a long and very interesting list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which I have added a few others lately presented to the Museum by Mr. W. H. Mullens. In Sussex - Himantopus candidus, Bonn., Black-winged Stilt, Crowhurst Marshes, young male, October 9th, 1910.'

Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 214) adds: '...This bird is now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1913 Kent Romney Marsh, two: immature female, shot, 15th September; immature male, shot, 20th September, both now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.58 & 59).

(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 7: 174; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 99; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 174, says: 'Two specimens of the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) have been recently obtained at Lydd, Kent. One, a female, was shot on September 15th, 1913, and the other, a male, on September 20th. I saw both birds soon after they were shot, and they were birds of the year, the legs were brownish, not having assumed the red colouring of the adult birds.'

Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists two specimens killed by Southenden in Romney Marsh, Kent, the female on 15th September 1913 and the male on the 20th, adding that they were bought by J. B. Nichols from Bristow.

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1920 Sussex Broomhill, two: male, shot, 6th May; female, shot, 8th May.

(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 168; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 214) says: 'In 1920, on May 6th and 8th, respectively, a male and female were shot at Broomhill, near Rye (H.E.S.N., III. p. 168).'

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1920 Highland Scotfield, Moray Firth, Inverness-shire, 18th May.

(E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 41: 109; Eds., British Birds 16: 30).

[Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1921) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLI. p. 109, in the annual report, say: 'On 18th May a Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) was seen at Scatfield [sic] on the Moray Firth.'

In an Editorial (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 29, in a Review of the 'Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1920, including Migration', by Evelyn V. Baxter and Leonora J. Rintoul, they say: 'As the Stilt has very rarely occurred in Scotland, it is curious that two should have appeared in one year, one being reported here (p. 108) as seen at Scatfield [sic] on the Moray Firth on May 18th.'

Not accepted nationally for Scotland (I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77).

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1928 Lancashire & North Merseyside Freckleton Marsh, immature, shot, 13th December, now at Towneley Museum, Preston.

(J. R. Charnley, Field 21st Feb., 1929: 313; Eds., British Birds 22: 377; Hardy, 1941; Oakes, 1953).

[White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008].

History J. R. Charnley of Preston (1929) in The Field of 21st Feb., Vol. CLIII. p. 313, says: 'An example of that rare vagrant, the Black-winged Stilt, was shot by a local gunner on Freckleton Marsh, near Preston, on December 13th last. The man who shot it was quite unaware of its identity, but luckily Mr. Sidney Threlfall of this town chanced to recognise the bird at the moment when it was about to be prepared for the pot, and rescued it for preservation. So far as I know this occurrence of the stilt in Lancashire constitutes the first record of the species for the county.'

In an Editorial (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. p. 377, they say: 'Mr. J. R. Charnley states (Field, 21.ii.29, p. 313) that a specimen of Himantopus h. himantopus was shot by a local gunner on Freckleton Marsh, near Preston, on December 13th, 1928. We are informed that it is an immature bird and that its history is entirely satisfactory.'

Not accepted locally (White, McCarthy & Jones 2008).

0). 1934 Shetland Skaw, Whalsay, shot but escaped, September.

(Venables & Venables, 1955).

[Not in Thom, 1986; I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77].

History Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'One was shot but escaped, at Skaw, Whalsay, in September 1934.'

Comment Not accepted nationally for Scotland (I. J. Andrews & K. A. Naylor, Scottish Birds 23: 77).

0). 1935 Kent Stodmarsh, male, shot, 12th May, now at Maidstone Museum.

(Borrer, 1960).

[Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981].

History Borrer (1960: 19) says: 'One, male, Stodmarsh, Kent, 12th May, 1935.' Not accepted locally (Taylor, Davenport & Flegg 1981).

0). 1944 Lancashire & North Merseyside Near Burnslack Fell, near Chipping, seen, 28th October.

(J. A. Whittaker, British Birds 41: 250; Oakes, 1953).

[White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008].

History John A. Whittaker (1948) in British Birds, Vol. XLI. p. 250, says: 'On October 28th, 1944, I observed a Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus h. himantopus) on the marshy ground at the foot of Burnslack Fell near Chipping, Lancashire, at a distance of about 30 miles from the sea. The bird was standing on the remains of an old wooden hut and was remarkably tame. I approached it to within 15 yards, and from there examined it through binoculars, so as to be doubly sure of its identity. It remained quite motionless except for an occasional glance to the left or right, and I left it in the same position after several minutes observation. To preclude any misunderstanding I may add that the date was definitely 1944 as above stated and not 1945, the year in which a small "invasion" of Black-winged Stilts occurred and breeding took place at Nottingham.'

White, McCarthy & Jones (2008: 118) who count this record in their totals, say: 'The moorland habitat is an extremely unlikely place for this species, making the record unsatisfactory.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1953 Cheshire & Wirral Weaver Estuary, three, 3rd May.

(E. Hardy, North-Western Bird Report 1971-85: 17).

History E. Hardy (1971-85) in the North-Western Bird Report, p. 17, says: '3 Weaver Est. 3/5/53 probably previously Scilly and later Hampshire & Dovey Ynys Las Oct, Marshside 28/4/84.'

Comment What an editorial! And probably an error for 1983!