Eskimo Curlew

Scolopacidae

Oct 29

Numenius borealis (Forster, JR, 1772) (4, 0) Cat. B

STATUS

Nearctic. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

There was much confusion over the three Suffolk records. A review to find the first for Britain was carried out and the findings published (2007) by the BOURC (Ibis 149: 194).

RECORDS

1). 1855 North-east Scotland Cairn-mon-earn, Durris Forest, Kincardineshire, shot, 6th September.

(J. Longmuir, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 5: 265-268; Yarrell, 1856; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 375; Sim, 1903; BOU, 1915; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986; P. R. Gordon & D. L. Clugston, Scottish Birds 18: 137; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History J. Longmuir of Aberdeen (1855) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. V. pp. 265-268, dated October, 1855, says: 'This bird is the third, smallest, and rarest of our British curlews. Its claim to a place in the British fauna, if not the European also, rests on a single specimen, killed on the 6th of September, 1855, in the parish of Durris, Kincardineshire, a few miles from Aberdeen, by W. R. Cusack Smith, Esq., at the time occupying Durris House.

The bird was sent to be stuffed by Mr. Mitchell, Aberdeen; and was examined a few days after, by the writer, who ascertained it to be the Eskuimaux Curlew. Unluckily, it was not measured when in the flesh, and the sex was not observed; but it appears to be a female, in almost complete winter livery. Some questions sent to its fortunate possessor were most courteously answered in a letter, from which the following passages were extracted: - "I shot the bird on the 6th of this month (September). I was standing on a cairn of stones, which is at the top of a hill on the "muir", belonging to Durris, called Cair-monearn; and was looking at the view, when my gamekeeper said to me that there was a Golden Plover close to me, on the south-east side of the cairn. I looked, and saw a bird walking slowly about, just as a Plover would do; and as soon as I could get my gun, I went up to the bird and shot it. Its flight was very similar to that of a Sea-gull. The bird was quite alone. I did not hear it utter any note; and I think if it had done so, I must have heard it. It seemed very much disinclined to rise from the ground, and allowed me to get within twenty yards of it....Mr. Smith's specimen, contrary to what might have been expected, was so plump, that, to use the homely expression of the birdstuffer, "the very oil was running out of it"....Between our Curlews, and the one now for the first time added to the list, there is a marked "family likeness", notwithstanding the difference in size.

The bill is brownish black, the basal portion of the lower mandible flesh-coloured, which gradually passes into the darker hue; irides dark brown; sides of the head yellowish brown, with brown streaks; upper part of the head brownish black, edged with reddish brown, neck considerably lighter, edged with dull white; upper parts blackish brown, with light edges; primary quills dusky brown, the first four shafts white, the others becoming darker till they pass at length into pale brown; secondaries lighter; rump dark brown, with light edges; upper tail-coverts barred with dark and light shades; the tail composed of twelve feathers, ash grey, with dark brown bars, edged and tipped with brownish white. Throat with a streak over the eye, nearly white; fore-neck light brown, with small longitudinal liver brown markings; under wing-coverts chestnut, with irregular brown markings; breast and abdomen yellowish grey, tinged with brown; the shafts of each feather brown, gradually disappearing downwards: the former with, the latter without, dark markings; feet dark green. The dimensions agree most exactly with those in the works of Audubon and Swainson. They are - length, approximate, fully fourteen inches; extent of wings, twenty-eight inches; bill two inches three lines; tarsus one inch ten lines; middle toe almost one inch, its claws about three lines.

This curlew is a most interesting addition to the score or so of birds which our Fauna has been enriched from America, and is the fourth or fifth American species belonging to the family of Sandpipers, which has made its way to this country; the others mentioned in Yarrell being the Buff-breasted Sandpiper; the Pectoral Sandpiper, of which a second example was obtained in Northumberland, this summer; Schinz's Sandpiper, to which Bartram's Tatler has very recently been added. The write cannot conclude this, without acknowledging the opportunities which, at some inconvenience, have been given by Mr. Smith for the examination of this specimen.'

Yarrell (1856: 36-37, 2nd supp.) says: 'A communication to the Linnean Society of London in November, 1855, announced the occurrence of this Curlew in Scotland, and, as far as I have been able to learn, its first recorded appearance in Britain. This bird was killed on the 6th of September, 1855, in the parish of Durris, Kincardineshire, a few miles from Aberdeen, by W. R. Cusack Smith, Esq., at the time occupying Durris House.

The bird was sent to be preserved by Mr. Mitchell, Aberdeen, and was examined a few days later by J. Longmuir, Esq., jun., who ascertained it to be the Eskuimaux Curlew. Unluckily it was not measured when in the flesh, and the sex was not observed; but it appeared to be a female, in almost complete winter livery. Some questions sent to its fortunate possessor were most courteously answered in a letter, from which the following passages were extracted: - "I shot the bird on the 6th of September. I was standing on a cairn of stones, which is at the top of a hill on the muir, belonging to Durris, called Car-monearn, one of the Grampian range, some twelve hundred feet above sea-level, and was looking at that view, when my gamekeeper told me that there was a Golden Plover close to me, on the south-east side of the cairn. I looked, and saw a bird walking slowly about, just as a Plover would do; and as soon as I could get my gun, I went up to the bird and shot it. Its flight was very similar to that of a Sea-gull. The bird was quite alone. I did not hear it utter any note; and I think if it had done so, I must have heard it. It seemed very much disinclined to rise from the ground, and allowed me to get within twenty yards of it".

Further, p. 39, he adds: 'The bird killed in Scotland is, with other details, thus described in The Naturalist for the month of December last (1855): - The bill is brownish black, the basal portion of the lower mandible flesh-coloured; irides dark brown; sides of the head yellowish brown, with brown streaks; upper part of the head brownish black, edged with reddish brown, neck considerably lighter, edged with dull white; upper parts blackish brown, with light edges; primary quills dusky brown, the shafts of the first four white, the others becoming darker, passing into pale brown; secondaries lighter rump dark brown, with light edges; upper tail-coverts barred with dark and light shades; tail, of twelve feathers, ash grey, with dark brown bars, edged and tipped with brownish white; throat, and a streak over the eye, nearly white; fore-neck light brown, with small longitudinal liver brown markings; under wing-coverts chestnut, with irregular brown markings; breast and abdomen yellowish grey, tinged with brown; tarsi and feet dark green. The whole length is about fourteen inches; the bill two inches three lines; wing, from anterior bend, eight inches nine lines; tarsus one inch ten lines; middle toe almost one inch.'

Accepted locally (Gray 1871: 290; Sim 1903: 178), admitted nationally (BOU 1915) and by Baxter & Rintoul (1953) who erroneously state the year to be 1885. Also, admitted by H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 374, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union.

2). 1878 North-east Scotland Slains, male, shot, 28th September.

(Anon., Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 4: 12; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1879: 135; G. Sim, Scottish Naturalist 5: 36; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 375; Sim, 1903; BOU, 1915; BOU, 1971; Thom, 1986; P. R. Gordon & D. L. Clugston, Scottish Birds 18: 137; T. Melling, British Birds 103: 80-92; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History Anon. (1878) in the Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. IV. p. 12, at the meeting held on 26th November 1878, says: 'Mr. John Harvie-Brown, F.Z.S., exhibited a fine specimen of the Eskimaux Curlew, Numenius borealis, which was shot in Aberdeenshire on 29th September last, and read a note from Mr. George Sim, Aberdeen, who had forwarded the specimen, giving detailed measurements, weight, &c., and noticing that the stomach contained crowberries, some flies, and a caterpillar.'

J. E. Harting (1879) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. III. p. 135, says: 'At a meeting of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, held on the 26th November last, Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown exhibited a specimen of the Eskimeaux Curlew, Numenius borealis, which had been shot in Aberdeenshire on the 29th of the previous month of September. A note to Mr. Robert Mason, the Secretary of the Society, procured for me the following particulars from Mr. Sim, the taxidermist, of King Street, Aberdeen, to whom the specimen was sent for preservation: - "The bird was shot by Mr. Ramsay, of Staines [Slains], and proved to be a male, weighing eight ounces. The total length from tip of bill to end of tail was 13½ inches; expanse of wings, 25¾ inches; bill, 2 inches; wing from carpal joint, 7⅞ inches; tarsus, 1¾ inches. The stomach contained crowberries, some flies, and a caterpillar.

This rare straggler from America was first noticed as a visitor to the British Islands in 1855, when one was killed in Kincardineshire, as recorded by Mr. Longmuir (Naturalist 1855, p. 265), and subsequently in Yarrell's History of British Birds (3rd edit., Vol. II. p. 620). Two were subsequently shot in Suffolk, as noticed by Mr. Hele in his Notes about Aldeburgh (p. 177), and a fourth, purchased in Dublin in the flesh, in October, 1870, is preserved in the collection of Sir Victor Brooke (see, Zoologist, 1870, p. 2408). The specimen now referred to therefore makes the fifth which has been procured in this country.'

George Sim of Aberdeen (1879-80) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 36, says: 'A fine specimen of the Esquimaux Curlew (Numenius borealis) was shot by Mr. W. Ramsay on the estate of Slains, on Saturday, 28th September last. The bird, which proved a male, was in good condition. The stomach was crammed with crow-berries (Knouperts), amongst which were several flies and one caterpillar. Extent of wings, 25¾ inches, length from point of beak to end of tail, 13½ inches; length of beak, measured over ridge, 2 inches; tarsus, 1¾ inch; wing, from carpal joint 7⅞ inches; weight, 8 ounces.

This is the second of this species on record for Scotland, the first having been shot on the estate of Durris, Kincardineshire, on the 6th September, 1855. The one now obtained answers well with the description of the first as given in The Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 265; as also with Swainson's description of the species. Wilson, in his American Ornithology, describes a bird as N. borealis, of proportions so different from the testimony of all other authors with which I am acquainted, that it is evident he has made a mistake in the bird's identity, or the other have.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 513, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the 29th of September, 1879, another example of this rare straggler was shot in Aberdeenshire, by Mr. Ramsay, of Staines, and exhibited by Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, at the meeting of the Natural History Society of Glasgow on the 26th of November. Mr. G. Sim, of Aberdeen, to whom the bird was sent for preservation, stated that the bird was a male, weighing eight ounces, and that its stomach contained crowberries, some flies, and a caterpillar (Zool., 1879, p. 135).'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 374, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union, admits this record. Accepted locally (Sim 1903: 178).

Admitted nationally in their second List of British Birds but stated to be September 1879 (BOU 1915).

BOU (1971) admit this record stating the record now as Aberdeen (September 1878).

T. Melling (2010) in British Birds, Vol. CIII. p. 87, states that it was really shot on the 28th September 1878.

Accepted nationally for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).

3). 1880 North-east Scotland Forest of Birse, Kincardineshire, adult male, shot, 21st September.

(J. A. Harvie-Brown, Zoologist 1880: 485; G. Sim, Zoologist 1880: 515-516; J. A. Harvie-Brown, Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow 4: 314; G. Sim, Scottish Naturalist 6: 13; Yarrell, 1871-85; Sim, 1903; BOU, 1915; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986; P. R. Gordon & D. L. Clugston, Scottish Birds 18: 137; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History J. A. Harvie-Brown of Dunipace House, Larbert (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 485, says: 'An Esquimeaux Curlew was shot on a hill in the Forest of Birse, Kincardineshire, on September 21st, and was sent in to Mr. George Sim, naturalist, Aberdeen, for preservation.'

George Sim of Aberdeen (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. pp. 515-516, says: 'At p. 485 Mr. Harvie-Brown has referred to the capture of a specimen of this bird on a hill in the Forest of Birse, on September 21st. As the specimen was forwarded to me for preservation, it may be interesting to some of your readers if I add that the bird in question was an adult male, and on examination the stomach was found to contain crow-berries.'

J. A. Harvie-Brown, (1878-80) in the Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. IV. p. 314, says: 'Mr. Geo. Sim writes to report the capture of another Eskimaux Curlew. "It was shot on the 21st September, on a hill in the forest of Birse, Kincardineshire, by Mr. H. C. Hadden, and was sent to Mr. Sim as a "queer-looking plover". Like the one mentioned last year, this is a male. The measurements are ½ inch shorter and ½ inch less in extent of wings. The stomach contained crow-berries, the same as the specimen last year".'

George Sim of Aberdeen (1881-82) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VI. p. 13, says: 'I have again to record the appearance of the Esquimaux Curlew (Numenius borealis), one having been shot by Mr. H. C. Hadden in the Forest of Birse on 21st September last. This bird (which was a male) was the same weight as the one reported in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 36, 1879, but in length a quarter of an inch shorter, and less by half an inch in extent of wings. The stomach contained the same sort of food as the one referred to above. This is the third occurrence of the species in Scotland.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 513, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the 21st September, 1880, an adult male shot in the Forest of Birse, Kincardineshire, was sent to the same taxidermist [Mr. G. Sim], and its stomach was found to contain crowberries (Zool., 1880, pp. 485 and 515).'

Accepted locally (Sim 1903: 178) and nationally by the BOU (1915) who state 'Kincardineshire, Sept. 1880.'

BOU (1971) admit this record stating the record as Aberdeen (September 1880).

Accepted nationally for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007).

4). 1887 Isles of Scilly Tresco, adult, shot, 10th September, photo, now at Isles of Scilly Museum.

(T. Cornish, Zoologist 1887: 388; J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 342; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 136; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969; Birding World 20 (8): 338, photo; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 55; T. Melling, British Birds 103: 80-92).

History Thomas Cornish of Penzance (1887) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XI. p. 388, says: 'By the kindness of Mr. Dorrien Smith I have inspected a specimen of the Eskimeaux Curlew, Numenius borealis, obtained by him at Tresco, Scilly, on September 10th. It was an adult in full plumage, and there is no doubt about the identity of the species; but on comparing the description given of it by Wilson and Yarrell with that of other authors within reach, and with the bird itself, we find a discrepancy in the length of the tarsus. We cannot make it more than one inch six lines. Wilson and Yarrell (apparently following Wilson) make it one inch ten lines. The specimen much resembles in shape a small Whimbrel, with one of which birds it was in company when taken; but its plumage, especially that of the under side of the body and wings, differ much from that of the Whimbrel, as does also the bill, both in shape and comparative length.'

J. Clark & F. R. Rodd (1906) in The Zoologist, Vol. X. p. 342, under 'The Birds of Scilly', say: 'The only Scillonian specimen was killed by Dorrien-Smith on Tresco on Sept. 10th, 1887.'

J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 136, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', adds: '...preserved in the [Tresco] Abbey collection.'

Accepted locally by Penhallurick (1969) who adds: '...an adult in full breeding plumage', and Flood, Hudson & Thomas (2007) who state that the mounted skin is on show in the Isles of Scilly Museum.

NOT PROVEN

0). 1852 Suffolk Near Woodbridge, shot, November.

(Hele, 1870; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Babington, 1884-86; BOU, 1915; Witherby, 1920-24; Ticehurst, 1932; BOU, 1971; Payn, 1978; Piotrowski, 2003; BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194).

[J. J. Dalgleish, Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club 5: 210; BOURC, Ibis 152: 200].

History Hele (1870) says: 'An example of the species was killed some years since, on the river [Alde, in Suffolk], by Captain Ferrand; but was, unfortunately, not preserved. One in the possession of Mr. Hilling, of Woodbridge, in very similar dress, was obtained in the river in that neighbourhood.'

J. J. Dalgleish (1880) in the Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V. p. 210, placed a question mark against this record, presumably unsure of its history.

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 513, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. N. F. Hele, in his Notes about Aldeburgh (p. 177), published in 1870, states that "an example of the species was killed some years since, on the river [Alde, in Suffolk], by Captain Ferrand, but was, unfortunately, not preserved. One in the possession of Mr. Hilling, of Woodbridge, in very similar dress, was obtained in the river in that neighbourhood". These two are the only occurrences recorded in England.'

Babington (1884-86: 241) says: 'One killed on the River Alde by Capt. Ferrand, some years before 1870, not preserved (Hele, Ald., 177). Two obtained near Woodbridge, in Nov. 1852; one of them was in possession of Mr. Hillen, and was sold by him to Mr. V. H. Crewe of Theberton House (W. H. M. Carthew in litt.). Mr. J. H. Gurney, compared this specimen with an American skin and felt quite satisfied as to its authenticity; it had clearly been set up from the flesh.'

BOU (1915) admit these two for Suffolk, with the date as Nov. 1862, and the other reported prior to 1870.

Witherby (1924 (2): 669) says: 'Two Nov., 1852, near Woodbridge (Suffolk).'

Ticehurst (1932: 378-379) says: 'There is little to add to what Babington wrote. Three examples are recorded, one of which is certainly genuine: one said to have been killed on the River Alde some years prior to 1870 and not preserved; Hele, who recorded it, did not see the bird himself; one near Woodbridge in November 1852 was examined by Gurney (Crewe coll.); another is said to have been shot at the same time.'

BOU (1971) say: 'Suffolk (two in November 1852).'

Piotrowski (2003: 165) says: 'Two at Woodbridge in November 1852 are acceptable, but the record prior to 1870 is rather vague and not admitted by previous authors.'

Only one individual admitted nationally, presumably the one examined by Gurney (BOURC (2007) Ibis 149: 194).

However, after stating the identification was proven, found that its date and circumstances of its collection were not reported until 14 years later and shortly just before the sale to the discredited collector Sir Vauncey Harpur Crewe, have now found it to be unacceptable (BOURC (2010) Ibis 152: 200).

Comment Saunders only mentioned two birds. Babington (1884-86) appears to be the first person to record three, which I believe was erroneous. BOU (1915) state these two birds and another prior to 1870 record, but give the date as Nov., 1862. Ticehurst and Payn (1978, 2nd ed.) both copy Babington and state there were three birds.

0). 1852 Suffolk Woodbridge, shot, November.

(Hele, 1870; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Babington, 1884-86; BOU, 1915; Witherby, 1920-24; Ticehurst, 1932; BOU, 1971; Payn, 1978; Piotrowski, 2003).

[J. J. Dalgleish, Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club 5: 210; BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194; P. Murphy et al., Suffolk Birds 2006: 41].

History J. J. Dalgleish (1880) in the Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V. p. 210, placed a question mark against this record, presumably unsure of its history.

BOURC (2007) in The Ibis, Vol. CXLIX. p. 194, no longer accept this individual.

0). Pre 1870 Suffolk River Alde, obtained, undated.

(Hele, 1870; Yarrell, 1871-85; Saunders, 1899; BOU, 1915; Payn, 1978).

[J. J. Dalgleish, Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club 5: 210; Witherby, 1920-24; BOU, 1971; BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194].

J. J. Dalgleish (1880) in the Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V. p. 210, placed a question mark against this record, presumably unsure of its history.

Saunders (1899: 631, 2nd ed.) quoting from Babington (1884-86) mentions this record. Also, BOU (1915) report this record, as does Witherby (1924 (2): 669) who says: 'One alleged R. Alde (Suffolk) prior to 1870.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2007) Ibis 149: 194).

Comment I believe this is a duplicate record for one of those in 1852. Not acceptable.

0). 1879 Sussex Jury's Gap, male, shot, 7th September.

(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 4: 36-37; Griffith, 1931; Harrison, 1953; G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1953: 5).

[BOU, 1971].

History N. F. Ticehurst (1928) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. IV. pp. 36-37, says: 'A male shot by J. Southerden at Jury's Gap, Romney Marsh, on September 7th, 1879, and stuffed by G. Bristow, senior, has recently been acquired by the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton. This America species, which has not been met with anywhere since 1915, and is believed to be extinct, has been obtained, at the most, nine times in the British Isles, and this specimen adds another new species to our local list.'

Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).

0). 1880 North-east Scotland Hill of Craigston, Aberdeenshire, shot, September.

(Harvie-Brown MS.; Sim, 1903).

[BOURC (2007), Ibis 149: 194; T. Melling, British Birds 103: 80-92].

History Sim (1903: 178) says: '...and in the same year and month [1880 September] one was shot on the Hill of Craigston, parish of King Edward, and was preserved by Mr. McBoyle, Peterhead.'

Not admitted nationally (BOURC (2007) Ibis 149: 194).

AC Non-pass

Keith Naylor

Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis (Forster, JR, 1772) (4, 0) Cat. B

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Long-billed Dowitcher