Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria Wilson, A, 1813 (5, 0)
Photo © KG Webb - Lower Moors, St Mary’s, isles of Sclly, June 2024
STATUS
Nearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as the Green-rumped Tatler.
Records are as per BOU (1971) except the 1908 Kent individual which that county no longer accepts.
RECORDS
1). Pre 1869 Clyde River Clyde, Lanarkshire, shot, undated.
(Anon., Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural History Society 2: 7; R. Gray, Ibis 1870: 292; Gray, 1871; Harting, 1872; Witherby, 1920-24; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; BOU, 1971).
History Anon. (1869) in the Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural History Society, Vol. II. p. 7, read on 28th December 1869, says: 'Mr. Robert Gray exhibited a specimen of the Brown Snipe (Macrorhamphus grisea, Gmelin), and a specimen of the Green-rumped Tattler (Totanus chlorpygius, Vieillot), and read a communication from Mr. Francis McCulloch, Taxidermist, Sauchiehall Street, [Glasgow], giving satisfactory evidence of the birds having been shot in Lanarkshire. The Brown Snipe had occurred in Scotland before, but the Sandpiper had not previously been found in Europe.'
Robert Gray (1870) in The Ibis, Vol. XII. p. 292, says: 'The other bird I have at present to refer to is the Green-rumped Tatler (Totanus chloropygius), a specimen of which (the sex not ascertained) was shot some years ago by the late William Gordon, of Airdrie, somewhere on the banks of the Clyde, in the higher grounds of Lanarkshire. This bird remained in Mr. Gordon's hands until his death in August last. He had often referred to it as a species which he could not make out, but had never shown it to any one qualified to give an opinion. His entire collection was brought to Glasgow and submitted to me early in September, but was found to contain nothing of consequence except this Sandpiper and a Brown Snipe in winter plumage, killed about the same time and place, which he had been unable to identify.
To ordinary observers the Green-rumped Tatler strongly resembles the Wood-Sandpiper (T. glareola), differing only from that species in the absence of the white shaft of the first quill, and in having the tail-coverts greenish instead of white.'
Gray (1871: 295-296) gives the same information, adding: 'As he left no notes attached to any specimens, the exact date of its occurrence, with other particulars which might have been of interest cannot now be ascertained.'
Dalgleish (1880) adds: 'In the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.'
Admitted nationally as the first for Britain as prior to 1870 in Lanark (BOU 1971).
2). 1882 Isles of Scilly Lower Moors, St Mary's, shot, 19th September.
(T. Cornish, Zoologist 1882: 432; Yarrell, 1871-85; Seebohm, 1883-85; Smart, 1886; J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 341; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 135; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History Thomas Cornish of Penzance (1882) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VI. p. 432, says: 'I have to record the occurrence at Scilly, on the 21st September last, of the American Solitary Sandpiper, Totanus solitarius, Wilson (Chloropygius, Vieillot). It is about the size of our Wood Sandpiper, which it much resembles, but is at once distinguishable by not having the upper tail-coverts white as in our bird. It was identified by Mr. Dorrien-Smith, of Tresco, Scilly, for whose collection it has been preserved by Mr. W. H. Vingoe, of Penzance, and by an American gentleman who happened to be in Penzance at the time of its arrival here. I believe this is the first recorded occurrence of this species in the British Islands.'
[Some years ago a bird of this species was shot on the Clyde in Lanarkshire, as recorded by Mr. Robert Gray, Ibis, 1870, p. 292, and Birds of Scotland, p. 295. - Ed.].
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 468, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'More recently Mr. T. Cornish has stated (Zool., 1882, p. 432) that an example was obtained at Scilly on the 21st September of that year, and is now in the collection of Mr. Dorrien Smith of Tresco. In reply to inquiries, Mr. Cornish informed the Editor that this specimen was identified from the plate and description in Wilson's Ornithology, and not from comparison with an American skin.'
Seebohm (1885 (3): 130) says: 'Mr. Cornish mentions that the example was identified from Wilson's plate, which is a very good one.'
Smart (1886: 60-61) says: 'The List, published in 1883, takes no notice of the occurrence in 1882, September 21, in the Scilly Islands. Mr. Saunders, who hesitated to admit the Scilly bird, admits (in the preface of Vol. III. Yarrell's British Birds) the occurrence, which was recorded in The Zoologist for 1885, of Solitarius, shot near Marazion, Cornwall.
The Rev. R. W. J. Smart writes to me concerning the Scilly specimen, now in possession of Mr. Dorrien Smith, of Tresco. "Totanus chloropygius was shot on 19th September, 1882, by the keeper at Tresco Abbey, on S. Mary's; his master with friends were shooting snipe; and he observed the note, and flight of the bird; and obtained leave to go back after it with a gun; and secured it: it was sent for preservation to Vingoe, the naturalist, at Penzance: and was identified as Solitarius.
In my correspondence with Jenkinson, the following passage with reference to it occurs under date 3rd January, 1883, Professor Newton is much interested about Totanus chloropygius (for this is its proper name), the other specimen was found in a collection with no details, as to when, or where it occurred. It seems Snipe-like in its flight; uttering a "tweet" as it rises; and is Jack-snipe like in its sluggishness, and propensity to return soon to the same place. It is said to fly very dexterously among woods; it is as well that Solitarius is not its proper name as it appears to be highly gregarious.'
J. Clark (1902) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XV. p. 213, under 'The Birds of Cornwall', says: 'One in Scilly Sept., 1881.' Later, J. Clark & F. R. Rodd (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. p. 341, under 'The Birds of Scilly', add: 'A single example of the Solitary Sandpiper was shot on the Lower Moors, St Mary's, by Joe White on Sept. 19th, 1882.'
J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 135, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', adds: '...now in the [Tresco] Abbey collection.'
Comment Again, Clark has published two different dates within five years for this species.
3). 1884 Cornwall Near Marazion, shot, October.
(T. Cornish, Zoologist 1885: 113; J. H. Gurney, jun., Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 4: 454; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 135; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History Thomas Cornish of Penzance (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 113, says: 'A second specimen of the Solitary Tatler, Totanus solitarius, Wilson, has been killed on the marsh near Marazion. I noted the first from Scilly in The Zoologist, for 1882, p. 432. The present specimen was identified by Mr. W. H. Vingoe, in whose hands it now is (Jan. 26th), and, having examined it, I find it to be certainly a bird of the same species as that shot at Scilly in 1882.'
J. H. Gurney, jun. (1884-89) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. IV. p. 454, says: 'After leaving the [Scilly] islands, an hour was spent very pleasantly at Penzance with the veteran naturalist Mr. Vingoe, now over eighty years of age, who showed us the Yellowshank and Solitary Sandpiper, - both shot by his son.'
J. Clark (1902) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XV. p. 220, under 'The Birds of Cornwall', says: 'One at Marazion Marsh in January 1885.' Later, J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 134, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', adds: 'One on Marazion Marsh in October 1884. It passed into Vingoe's hands, and on the sale of his collection at Stevens' on the 13th of May, 1889, realised fourteen guineas.'
Comment Presumably the catalogue sale register had the correct date, hence, the date change after five years by Clark, who probably presumed from Cornish's note that it was killed in January.
4). 1942 Norfolk Rush Hills, Hickling Broad, 1st to 2nd August.
(J. Vincent, British Birds 36: 97; J. Vincent, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1942: 12-13; Seago, 1977).
History Jim Vincent (1942) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVI. p. 97, says: 'On August 1st, 1942, at Rush Hills, which is being fed down by cattle, a Sandpiper rose and flew a short distance and alighted on an old heap of rushes in the water. Here it stood bobbing its tail up and down. There was no white on the rump, and in flight the bird was not so dark as a Green Sandpiper, but darker than a Wood Sandpiper. It also looked rather smaller than a Green Sandpiper. I found the bird again near the same spot on the following day and with glasses was able to make a close observation as it was remarkably tame, and flew only short distances. Its size, appearance and habits answered to the description of the Solitary Sandpiper as given in The Handbook.'
J. Vincent (1942) in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, 1942, pp. 12-13, under 'Notes from Hickling', says: 'On August 1st I saw this bird fly up from Rush Hills and alight on a heap of rushes in the water a short distance away. It looked rather smaller and not so dark as a Green Sandpiper and there was no white on the rump, but it was darker than a Wood Sandpiper. It was near the same spot on the following day when I watched it with glasses and its size, appearance and habits answered to the description of the Solitary Sandpiper given in the Handbook of British Birds. This is the first time this bird has been recorded in Norfolk.'
Accepted locally (Seago 1977).
5). 1947 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea and Salthouse, seen, 3rd to 29th September.
(T. Hedley Bell, C. K. James, G. W. Rayner & C. C. Rose, British Birds 41: 354-355; C. E. Gay, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1947: 15, 30-31; Seago, 1977).
History T. Hedley Bell, C. K. James, G. W. Rayner & C. C. Rose (1948) in British Birds 41: 354-355, say: 'For almost the whole of September, 1947, a Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) frequented the Cley and Salthouse marshes, but especially the latter, and was seen by the undersigned observers, from whose notes the following particulars have been drawn up by the Editor.
The bird was first seen by the watcher, Mr. W. F. Bishop, on September 3rd. The most complete particulars were obtained by Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Rose and Miss C. K. James on September 6th, when it was watched for about 20 minutes in an excellent light at a range of about 10 to 15 yards, and the same observers had a briefer view on September 7th. A good view in sunlight with x 12 binoculars at about 80 yards range was also obtained by T. H. Bell on September 29th, while G. W. Rayner had a somewhat brief but valuable view on September 12th, when the bird pitched quite close to him, displaying the under-wing and axillaries, as described below.
The build was noticeably slender and elegant and the size was noted as about that of a Wood-Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) (G.W.R., T.H.B.) or rather smaller than a Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) (C.C.R., C.K.J.). The crown, nape and back were noted by C.C.R. and C.K.J. as dark olive-green patterned with white, the rump being dark like the back instead of white as in a Green Sandpiper. At longer range these parts appeared a dark mottled-brown to T.H.B. The throat and breast were buffish (with darker streaks: C.C.R., C.K.J.) and the rest of the under-parts white. The dark centre of the tail was seen by all the observers and the white lateral tail-feathers with dark bars were clearly seen by C.C.R. and C.K.J. The bill was black with whitish feathering at the base and the legs were noted as pale yellowish (T.H.B.) and by G.W.R. as "light", though C.C.R. noted them as appearing dark green. The flight was fast and irregular and the bird landed abruptly (C.C.R., C.K.J.).
On September 12th it was put up by G.W.R., when he was walking along the East Bank, and suddenly pitched again only some 10 to 15 yards away. On alighting it stretched its wings above its head, displaying their black underside and the axillaries strikingly barred with black and white. It stood momentarily thus before tripping out of sight and was not seen again. When watched by T.H.B. it was on partially flooded ground with numerous islets of green vegetation and it spent its time feeding along the borders of these islets. When observed by C.C.R. and C.K.J. it was feeding at the edge of, and occasionally just within, reeds at the side of a pool. The bird was also seen by Mrs. R. F. M. Meiklejohn and Miss U. Steinthal on September 8th, by the same observers and Col. Meiklejohn on the 11th, and independently on September 8th by Messrs, E. C. Arnold and R. H. Higgins.
Particulars supplied to British Birds show that less adequate views were obtained than those described above, but the distinctive features of the dark rump and centre of tail and light outer tail-feathers were observed and Mr. Arnold noted the call as one which was new to him and sounded like "peet-weet". None of the undersigned heard any call-note.'
C. E. Gay (1947) in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, 1947, p. 15, under 'Cley and Salthouse', says: 'September. On the 3rd Bishop's attention was attracted by a bird-call he had never heard before and was a strange Sandpiper afterwards identified as a Solitary Sandpiper. A description of this appears in miscellaneous notes.'
Further, pp. 30-31, under 'Miscellaneous Notes', C. E. Gay adds: 'A bird believed to be of this species was first seen by the Watcher, W. F. Bishop, and later by several ornithologists including Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Meiklejohn, Miss C. K. James, Miss Heinthal, Mr. E. C. Arnold, Mr. Hedley Bell, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Rose and Mr. G. W. Raynor. Bishop first saw it on September 3rd on the Cley marsh and realised at once that it was a bird he had never seen or heard before. It flew over the East bank on to the Salthouse marshes and for the next three weeks frequented both places, although it seemed to prefer the Salthouse side. The following is a summary of the descriptions made by those who watched the bird: -
Size: the size of a Wood Sandpiper; very slim and elegantly built. Beak: black and very slander. Head, crown, nape and back: olive green, patterned white. Throat, upper breast: buff with darker streaks. Tail: centre dark, outer feathers white with dark bars. Underparts: white. No white on the rump. Legs: opinions varied as to the colour between dark green and yellowish. Flight: very fast and irregular.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1904 Sussex Rye Harbour, shot, 7th August, now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 15: 12; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 269; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1904) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 12, at the 108th Meeting of the Club held on 19th October 1904 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. C. B. Ticehurst exhibited a specimen of the Solitary Sandpiper (Totanus solitarius) which had been shot at Rye Harbour, Sussex, on the 7th August by a man named Peters. The latter had sent the bird to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonards, by whom it had been well mounted. It was believed to be the fourth British-killed example of this American species.'
Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 269, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who say: 'One was shot at Rye Harbour on August 7th, 1904 (C. B. Ticehurst, Bull. B.O.C., XV. p. 12).'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 192) says: '...It was examined in the flesh by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst and later on acquired by Mr. J. B. Nichols. Now, however, it is in the Booth Museum, Brighton.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1908 Kent Littlestone, seen, 18th July.
(M. Bedford, British Birds 2: 136-137; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 170; Ticehurst, 1909; Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 23: 25; Witherby, 1920-24; Hollom, 1960; BOU, 1971).
[Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981; http://www.kentos.org.uk/Records/Kentlist2.htm].
History Mary, Duchess of Bedford (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 136-137, says: 'When walking along the coast of Kent on July 18th last, I put up a Sandpiper which, from its very dark colour, I knew to be something out of the ordinary. I marked the bird down and stalked it behind a sandbank, getting to within seven or eight yards of it. Owing to its very dark greenish-brown plumage and pure white underparts, pale brown throat, and dark Sandpiper bill and legs, I concluded that I had obtained an exceptionally fortunate view of the Green Sandpiper.
To make absolutely certain of its identity, I put it up, expecting to see the pure white rump, but, to my surprise, the rump was the same colour as the back, the white only coming up on either side, as in the Common Sandpiper. I again stalked it, and put it up once more, and am now perfectly certain that it was a Solitary Sandpiper (Totanus solitarius). The first time I got near the bird I saw that there were two of the same kind, but I was only able to follow the one when they flew off.
I am very well acquainted with the Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus), having had ample opportunities of watching it on the Tay in Scotland, in Devonshire on the Tamar, occasionally at Woburn, and in innumerable other places. Not only does the very dark plumage of Totanus solitarius make it easy to distinguish from Totanus hypoleucus, but the wing bar, which is so conspicuous in the latter bird in flight, was absent. I may add that I have had several opportunities of watching Wood-Sandpipers at close quarters this summer, and on one occasion the Green Sandpiper....'
[On going to press we learn that a Solitary Sandpiper was shot at Littlestone on August 15th, and this seems confirmatory of the Duchess of Bedford's most careful observations. Her Grace is to be sincerely congratulated on having succeeded in an identification of such difficulty. - Eds.]
N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 170, says: 'With reference to the Duchess of Bedford's note in the last number of British Birds (p. 136), the Solitary Sandpiper was shot by a visitor at Littlestone, and therefore at no great distance from where she saw it on August 15th. Mr. Bristow received it two days later, and kindly brought it to me in the flesh....'
Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1909: 477), but it is not published in Taylor, Davenport & Flegg (1981) which is the latest avifauna for Kent, but is listed by the BOU (1971) as 'Kent (July 1908).'
Comment Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford had taken Wm. Eagle Clark around the Scottish islands, in her boat "Sapphire"' and had stayed on Fair Isle and birded with Clark.
0). 1908 Kent Near Littlestone, female, shot, 15th August.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 1: 187; Eds., British Birds 2: 136; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 170-171; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 23: 25).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History E. N. Bloomfield (1908) in the Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 187, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has most kindly sent me a long list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which Mr. Butterfield has added some notes. In the neighbouring districts - Tringa solitarius, Wilson, Solitary Sandpiper, Littlestone, August 15th, 1908.'
In an Editorial (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 137, they say: 'On going to press we learn that a Solitary Sandpiper was shot at Littlestone on August 15th, and this seems confirmatory of the Duchess of Bedford's most careful observations [on 18th July]. Her Grace is to be sincerely congratulated on having succeeded in an identification of such difficulty.'
N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 170-171, says: 'With reference to the Duchess of Bedford's note in the last number of British Birds (p. 136), the Solitary Sandpiper was shot by a visitor at Littlestone, and therefore at no great distance from where she saw it on August 15th. Mr. Bristow received it two days later, and kindly brought it to me in the flesh. From its condition it had evidently passed unrecognised, and it looked as though it had been shaken up in a "game" bag with other birds: it was soddened with blood and melted fat, sand and sea-water, and so was a very sorry looking object, but its tail-feathers and axillaries gave unmistakable proof of its identity. I may, perhaps, draw attention here to the great immigration of Waders that took place on the Kent coast at the end of July, of which the Duchess of Bedford's notes give evidence. Mr. M. J. Nicoll informs me of Ruffs and other species seen by him about the same time, and on the night of July 23rd, when at Folkestone, I heard large numbers of Waders, chiefly Sanderlings, passing over the town for two hours or more.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1908) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXIII. p. 25, at the 144th Meeting of the Club held on 21st October 1908 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Mr. C. J. Carroll, introduced by Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, exhibited mounted examples of the following species of birds: - Solitary Sandpiper. A female, shot at Littlestone, Kent, on August the 15th, 1908, and examined in the flesh by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst.'
Ticehurst (1909: 474) says: '...It was afterwards purchased by Mr. C. J. Carroll...'
Comment Ticehurst suggests that this is possibly the one seen by Her Grace, Duchess of Bedford; but that was found for sale at Bristow's who was involved in the Hastings Rarities scandal. Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex Pevensey, female, shot, 17th April.
(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: - Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa s. solitaria). - A female was shot at Pevensey, Sussex, on April 17th, 1914, and examined in the flesh by me on the 18th. This is the sixth recorded British specimen.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 192).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1916 Sussex Near Pevensey, female, shot, 30th May.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 12: 93; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 247; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XII. p. 93, says: 'A female Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa s. solitaria) was shot on Pevensey Marsh, Sussex, on May 30th. 1916. It was examined in the flesh by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield and Mr. H. W. Ford-Lindsay. This is I believe the seventh recorded British specimen, and the second from Sussex.'
Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 192) says: '...it was wrongly described in British Birds by Mr. J. B. Nichols as the second Sussex specimen.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1918 Kent Hoppen Pits, Dungeness, seen, late August.
(Harrison, 1953).
[Hollom, 1960].
History Harrison (1953 (1): 355) says: 'Mr. E. C. Arnold informed me (in litt.) that he saw this individual at the Hoppen Pits, at the end of August, 1918.'
Comment Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971). Not acceptable.
0). 1936 Kent Stour Marshes, seen, 2nd June.
(R. Whitlock, South-Eastern Bird Report 1936: 47; Harrison, 1953).
[Hollom, 1960].
History R. Whitlock (1936) in the South-Eastern Bird Report, Vol. III. p. 47, says: 'On June 2nd in the Stour Marshes I noticed what appeared to be a small Green Sandpiper, feeding with four Wood Sandpipers. After having the bird under observation for some time, and not being satisfied as to its identity, I put the flock up. All five birds rose together, the "doubtful" bird showing a dark rump. Shortly afterwards it broke away from its companions and, with a swift zig-zag flight, re-settled on the marsh, spreading a white-looking tail upon alighting. When on the ground it gave several sharp whistling calls of "peep". "I again put the bird up. It flew strongly off, giving a shrill call, which I noted as "pee-tweet, pee-tweet". Its dark upper tail-feathers were distinctly visible, and I have little doubt that this bird was a Solitary Sandpiper". (T.C.G.).'
Harrison (1953 (1): 355) says: 'A wader seen by Mr. T. C. Gregory at a location in East Kent, resembled a small Green Sandpiper and was feeding with four Wood Sandpipers, but when it arose it displayed a dark rump.'
Comment Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971). Not acceptable.
0). 1949 Sussex Chichester, seen, 25th July.
(J. Reynolds, British Birds 43: 129).
[Hollom, 1960; Not in Shrubb, 1979].
History John Reynolds (1950) in British Birds, Vol. XLIII. p. 129, says: 'On July 25th, 1949 at a gravel pit near Chichester, much frequented by Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos) and to a lesser extent by Green Sandpipers (Tringa ochropus) I flushed an unfamiliar sandpiper from a small area of mud at the base of a bank of gravel, As it flew away, almost from under my feet, I was able to get a very good view of the markings of the upper-parts. The appearance was that of a bird with the wings, back, rump and centre of the tail black. The outer tail-feathers were light. Apart from the absence of white on the rump and tail, the bird closely resembled a Green Sandpiper, being quite as dark in flight as this bird, although it was not quite so large and was approximately the same size as a Common Sandpiper. When I flushed the bird I was walking with my back to the sun, which was shining brightly. Unfortunately I was not able to find the bird again that day or the next. I did not, therefore, obtain any views of the bird on the ground or of the under surface of the wing, but the characters seen seem to indicate only a Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria). There are three previous records of this wader in Sussex.'
Not accepted locally (Shrubb 1979) or nationally (Hollom 1960).
0). 1950 Kent Sandwich Bay, 8th July.
(Harrison, 1953).
[Hollom, 1960].
History Harrison (1953 (1): 355) says: 'The Rev. Laurens Sargent has informed me (in litt., 13.iv.1951) that Mr. I. McK. Houston saw a bird, apparently of this species, on 8th July 1950, in the Sandwich Bay area.
Mr. Houston writes: "It flew with wings well flexed like a Green Sandpiper, and as it flew it called a distinct "keet-wee" several times. This call lacked the musical quality of the Green Sandpiper, but was sharp and far-reaching, with the notes being spaced and unhurried. This not was unlike that of any other wader known to me. In appearance the bird resembled a small Green Sandpiper, having a similar dark underwing. The 'black-and-white-look' was less obvious because the bird had a dark rump - a very noticeable characteristic - and dark centred tail feathers which were white at the sides. There was a distinct dark pectoral band and a light superciliary stripe. When the bird descended to the marsh it zig-zagged down, planing out when it was near the ground. In normal flight it was quick and direct with easy, rather slow, wing-beats, gliding now and then. When landing, the bird looked like a small, short-billed Snipe".'
Mr. Houston's good description fits the Solitary Sandpiper well....'
However, it was not mentioned in the listing of the species in Hollom (1960) and is therefore unacceptable.
