Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus (Say, 1822) (5, 2)

Photo © Gavin Chambers

STATUS

Holarctic. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Formerly known as the Brown Snipe (winter plumage) or Red-breasted Snipe/Sandpiper (summer plumage).

However, some of the earlier records are fraught with danger as the descriptions published by Latham (Synopsis 5: 153), the Linnean Transactions (9: 198), and Montagu (1813, supp.) all fit the Bar-tailed Godwit (Newman 1866).

Until 1932 when Rowan drew attention to the fact that there were two species of Dowitcher in the New World all historical records were recorded under Dowitcher with some of the records mentioning the Short-billed race.

Following a paper (1961) by Pitelka (British Birds 54: 340-342) who reviewed the specimens in the British Museum, I. C. T. Nisbet in the following pages (pp. 345-357) of that journal, carried out a review of recorded British Dowitchers resulting in three between 1862 and 1902 being Short-billed and a further one occurring in 1957 in Norfolk. However these four were all rejected later by the BOURC (1992) which left three indeterminate and the other being found not proven.

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RECORDS

1). 1801 Devon Coastal locality, first-winter male, obtained, October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring (No. Vellum B 202 A).

(Montagu, 1802, 1813; Fleming, 1828; "S.T.P." Loudon's Magazine of Natural History 3: 28; Jenyns, 1835; Yarrell, 1845; Newman, 1866; F. A. Pitelka, British Birds 54: 340-342; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; BOU (1971), Ibis 113: 143; Moore, 1969; Sharrock, 1985).

History Montagu (1802) under 'Brown Snipe', says: 'The weight of this species is three ounces and a quarter; length, from the apex of the bill to the end of the tail, eleven inches; to the end of the middle toe thirteen inches and a half. Bill two inches and a half long, rather inclining downwards at the point, not so slender as that of the Common Snipe, and spreads a little broad and compressed near the end, of a dusky colour, lightest- at the base; upper mandible rather the longest, serrated within along the middle of the roof; both mandibles punctured or rough near the tip; irides dusky. From the bill to the eye a dusky stroke, above that, passing over the eye, a white one; cheeks and throat white, with a few brown streaks on the former; upper and under eyelids white; the crown of the head and neck cinereous-brown, lightest on the fore part of the latter, and on the former the feathers are dusky in the middle; back and scapulars dark brown, margined with cinereous and rufous-brown; greater quills dusky, the interior ones, and the largest coverts immediately impending them, slightly tipped with white; shaft of the first quill white, the second grey; the smaller coverts above and just below the bastard wing dusky and white; the rest of the coverts cinereous-brown, darkest in the middle of each feather; the secondary quills dusky brown, tipped and margined with white; tertials cinereous-brown, darkest towards the end, and pale at the edges; upper breast like the fore part of the neck, darker down the shafts; lower breast and belly white; under wing-coverts and under scapulars white, prettily marked with angular dusky streaks; thighs faintly spotted the same; lower part of the back under the scapulars white; rump and upper tail-coverts elegantly barred with black and white, those on the former in form of sublunated black spots; under tail-coverts reach nearly to the end of the tail, which, with the sides of the vent, are rufous-white, barred with dusky; the same markings, but fainter, extend along the sides under the wing; the tail consists of twelve somewhat pointed feathers, all thickly barred with black and white on both webs, the black bars much the broadest; the two middle feathers rather the longest, a little tinged with ferruginous at the tip; legs yellow olivaceous-green.

The bird here described is a male, and was shot in the beginning of October on the coast of Devonshire. It seems to vary so little in the essential characters from the Brown Snipe described by Mr. Pennant and Dr. Latham, that we cannot hesitate to pronounce it a variety of that bird. It has not to our knowledge been noticed before as a British species, and has only been found in America on the coast of Now York. This specimen was rather poor, which accounts for its inferior weight, for in appearance it is rather larger than the Common Snipe, and stands higher upon its legs. It was single, and very tame, suffering the person who killed it to approach very near.'

Fleming (1828: 106) says: 'S. grisea. Brown Snipe - Temm. Orn. ii. 679. - Grey Snipe - This species has the first and second toes united the length of the first joint, by a web. The tail-feathers are 12 in number, with black and white bands. The crown, neck, breast, and wing-covers, plain cinereous- brown. - This species, a native of North America, has twice occurred in Europe; once in Sweden, and once in England. Montagu, in his Orn. Dict., records the latter instance. It was shot in the beginning of October, on the coast of Devonshire. It was poor, single, very tame, suffering the person who killed it to approach very near. He has added, in the Supplement, a figure of the individual.'

"S.T.P." (1830) in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. III. p. 27, says: 'The first of these two, in order of dates, is the Scolopax grisea of Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary. (fig. 2). A specimen of this bird was killed in Devonshire in the month of October, 1801: the length of the bill 2½ inches; whole length of the bird 11 inches; weight 3¼ oz. The head, neck, breast, and wing-coverts, are ash-coloured brown, without spots, with a streak of the same colour from the base of the beak to the eye; above the eyes, the throat, belly, and thighs, pure white; the flanks white, varied with light brown; back and scapulars light brown, each feather having a darker brown edge; rump, upper and under tail-coverts, white, marked across with narrow black and white bars alternately. This specimen is now in the British Museum, and a good representation of the bird, in this its winter plumage, will be found in Montagu's Supplement to his Ornithological Dictionary.'

Jenyns (1835: 207) says: 'The specimen described by Montagu was shot in the beginning of October, on the coast of Devonshire.'

Yarrell (1845 (3): 43-44, 2nd ed.) says: 'The Brown Snipe was first made known as a British Bird by Col. Montagu, who described it in his Ornithological Dictionary (1802), and gave a figure of it in its winter plumage in his Supplement (1813). This example, which was killed in Devonshire in the month of October, is preserved in the British Museum.'

Frank A. Pitelka (1961) in British Birds, Vol. LIV. pp. 340-342, says: '...The third specimen [of Dowitcher] (No. B202A in the Vellum Catalogue) is a juvenile male taken in Devonshire, probably in 1801, and is certainly a Long-billed Dowitcher. As this is the first proof of the occurrence of the recently separated Long-billed species, I should like to set down the evidence on which my identification was based.

Firstly, the measurements fall within the range of males of L. scolopaceus (see Table 17 in Pitelka 1950). The wing is 143 mm. the bill 63 mm. and the tarsus 38.6 mm. Similar measurements, however, could be obtained from a juvenile female of the eastern race of the Short-billed Dowitcher (see Table 24 in Pitelka 1950). The specimen is dirty, but its colour characters are clearly diagnostic. Its under-parts are buffy grey to white, with a minimum of distinct speckles or dots, as is true of L. scolopaceus (not predominantly warm buffy with numerous small, sharply clear dots over the neck and breast, as in L. griseus). The juvenile feathers remaining on the back are dark, edged narrowly with dull buff (not edged broadly with comparatively bright buff, along with buff subterminal marks, to the extent that the buff almost prevails over the ashy brown). The tertials are dark, again merely edged narrowly with buff (not with broad buff edgings plus irregular subterminal bands of buff). The rectrices are dark, the blackish-brown bands being broad (not about the same width as the white bands). Most, but not all, of these points are reasonably well illustrated by plates 7, 8 and 9 in my 1950 paper wherein the characters distinguishing the juvenile plumages of the two Dowitchers are also summarised in Table 4 (reproduced as Table 4 in Nisbet 1961). On the strength of this specimen I concluded that the Long-billed Dowitcher should be added to the British and Irish list.'

In a review of Dowitchers by I. C. T. Nisbet (1951) in British Birds, Vol. LIV. pp. 343-356, this specimen which is still in the British Museum was examined by Frank Pitelka and found to be of this species.

Admitted nationally in the Fifth Records Committee Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1971) Ibis 113: 143).

Comment "S.T.P" stated that a good representation of the bird, in this its winter plumage, will be found in Montagu's Supplement, but in an Editorial in The Field it was stated to be that of a Bar-tailed Godwit.

2). 1845 Norfolk Horsey, first-winter male, 9th October, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 1885.25).

(J. H. Gurney & W. R. Fisher, Zoologist 1846: 1374; Stevenson, 1870; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85; Patterson, 1905; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; Seago, 1977; Sharrock, 1985: 18; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009).

History John H. Gurney & William R. Fisher (1846) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IV. p. 1314, say: 'A specimen was shot by Mr. Rising on his estate at Horsey on the 9th of October, 1845, and is now in his possession. It proved to be a male bird, changing from the summer to winter plumage, and was in company with another of the same species, which was not obtained.'

Stevenson (1870 (2): 349-350) accepts it. Harting (1872: 144) says: '...two were seen and one shot.'

Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 358, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'On the 9th October, 1845, a male, changing like the other October birds from summer to winter plumage, was shot by Mr. Rising of Horsey, in whose collection it still is, a companion bird escaping.'

Patterson (1905) says: 'Shot by R. Rising, who mistook it for a young Redshank Tringa totanus, and in his collection until it passed to the Castle Museum, Norwich [probably 1885].'

Comment Because the second individual was not obtained it is safer to ignore Harting's statement of two seen.

3). 1857 Isles of Scilly Higher Moors, St Mary's, first-winter, shot, 3rd October.

(E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1857: 5832-33; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1863: 8848; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2272; J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 341; Harting, 1872, 1880; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; Penhallurick, 1969).

History E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1857) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XV. pp. 5832-33, dated October, 1857, says: 'I have just examined a very interesting specimen of the above rare bird, in immature plumage, killed among the past week by Augustus Pechell, Esq., at Scilly.

The exact locality I am not made acquainted with, nor, in fact, with any particulars. This is an addition to our Cornish Fauna, and a valuable bird, as a rare species, anywhere in England.

The description of this example I give briefly, for the benefit of your readers: - Bill, length 2½ inches, dilated at the tip, very rugose. Top of the head dark brown; a dusky streak from the corners of the mouth to the eye; above this a broad white streak, extending, in an indistinct form, over and to the back part of the eye. Neck, smoke grey, palest in front. Breast and belly, white, with a strong shade of yellow buff. Primaries, dark, shaft of the first quill feather white; secondaries, hair-brown, broadly edged at their tips with white. Feathers on the back and scapulars black, edged with rust-red. Tail and upper tail coverts elegantly barred with narrow black and white lines; under tail coverts and flanks the same, but fainter; wing coverts, cinereous, the centres of the feathers darker.'

E. H. Rodd (1863) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXI. pp. 1863: 8848, says: '...my friend Mr. Augustus Pechell, who is well calculated to encourage a young assistant to Natural History to watch objects worthy of notice. I am indebted to him for many valuable communications on ornithology, and for the addition of one of the rarest British birds to my museum, namely, the Brown Snipe (Macrorampus griseus), killed at Scilly.'

Harting, Editor (1880: 119-121) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'On the 3d October 1857, one was shot by Mr. Augustus Pechell, at the fresh, water pond on the Higher Moors, St Mary's, where he found it standing a little in the water, and probing the soft margin with its long bill. He had no opportunity of hearing its note, which has been described, however, by other observers.

An engraving of this specimen, which is preserved in my collection, is given in Blight's Week at the Land's End, p. 171. Its description is as follows: - Bill, 2½ inches in length, dilated at the tip and finely pitted like that of the Common Snipe, top of the head, dusky brown, a dusky streak from the corners of the mouth to the eye; above this, a broad white streak extending in an indistinct form over and to the back part of the eye; neck, smoke grey, palest in front; breast and belly, white, with a strong shade of yellow buff; primaries, dark, shaft of the first quill feather white; secondaries, hair-brown, broadly edged at their tips with white; back and scapularies, black, edged with rusty red; tail, and upper tail coverts, elegantly barred with narrow black and white lines; under tail coverts and flanks the same, but fainter; wing coverts, cinereous, the centres of the feathers darker. In some respects this bird resembles the true Snipe, possessing the same form of bill, with its system of delicate nerves which, extending to the apex, furnish it with a wonderfully sensitive organ for procuring food beneath the surface of the ground.

In the character of its plumage it resembles the Godwit, the Knot, and the Curlew Sandpiper, like them undergoing a similar seasonal change, and assuming a bright plumage in the breeding season.'

Further, p. 213, under 'Annual Summaries' read to the Royal Institution of Cornwall for 1857, Rodd adds: '...and proved to be a bird of the year.'

I. C. T. Nisbet in Sharrock (1985: 18) states he was unable to trace the specimen.

Comment All E. H. Rodd's specimen were destroyed in a fire at Trebartha Hall, 1949 (Penhallurick, 1978, p. 68).

4). 1867 Fife Dumbarnie Links, Largo, immature female, shot, September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1889.23).

(Gray, 1871; Rintoul & Baxter, 1935; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; J. W. Campbell, Scottish Birds 2: 196; Sharrock, 1985: 18; Smout, 1986; Thom, 1986).

History Gray (1871: 314-316) says: 'Through the kindness of Dr. J. A. Smith of Edinburgh, I am enabled to record this North American species. A specimen, the sex of which has not been noted, was shot at Dumbarnie Links, near Largo, in September 1867, by Mr. Hutcheson gamekeeper to Robert Rintoul of Lahill, Fife, and exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society....

Believing that a description of the Scottish specimen will be acceptable to the ornithologist, I have much pleasure in giving the following particulars with which Dr. Smith has most obligingly furnished me: - "Top of the head is dark brown, mottled with a few lighter spots; lores, dark brown; over eye to bill, a light or pale fawn streak. Upper parts of body brown; middle of back and scapulars, dark brown, many feathers edged and spotted with yellowish brown; rump, white, slightly spotted with brown; upper tail coverts white, barred with brown; tail nearly even, and barred diagonally white and, brown, outer feathers tipped with white. Wing coverts brown; primaries dark brown, shaft of first white; secondaries edged with white; tertiaries brown, and much elongated; axillaries white, diagonally barred with brown. Below - chin and neck, breast and flanks, fawn colour or light reddish brown, spotted on the neck and breast, and barred on the flanks with darker brown; middle of abdomen and vent, white; under tail coverts white, spotted and barred with brown. The bill is 2¼ inches in length, of a greenish brown with the tip darker. Wing, from flexure to point of first primary, which is the longest, 6 inches. Tibia bare at the lower part; tarsi scutellate, and feet greenish brown; first and second toes short and slender; two outer toes connected at the base by a broad web or membrane.'

Rintoul & Baxter (1935) say: '...shot by James Hutchison....It is now at the National Museums of Scotland.'

Comment Gray erroneously stated the bill length as equal to 57 mm, where it was later found to be 70 mm by A. R. Waterston and G. Waterston in the Royal Scottish Museum.

5). 1946 Kent Brookland, seen, 9th to 19th October.

(J. S. S. Beeley, E. A. Blake & G. E. Manser, British Birds 40: 153-154; F. A. Pitelka, British Birds 54: 340-342; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

History J. S. S. Beeley, E. A. Blake & G. E. Manser (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. pp. 153-154, say: 'On October 9th, 1946, J.S.S.B. obtained views of a Red-breasted Snipe at a marshy pool near Brookland, Kent. It was seen at close quarters under excellent light conditions with three Greenshank. On October 13th, E.A.B. and G.E.M. visited the same marsh and watched the bird at close quarters again consorting with three Greenshank. Again on October 19th, E.A.B. saw the bird at the same spot and had excellent views of it.

The following is a description of the bird: - Size about that of a Redshank Tringa totanus, but not so long in the leg when seen on the ground. Bill long and snipe-like; dark brown or black, shading lighter towards the base; held downwards in flight and at about 45° to the ground level when at rest. When feeding the bill was immersed in the water to the fullest extent, but at no time was the head submerged. Legs olive brown. Crown dark-brown with the rest of upper parts ashy-brown, showing paler margins to the feathers. Back showing triangular patch of white in flight, but not extending into the rump which appeared grey in flight. White eye-stripe above a dark stripe through the eye. Rest of sides of head, chin, throat, breast and belly flecked with brown - the darkest area being on the throat and the lightest on the belly, but nowhere as light as the Greenshanks Tringa nebularia, seen with it. Flanks indistinctly barred with brown but distinct barring on under tail-coverts. Tail appearing same colour as rest of upper-parts and showing no noticeable patterning in flight.

Two distinct calls were heard, an un-musical "cheerit-it-it-it-tit" quickly uttered when flushed, and a monosyllabic "tcheek" uttered whilst in undisturbed flight. When flushed it towered rather like a Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, developing a steady flight with fast moving wings.

The bird frequented the edges of the open marshy pools, avoiding the sedge and cover of adjacent areas. When disturbed on one occasion the bird momentarily settled in some short sedge, returning to the more open habitat. When feeding it waded into the water until two-thirds of its legs were covered. An area parallel to the edge of the pool was chosen and slowly and deliberately searched.'

Frank A. Pitelka (1961) in British Birds, Vol. LIV. pp. 340-342, says: '...Incidentally, I have also examined the details of two sight records which I consider refer to this species. These concern the birds seen near Brookland, Kent, in October 1946 (Beeley et al. 1947).'

1950-57 RECORDS

6). 1950 Sussex Thorney Island, 15th to 22nd October.

(C. E. Douglas, British Birds 44: 315; G. des Forges & D. D. Harber, Sussex Bird Report 1950: 19; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; Shrubb, 1979).

History C. E. Douglas (1951) in British Birds, Vol. XLIV. p. 315, says: 'On October 15th, 1950, a Red-breasted Snipe (Limnodromus griseus) was seen at a small marshy pool near the sea-wall of Thorney Island, Sussex, by several members of Reading Ornithological Club, and was subsequently seen at the same place by several other observers. The species was last recorded in England in 1946 and there appears to be only one previous record for Sussex.

The bird was not nervous and was watched for about an hour under good conditions at ranges down to 15 yards. Size was approximately the same as a Redshank (Tringa totanus), but it was a much more stocky bird. When at rest it looked dumpy and hunched up, but this was not so noticeable when it was feeding; and when alarmed and standing upright with neck fully extended it looked quite graceful. It fed by probing, often, in water so deep that the head was submerged to eye level and once, at least, was completely immersed.

The general effect of the plumage was grey or grey-brown, appearing darker in flight, when the contrasting pure white of the back was most conspicuous. This feature and the very long bill, bulbous at the tip and about twice as long as the head, confirmed the identification.

The following description has been compiled from the field notes of Messrs. C. E. Douglas, R. Gillmor, N. G. B. Jones, R. H. Ryall, K. E. L. Simmons, and Dr. E. V. Watson: - Crown dark brown, darker than rest of head; broad buffish- white stripe over eye; side of head grey-brown; darker stripe through eye; nape grey-brown, striated darker brown; mantle and scapulars richer, feathers having sepia centres and buffish- brown borders; back pure white; chin dirty white; throat and breast pale grey-brown, finely striated darker brown, sharply divided from rest of under-parts; belly off-white as though suffused very pale buff; flanks spotted grey-brown, spots extending right along to sides of tail-coverts; under tail-coverts and axillaries off-white, barred grey-brown; tail barred dark and light brown; closed wing grey-brown, mottled darker brown; primaries darker brown, almost black; open wing dark brown, no wing-bar, but hind border of secondaries paler; bill black, paler at base; eye dark; legs and feet clear light olive-green.

Flight strong, purposeful and rapid, with deliberate wing-beats; often tilting from side to side; did not zig-zag when rising. Commonest note a short clear "quip" ("keet" of one observer) uttered in flight and at rest, sometimes singly, sometimes several times in succession; other notes included a trill, which may have been the "quip" note uttered several times in rapid succession; and, in flight, a "chirrip" very similar to the ordinary note of the Curlew-Sandpiper (Calidris testacea).'

[This bird was seen subsequently by several other observers, including Messrs. D. D. Harber (19th), D. H. Brown, G. des Forges and C. W. G. Paulson (21st), and P. A. D. Hollom (22nd). It was not certainly seen after October 22nd. - Eds.]

G. des Forges & D. D. Harber (1950) in the Sussex Bird Report, p. 19, also give a description.

7). 1951 Lancashire & North Merseyside Ribble Marshes, first-winter, 28th October.

(A. Harrison, H. Shorrock, G. Tyrer, D. J. Lowe & E. Huyton, British Birds 45: 425-426; I. C. T. Nisbet, British Birds 54: 343-356; Spencer, 1973).

History A. Harrison, H. Shorrock, G. Tyrer, D. J. Lowe & E. Huyton (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 425-426, say: ' On October 28th, 1951, on the Ribble Marshes we observed a Red-breasted Snipe (Limnodromus griseus). The bird was under observation for one hour and allowed us to approach until it was only 26 yards distant.

The following observations have been compiled from the field notes of the observers. In flight the bird appeared generally greyish, with a prominent white rump and back. A light trailing edge to the wing was conspicuous as was the heavy bill which was held at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal. Whilst on the ground the general colouration was brown. Other points recorded are as follows: crown, dark brown; greyish stripe above the eye; face lighter than crown; throat and breast a dusky brown; shoulders showing a faint reddish tint (E.H., D.J.L.); lower breast and belly fawnish, the flanks being faintly barred with darker brown ; under tail-coverts, grey; wings mottled brown (as on those of the immature Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)); tail light brown with dark barring; eye, dark; legs yellowish- brown; bill black with small horn coloured area at the base. The size of the bird was approximately as that of the Redshank (Tringa totanus), but stockier.

The most conspicuous feature of the bird whilst resting was the long stout bill which was estimated to be half the length of the body. There was no noticeable thickening of the bill at the tip. Several times whilst feeding the complete length of the bill was immersed in the mud. At one time the bird turned its head and preened the feathers on the rump quite effortlessly.

The bird was heard to utter "peep" and "peep peep" in flight which could be compared with the "kleep" of the Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

When flushed it gave a long trill of "peeps" similar to the "titter" of the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). It may be of interest to record that this particular bird had an injured right leg which could be seen dangling in flight. The observations were made through x 20 telescope and 10 x 40 binoculars, in good light.

We suspect this to be the Alaskan form (Limnodromus griseus scolopaceus) on account of the extremely long bill, but from The Handbook's brief description of this form we have not been able to check this thoroughly. The bill of our bird was as long as if not slightly longer than the bill of the bird in the photograph of this species in Brit. Birds, Vol. XLII. plate 32, under which the form is not stated. (A.H., H.S., G.T.).'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1810 Somerset Near Bridgwater, male, shot, late April.

(Dance, 2003; D. K. Balance, Somerset Birds 2003: 163; Ballance, 2006).

[KAN].

History D. K. Ballance (2003: 163) in Somerset Birds, says: 'In 1810 a male sent by R.A. to G.M., April/May; presumably obtained near Bridgwater.'

Ballance (2006: 173) states that this individual was shot with Whimbrel, presumably near Bridgwater late on in April 1810. It was recued "from the spit" by Anstice and on May 1st sent to Montagu, who having previously seen two other specimens, identified this one as a male. The summer-plumaged bird illustrated in Montagu's Supplement, is probably this specimen (Dance 2003). However, this is an erroneous last paragraph as this had already been credited to the 1801 Devon record.

Comment R.A. = Robert Anstice of Bridgwater to G.M. = George Montagu. As Montagu later realised that his description of a Red-breasted Snipe in his Supplement was in fact a Bar-tailed Godwit, it would be unwise to accept this record which has come to light 193 years later to the said occurrence. Was the bird sexed by sight as we are led to believe?

0). Pre 1830 Norfolk Near Great Yarmouth, shot, undated.

("S.T.P." Loudon's Magazine of Natural History 3: 28-29; Jenyns, 1835).

[A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 104: 162-163].

History "S.T.P." (1830) in Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, Vol. III. pp. 28-29, says: 'Temminck, in the second edition of his Manual of Ornithology (Vol. II. p. 682), stated that he is only acquainted with two instances of this species having been killed in Europe; once in England, and once in Sweden.

To these I am able to add a notice of one other instance; a very fine specimen, in summer plumage, having been lately shot near Yarmouth, for which, I understood, two guineas were immediately given by a collector in the neighbourhood.'

Jenyns (1835: 207) says: 'Since then, a second, in summer plumage, has been killed at Yarmouth.'

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.