Caspian Plover
Charadrius asiaticus Pallas, 1773 (2, 0)
Photo © By Dr. Raju Kasambe - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75274014
STATUS
Palearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
All accepted records as per BOU (1971).
There are to date (2020) four further records between 1988-2008 of this extremely rare plover.
RECORD
1). 1890 Norfolk North Denes, Great Yarmouth, pair, seen, male shot, 22nd May, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 1890.39).
(Anon., Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1890: 461-462; E. A. Butler, Ibis 1890: 463-464; E. A. Butler, Field 21st June 1890: 906; T. Southwell, Field 28th June 1890: 979; T. Southwell, Zoologist 1890: 311-312; Southwell, 1890; T. Southwell, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 5: 203, 208; Witherby, 1920-24; Riviere, 1930).
History Anon. (1890) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, pp. 461-462, at a meeting held on 17th June 1890, says: 'The Secretary exhibited on behalf of Mr. T. Southwell a mounted specimen of the Caspian Plover (Aegialitis asiatica), and read the following note from Mr. Southwell on the subject: "On the evening of the 23rd May I received from Mr. Lowne, of Yarmouth, the fresh skin of a handsome full-plumaged male of Aegialitis asiatica, sent me for identification.
Subsequently I learned the following particulars with regard to this interesting occurrence. During the morning of the 23rd of May two strange birds were seen in a large market-garden bordering on the North Denes at Yarmouth, which attracted the attention of the occupier of the Gardens, but he had no opportunity of a shot till about 5.30 p.m., when they were on the Golf ground which forms a portion of the Denes. He tried to get both birds in a line for a double shot; that being unsuccessful he selected the brighter of the two, its companion being at the time about six yards distant from it; when he tired, the paler bird, presumably the female, flew off in a westerly direction and was no more seen. Very shortly after, the bird was purchased of the shooter by Mr. H. C. Knights, by whom it was taken the next morning, to Mr. Lowne for preservation, who as before stated, forwarded the skin to me for identification. The weather at the time was very warm, and
Mr. Lowne seeing that it was a valuable bird would not risk sending it to me in the flesh; hence it was that I saw only the skin, but I may mention that it had all the appearance of having been very recently removed and that there were still many living parasites remaining on the feathers. The sternum Mr. Lowne sent to Professor Newton. The total length of the bird in the flesh was 8 inches and its weight 2¼ oz.
Mr. Knights was good enough to give me the first offer of the bird, and through the liberality of some friends of the Norwich Museum I was enabled to purchase this latest addition to the many local rarities for that Institution.'
E. A. Butler of Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft (1890) in The Ibis, Vol. XXXII. pp. 463-464, dated 20th June 1890, says: 'On the 22nd May a beautiful adult male specimen of the Caspian Plover (Aegialitis asiatica, Pall.) was shot by a boy named Samuel Bensley on the Denes, Great Yarmouth. There was another one with it at the time, but that escaped. The ground on which they were observed was sand overgrown with grass.
The bird, which has since been purchased, I am informed, by Mr. Southwell for the Norwich Museum for the sum of £10, has been nicely mounted by Mr. Lowne, naturalist, Yarmouth, in whose shop it is still on view. I have compared it with the description of the summer plumage in Stray Feathers (Vol. VII. p. 438), with which it agrees well, except that the crown, nape, wings, and back appear to be in the paler winter plumage. The bird is about the size of the common Ringed Plover (Aegialitis hiaticula), but in plumage reminds one more of the Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus) on account of its broad rufous pectoral band and the white stripe over the eye. The most striking feature, however, is the long tarsus, in which it seems to approach the genus Himantopus.
The birds were not at all shy, and consequently easily approached, and that they were genuine wild birds there is not a doubt. This adds one more species to the British list, and it is to be hoped will find a place amongst the beautiful plates in Lord Lilford's new work, to which it will be a valuable addition.' P.S. The sternum has been forwarded to Prof. Newton.
[The specimen in question was exhibited by Mr. Southwell at the meeting of the Zoological Society of London on June 17th. - Ed.]
E. A. Butler of Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft (1890) in The Field of 21st June, Vol. LXXV. p. 906, under 'Occurrence of the Asiatic Plover (Aegialitis asiaticus, Pall.) in Suffolk', says: 'In the last two issues of The Field I have been anxiously expecting to find an account of the occurrence of this rare bird, a fine specimen of which was shot on the Denes at Yarmouth about three weeks ago, but as, up to date, it remains unrecorded, perhaps you may think it worth while to publish this note in your next number.
The specimen obtained was one of a pair, and proved on dissection to be a male, agreeing well with the description of the summer plumage of Aegialitis asiaticus, Pall., in Stray Feathers, Vol. VII. p. 438. The bird, which is about the size of our Ringed Plover, recalls to mind the Dotterel in plumage, with its broad rufous pectoral band and conspicuous white stripe over the eyes, but the most striking feature is its length of leg, in which it seems to approach the Stilt. The man who shot it sold it, I am informed, for 3s., since which it has become the property of the Norwich Museum for £10. It has been nicely mounted by Mr. Lowne, of Yarmouth, at whose shop it is still on view.
The bird has never before appeared in the British Isles, which makes its occurrence now the more interesting and remarkable. The hen escaped, and is still at large.' [The specimen was exhibited at the meeting of the Zoological Society on Tuesday last. - Ed.]
Thomas Southwell (1890) in The Field of 28th June, Vol. LXXV. p. 979, says: 'I am sorry to find that Col. Butler, having waited so long, did not delay for one short week more his announcement of the occurrence of Aegialitis asiaticus in the county of Suffolk. Accuracy in such matters is above all things desirable, and the specimen having come into my hands, I delayed recording it until I had thoroughly investigated the circumstances of the occurrence, which I am happy to say has now been done with an entirely satisfactory result. I was also anxious that the bird should be exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society before its advent was published. Will you allow me now to say that this rare bird was killed on the North Denes, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on May 22, and sent to me for determination by Mr. Lowne on the 23rd. Mr. Knights, into whose hands it came the same evening it was killed, kindly gave me the offer of it, and through the liberality of some friends of the Norwich Museum, I was, as Col. Butler rightly says, enabled to purchase the bird for that institution, where this first British example of the Caspian Plover is now safely housed.'
[The insertion of "Suffolk" instead of "Norfolk" in the head line to Col. Butler's communication last week was an accident, as may be seen on reference to his letter, wherein he states clearly that the bird was shot on the Denes at Yarmouth. - Ed.]
Thomas Southwell of Norwich (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. pp. 311-312, and in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, Vol. III. p. 382-384, in Appendix A, says: '...It was with no little pleasure, therefore, that on the evening of the 23rd of May, 1890, I received from Mr. Lowne, of Yarmouth, the fresh skin of a handsome full-plumaged male of this species which he sent for determination, as the bird was unknown to him. I subsequently learnt the following particulars with regard to this interesting occurrence.
During the morning of the 22nd of May, a date very nearly coinciding with the second appearance of the Caspian Plover in Heligoland, two strange birds were seen in a large market-garden, known as Sacret's Piece, bordering on the North Denes, at Yarmouth, which attracted the attention of a man names Samuel Smith, who works the garden for a Mr. Bracey, but he had no opportunity of a shot. About 5.30 p.m., when they were on the golf ground, which forms a portion of the denes, Smith's step-son, Arthur Bensley, saw them, and having a gun with him tried to get both birds in line for a double shot, but being unsuccessful selected the brighter of the two, its companion at the time about six yards distant from it; when he fired the paler bird, presumably the female, flew off in a westerly direction, and was no more seen.
Very shortly after, the bird was purchased of Smith by Mr. H. C. Knights, by whom it was shown in the flesh to Mr. G. F. D. Preston, and taken the next morning to Mr. Lowne for preservation; he, as before stated, forwarded the skin to me the same evening.
The weather being very warm at the time, Mr. Lowne would not risk sending the bird in the flesh; hence it was that I saw only the skin, but I may mention that it had all the appearance of having been very recently removed, and that there were still many living parasites remaining on the feathers. Mr. Gurney also saw the skin while it was in my possession. The sternum Mr. Lowne sent to Professor Newton. The total length of the bird when in the flesh, Mr. Lowne tells me, was eight inches, and its weigh two and a quarter ounces [?]. Mr. Knights was good enough to give me the first offer of the bird, and through the liberality of some friends of the Norwich Museum, I was enabled to purchase it for that institution, and to send the first British example for exhibition at the meeting of the Zoological Society, on the 17th of June last.
In Mr. Dresser's figure of this species the tints of the plumage are not quite so bright as in the freshly killed bird before me, and the conspicuous black border below the chestnut pectoral band is wanting, although it is mentioned in the verbal description; the legs also are coloured, and described as "ochreous-yellow"; but in the Yarmouth bird they were, when fresh, undoubtedly "greenish-ochreous", as described in the Ibis by Mr. Harting, a hue which Mr. Dresser states "is certainly an error", but which in this case I can confirm. Mr. Harting's otherwise excellent figure is much darker than in colour than the Yarmouth specimen. In neither of the figures referred to has the bird the appearance of standing so high on the legs as in the example now recorded. I submitted the parasites before mentioned to Dr. Piaget, who was kind enough to inform me that they are a new species, for which he proposed the name of Nirmus assimilis.'
Thomas Southwell (1889-94) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. V. p. 203, read 24th February 1891, says: 'On the 23rd of May, 1890, I received from Mr. Lowne, of Yarmouth, the fresh skin of a full plumaged male of this species, which had been killed on the previous day on the North Denes at that place, and which he sent to me for determination. When killed it was accompanied by a companion of its own species, presumably a female, which escaped, and was no more seen.' Further, p. 228, he adds: 'presented by subscription to the Norwich Museum.'
Patterson (1905) says: 'An adult male of this species (now in Castle Museum, Norwich) was shot in a market garden bordering the North Denes, Great Yarmouth on 22nd May 1890; two were seen, but only one killed. The birds were first seen on the golf course in the early morning, and some little time later flew to the garden, where a gunner, who was unsuccessful in getting them into line, picked the brighter plumaged on and slew it, whereupon the other flew away, and was not seen again. The bird itself, after death, was left at a house next door to where I then lived, and placed on the top of the clock to be out of the way of the cat!'
Admitted nationally in their second List of British Birds (BOU 1915).
Riviere (1930) adds: 'The male was sent by Lowne, the Yarmouth taxidermist to Southwell for identification and was afterwards purchased for the Norwich Museum.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1887 Sussex Near Rye, shot, 21st August, now at Booth Museum, Brighton.
(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 34; Griffith, 1927; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[Not in BOU, 1971].
History N. F. Ticehurst (1928) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 34, says: 'A young bird killed near Rye on August 21st, 1887, and stuffed by Gasson, is now in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, from the Vauncey Crewe collection. This specimen has not been previously recorded in our Journal.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 124-125) says: 'On August 21st, 1887, a Caspian Plover was shot near Rye, and taken to Gasson, then a taxidermist at Rye, for preservation. At a later date it passed into the Harpur Crewe collection, and in November 1926 it was purchased for the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, at the auction of the Harpur Crewe collection. Initially it was "put up" as a Cream-coloured Courser (Griffiths, 1927).'
0). 1908 Sussex Pevensey, juvenile female, obtained, 7th March, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.61).
(Watson, 2010).
[KAN].
History Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a juvenile female specimen that was obtained at Pevensey, Sussex, on 7th March 1908, adding that it was bought at Sir V. H. Crewe's sale.
Comment Crewe's specimens have been questioned before over their provenance and this record has come to light 102 years after the event leaving it open to doubt. Not acceptable.
0). 1911 Kent Brenzett, adult male and female, 13th July.
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 5: 115; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 284; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 3-4; F. W. Frohawk, Field 19th Nov., 1925: 879; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 115, says: 'On July 13th, 1911, a pair of Caspian Plovers (Aegialitis asiatica) were shot on Romney Marsh; the male was in perfect plumage, but the female was somewhat worn. I examined both birds in the flesh on July 14th.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1913) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXXII. p. 284, on the unexpected occurrences for 1911, says: 'Pair shot, Romney Marsh (Kent) July 13th.'
F. W. Frohawk (1925) in The Field of 19th Nov., Vol. CXLVI. p. 879, says: 'On November 10th last, the disposal took place at Stevens' Auction Rooms, Covent Garden, of the first portion of the very remarkable collection of British birds, formed by the late Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe, Bart., during about fifty years of his life....and an example of the Caspian Plover, shot on Romney Marsh, October, 1911, £2. 15s.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 125) says: 'In A Practical Handbook it is stated they came from the Sussex portion of Romney Marsh, but Mr. A. F. Griffith (who purchased one of them for the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, from the Crewe collection), maintains they came from a hamlet called Brenzett in the Kentish portion.'
Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex Pevensey, male, shot, 30th March.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 8: 13; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VIII. p. 13, says: 'I should like to put on record the following occurrences of rare vagrants in Kent and Sussex: - Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus). - A male was shot at Pevensey, Sussex, on March 30th, 1914, and examined in the flesh by Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay. This is, I believe, the fourth British specimen.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 125) says: 'Was in the Nichols collection, but now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
