Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein, 1812) (8, 0)
Photo © Mike Youdale
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as the Field Plover or Bartram's Sandpiper.
BOU (1971) state thirteen in England of which Suffolk and Somerset have since been found not proven, one Scotland, and erroneously four in Wales (Pembroke, Flint). There are just two records and both are from Pembrokeshire.
RECORDS
1). 1851 Warwickshire Packington Estate, Compton Verney, shot, 31st October, now at City of Worcester Museum.
(H. Reid, Zoologist 1852: 3330-31; J. H. Gurney, Zoologist 1852: 3388: A. G. More, Zoologist 1854: 4254-55; W. de Broke, Field, 30th Apr., 1859: 351; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Yarrell, 1871-85; Tomes, 1904; Witherby, 1920-24; Norris, 1947; Palmer, 2000).
History Hugh Reid of Doncaster (1852) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. X. pp. 3330-31, inquiring about a species of sandpiper, says: 'On the 31st of October I received from R. Barnard, Esq., for preservation, a species of sandpiper in the flesh, which had been shot near Warwick.
The species is quite new to me, and as it differs materially, both in size and markings, from Yarrell's description of the buff-breasted sandpiper, I forward a description of the bird. The beak is slender, and very slightly curved at the tip, 1¾ inch long, upper mandible deep brown, the lower one light brown, dark at the point: the feathers on the top of the head are brown, edged with buff, but the buff edges only show towards the sides of the head, where they become broader in proportion to the brown part; the back of the neck is brownish buff, minutely spotted with dark brown: back and wing-coverts dark olive-brown, each feather edged with buff; primaries brownish lead-colour, the broad web towards the quill white, banded and marked with blackish brown, the shaft of the first primary only white, the rest black, the tips minutely edged with buff, tertials brownish lead-colour edged with buff, each feather marked with diverging bands of dark brown, ending in black spots near the buff border, and having a spear-shaped black patch at the tip, minutely edged with buff: tail-coverts brown, broadly edged with whitish buff, banded and spotted with black: the tail is rather large, cuneiform, the centre feathers 3½ inches long, shafts black, web grey-brown, shading off into a whitish buff border, with a row of black spots all round; feathers on each side a bright fawn-colour, shafts and edges paler, with a similar zone of black spots, the last feather outside white, barred with black; all the tail feathers, except the two outer ones, have a large, black, kite-shaped patch near the tip, with the remainder of the tip white: the chin white; neck whitish buff, with the dark centres of the feathers forming lines of spots: breast and sides whitish buff, with dark brown arrow-head markings near the tip of each feather, growing paler towards the abdomen, which, with the under tail-coverts, is white: under surface of the wings white, beautifully barred and marked with lead-colour: the whole of the week is spotted with longitudinal bars, each feather being buff, with a straight, narrow, dark brown mark along the centre from base to tip. The legs are bare for three quarters of an inch above the joint; the tarsus measures 2 inches; legs and toes brown, claws black. Whole length of the bird, from point of beak to extremity of the tail 12 inches; from the carpal joint to end of the first quill-feather 6¾ inches; from point of the beak to the gape 1¾ inch; gape to occiput 1 inch.'
J. H. Gurney (1852) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. X. p. 3388, adds: 'I beg to suggest that the sandpiper described in the last number (Zool. p. 3330), appears to accord with Bartram's Sandpiper, an American species, which has been noticed as occasionally occurring on the continent of Europe, but which, I believe, has not hitherto been observed in Great Britain.'
[Mr. A. G. More has previously made the same suggestion on the wrapper of the last number. I should much like to submit the bird to Mr. Doubleday, Mr. Gould, Mr. Yarrell, or Mr. Gurney. - E.N.]
A. G. More (1854) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XII. p. 4254, dated 15th February 1854, says: 'As no further notice has been taken of the sandpiper described some while ago in The Zoologist (Zool. p. 3330), by Mr. Reid, nor have the conjectures offered at the time been since confirmed, I am induced, in the absence of a better account, to lay before the readers of The Zoologist what information I have obtained on the subject since I have been in Doncaster.
His attention once called to the American Ornithology, Mr. Reid soon satisfied himself that his bird could be no other than Bartram's Sandpiper, agreeing, as it did, in the most minute particulars, with Wilson's description: and the very remarkable character exhibited in the wedge-shaped tail, leaves no doubt as to the identity of the bird. It is the Tringa bartramia of Wilson, Am. Orn., Vol. II. 353; Totanus bartramius of Temminck, Man. d'Orn. II. 650, and of Bonaparte, Synop. 325; and is well figured in Gould's Birds of Europe.
The circumstances under which the present individual was found, agree so far exactly with what are said to be its habits in America; and indeed Mr. Barnard, the gentleman who sent the bird to be preserved, was particularly surprised that it should have occurred "so far inland, sitting on a bean-stubble, and in a place near to which there is no water".
The locality was near Warwick, not Warrington; and this unique specimen I understand still remains in the possession of R. T. Barnard, Esq., of Kinton Hall, near that city, to whom it was brought in the first instance by the man who shot it.
So many of the American Tringidae have already been enrolled as British birds, that the occurrence of one more species cannot be looked upon with much surprise; while in the case before us, the fact that Bartram's Sandpiper has for some time been known as a straggler on this side of the Atlantic, will no doubt serve still further to justify its introduction into our Fauna. For this very interesting novelty we are indebted to the discrimination of Mr. Reid, who, when recording its description, felt confident his sandpiper had not hitherto been recognized as a British bird.'
Willoughby de Broke of Compton Verney, near Warwick (1859) in The Field of 30th Apr., Vol. XIII. p. 351, in a footnote, says: 'P.S. Some time ago a North American species of sandpiper was shot near here (Tringa bartramii); I have it stuffed. I fancy very few, if any, have ever before been seen in England.'
Newman (1866) adds: 'The first recorded British specimen of this American bird was killed in Warwickshire, and is now in the collection of Lord Willoughby de Broke.'
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - Warwickshire, October, 1851.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3: 440-441, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds. Locally, Tomes (1904 (1): 204) in the Victoria County History of Warwickshire, says: 'The first known example of this as a British bird was shot by the late Lord Willoughby de Broke on his estate at Compton Verney, Warwickshire, on 31 October, 1851. It was no doubt a passage bird which had alighted in the middle of a stubble field and permitted a near approach, as the writer was informed by Lord Willoughby himself.
Compared with preserved skins from the United States, the Warwickshire specimen is paler in colour and the dark markings less distinct.'
Norris (1947: 61) says: 'I was shown this specimen by the Curator of the old Warwick Museum who informed me that on one occasion it was put out with a pile of so-called rubbish for disposal. Fortunately, he rescued it for the nation. The bird is much lighter and less strongly marked than most specimens, but this could be due to loss of pigment over the years.'
Palmer (2000) adds: 'It is now at the City of Worcester Museum.'
2). 1854 Cambridgeshire Between Cambridge and Newmarket, shot, 12th December.
(F. Tearle, Illustrated London News 20th Jan., 1855 and figure; B. R. Morris, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 5: 47; F. Tearle, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 5: 49-50; Ed., Field 10th Feb., 1855: 90; Yarrell, 1856; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Witherby, 1920-24; Lack, 1934).
History Beverley R. Morris, Editor (1855) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 47, says: 'A fine specimen was shot near Cambridge, on December 12th, ult. We hope to give particulars in our next.'
Rev. F. Tearle of Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1855) in The Naturalist, Vol. V. pp. 49-50, in Morris and Bree's edition, dated 2nd February 1855, says: 'A specimen of this bird came into my hands on the 16th of December last, having been shot on the 12th of the same month. It was purely an accident that made me the owner of it, and doubtless, but for my love of ornithology, it would have been carried from the field in which it was shot to the kitchen of the owner of that field, where a very summary process would have for ever extinguished all knowledge of Bartram's Sandpiper having been shot in that neighbourhood. As a Golden Plover (and an excellent Golden Plover, too, if Audubon is to be believed) it would have been sent to the table, and thus have furnished another instance of the ignominious end to which, no doubt, many a rare and valuable species has come, through the want of a little knowledge of one of the most interesting subjects in the world. It will afford me considerable satisfaction if the rescue of the bird from oblivion shall, through the pages of The Naturalist, or in any other way, directly or indirectly, contribute to the extension of our British Fauna, or to the increase of our information regarding those it already comprises.
The specimen was first seen by some labourers engaged in some thrashing, near a farm yard, about ten miles from Cambridge. Its peculiar and plaintive whistling cry first attracted their attention, and, on watching it, they observed that it frequently alighted and ran along the ground in an apparently weak and exhausted state. For this reason one of them fancied he could catch it with his hat, and began to chase it across the field. But as soon as he approached tolerable near, the bird rose and flew round in large circles above him, uttering at intervals its wailing note. He soon relinquished the pursuit; but a gamekeeper's boy, who lived in a cottage close by, took out his father's gun and shot it. It allowed him to approach several times within gunshot before it rose. Standing erect, it seemed to watch and wait for him; then ran a short distance, and stood as before - after the manner of a bird that wishes to decoy an intruder from its nest. It eventually rose and was brought down.
The field had been newly ploughed; and notwithstanding the statement about its apparent weakness, I suspect it found an abundance of food, (though I have been unable to ascertain of what kind), for it was plump and weighty when brought to me. I am also unable to state its sex; though I imagine, from Audubon's plate, that it must be a female.
Mr. Savill, who stuffed the bird, found it impossible to speak with certainty on this subject, owing to the contused or decomposed state of the generative organs. The extreme length is twelve inches and a quarter; expanse of wing, twenty-four inches and a quarter; height from the top of the head, when standing erect, eight inches and a half; beak, one inch and an eighth; tibia and tarsus, each two inches. The upper mandible and the tip of the lower, dark brown - remainder dull yellow; the top of the head, and back, dark brown, with a broad border of buff; the neck and breast, dull buff, with arrow-headed streaks of dark brown; throat, chin, belly, thighs, and under tail coverts white; the primaries, rump, and upper tail coverts, dark brown, inclining to black; the two middle tail feathers, brown, with dusky bars - remaining feathers of the tail, bright buff, with whitish tips, and irregular marks of dark brown; secondaries, long, and protruding crosswise over the quill feathers; under surface of the wing, white, with numerous and beautiful pencillings of a pale greyish ash-colour. The outer and middle toes are connected by a small web, which extends in the form of a thread-like membrane, to their extremities. The chin feathers are remarkable, and extend, like a small tuft of fine wool, more than half an inch along the under surface of the beak.'
[Mr. Tearle very kindly forwarded us a coloured drawing of this fine bird, from which the plate in The British Birds, by the Rev. F. O. Morris, will be coloured. - B.R.M.]
Yarrell (1856: 41-42, 2nd supp.) says: 'The interesting capture of this bird in Cambridgeshire, made known to the editor of the Illustrated London News by the Rev. Frederick Tearle, of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, appeared, with a representation of the bird, on the 30th of January, 1855, as follows:- Will you allow me, through the medium of your Journal, to make known the occurrence, for the first time in this country, of Bartram's Sandpiper, Totanus bartramius ?
It was shot on the 12th of December, 1854, about three o'clock in the afternoon, in a ploughed field between Cambridge and Newmarket. Some farm labourers, who were engaged in thrashing near the spot, observed a strange bird flying round in large circles over the adjoining field, and uttering a whistling cry at short intervals. It frequently alighted, and ran along the ground like a Corncrake. One of the men thought he could catch it with his hat, and gave chase; but the bird, as soon as he came near, rose, and flew around, whistling as before. On seeing that it did not fly away, the son of a gamekeeper, who lived close by, went into his father's cottage for a gun, and came out and shot it. He sent it to me a few days afterwards, calling it a "Whistling Plover".
Through the assistance of Mr. Alfred Newton of Magdalene College, I was persuaded that it could be no other than Bartram's Sandpiper, described by Wilson in his Birds of America, and, on referring to the figure in Mr. Gould's Birds of Europe, this opinion was abundantly confirmed. It is an extremely graceful bird, and has been remarkably well preserved by Mr. Savill, of Cambridge.
The Rev. F. Tearle very kindly made known to me, by letter, the occurrence of this rare bird, and did me the favour to show me the specimen, when preserved, at one of his visits to London. Some remarks by Mr. Gould furnish interesting additional evidence. "This is only the second instance that has come under my notice of its occurrence in England, and the species must now be included in our Fauna. The other British specimen was killed in Warwickshire a year or two ago, and is now in the collection of Lord Willoughby de Broke, at Compton Verney, near Stratford-on-Avon".'
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - Cambridgeshire, December, 1854.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 441, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, erroneously says it was shot on 12th December 1855 as does Seebohm (1885 (3): 110). It was accepted locally (Lack 1934: 97).
3). 1865 Cornwall Near Mullion, shot, 13th November.
(The Times 14th Nov., 1865; E. H. Rodd, Field 25th Nov., 1865: 377; W. K. Bullmore, Hardwicke's Science Gossip 1866: 64; W. K. Bullmore, Zoologist 1866: 37-40; "Sportsman", Field 16th Feb., 1867: 111; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1870: 2244; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Harting, 1880; Yarrell, 1871-85; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History W. K. Bullmore (1865) in The Times newspaper of 14th November and (1866) in Hardwicke's Science Gossip, Vol. II. p. 64, says: 'On the 9th of November I obtained a beautiful specimen, which was killed within a short distance of Falmouth. It appears to have suffered but little from its lengthened migration across the Atlantic, for it was at the time of its capture, to all appearances, in perfect health and in capital condition. The bird in my possession is a faithful representative of that figured in the supplement to the late lamented William Yarrell's work on British Birds, which I believe, was killed in Cambridgeshire many years ago, and communicated to the Illustrated London News by the Rev. F. Tearle, of Trinity Hall.
I should be happy to furnish anyone desirous of further information on the subject with a minute description of the bird in question, or to afford any one visiting this locality an ample opportunity of examining my specimen for himself.'
E. H. Rodd of Penzance (1865) in The Field of 25th Nov., Vol. XXVI. p. 377, dated 16th November, says: 'The occurrence of this rare sandpiper in Cornwall is a valuable addition to the fauna of the county. I understand it was shot on an open plain called Goonhelly [sic] Downs, in the Lizard district.
I took the opportunity yesterday of examining the bird in the hands of Mr. Couch, of Falmouth, who has set it up. It is apparently in very good plumage, and very nearly in the same state as it is figured in Gould's Birds of Europe, from which the figure in Yarrell's supplement was taken. The arrow-head streaks do not extend on the under parts at all in this specimen, but they are well defined on the lower part of the breast; the belly is plain buff white, which colour extends to the vent. The character of the bill is striking, for, independent of the yellow colour of the under mandible, the point is much deflected; but there is nothing more remarkable in the aspect of the bird than in its peculiarly elongated tail, which at once arrests the attention. The shape, size, and general proportions of the bird are about the same as the Dusky Sandpiper, and the length and the cylindrical shape of the bill shows a strong resemblance to that bird, and its decided affinity to the genus Totanus.'
W. K. Bullmore (1866) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. I. pp. 37-40, dated 17th November 1865, says: 'From the numerous enquiries I have received concerning the specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper, of which I am the fortunate possessor (a notice of which appeared in The Times of the 14th of November), I am led to infer that a description of this strange visitor to our shores would be anything but unacceptable to many of the readers of The Zoologist.
From inquiries instituted by me I find that it was flushed by a farmer's son near Mullion, from a piece of pasture turnips, where he had just previously risen some six or eight snipes. It rose singly, uttering a short shrill scream, flew over the hedge and dropped into a ditch by the side of a contiguous road. On the approach of its pursuer, it again flushed, alighting this time in the middle of a hay-field, where it was shot, whilst busily occupied in running about on the ground. It was sent in company with some Woodcocks and Snipes, to the game shop of Mr. J. Webber, of this town, from which place I was fortunate enough to obtain it.
From the general appearance of the bird, I was at once satisfied that it was a stranger, being principally led to this inference by its peculiarly shaped bill and the great length and shape of its tail, which latter peculiarity I since find has obtained for it the synonym of "Le chevalier à longue queue".
The bird in my possession is a faithful representative of the figure depicted in the Supplement to Mr. Yarrell's work on British Birds. This sandpiper may be at once distinguished from any others of its kind by its two primaries (the first in either wing), its long wedge-shaped beautifully variegated tail, and legs, breast-markings and bill. In its anatomical structure there was nothing peculiarly striking, save the great depth of its keel, the strength of its clavicles, and its firmly adherent vascular lungs, all of which characteristics serve to assign it a place amongst those creatures endowed with great powers of endurance, and capability for protracted flight.
Its measurements, markings, &c., are as follows: - Whole length, 12 inches. Weight, 6 ounces 2 drachms. Bill, slender and slightly curved at the point, more particularly the upper mandible; from tip of bill to gape, 1½ inches; from tip to commencement of forehead, 1¼ inches; upper mandible, blackish brown in colour, except at the margin of the middle third, which is yellow; lower mandible, yellow throughout; nostril, elongated, ¼ of an inch in length. Irides, dusky; forehead and occiput, ferruginous, marked with small, broad dark brown, streaks; side of face and ear coverts pale ferruginous, finely streaked with brown. Chin, throat, and lore, pure white. Front of neck and breast, pale ferruginous marked with narrow streaks, which on the breast assume the appearance of perfectly marked and well-defined arrow-heads. Belly, vent, and thigh coverts, white. Back of neck ferruginous, streaked with brown. Back dull brownish black, the feathers narrowly bordered with pale ferruginous. Scapulars black, edged with very pale ferruginous; greater wing coverts dusky brown, edged with ferruginous and irregularly spotted with black; leaser wing coverts, light brown, tipped with white, having one or more semicircles of black. Expanse of wings, 22 inches; length of forearm, 2½ inches: arm, 2 inches; from carpo-digital joint to tip of first primary 6 inches 7 lines.
Primaries brownish black; first quill feather the longest, its shaft pure white; outer web very narrow, dark brown, faintly touched at points with white; inner web white, barred with fourteen rich dark-brown bands, which gradually merge into one broad patch, involving the end of the feather for the last inch of its length; second, third, fourth, and fifth primaries dark brown, having a few white bars, and being also tipped with white. Secondaries pale brown; both webs wide, blotted with black, faintly tipped and splashed at the edges with white. Tertials black, edged with white, considerably longer than secondaries, the last feather but one being as long as the third primary and reaching to within half-an-inch of the base of the tail. Tail feathers twelve in number, wedge-shaped when closed; four central feathers, the longest 3½ inches in length, dark brown in colour, edges and tips orange white, transversely barred on both vanes with black. Three contiguous feathers on either side rich orange, beautifully barred and blotted with black, the last blot assuming somewhat the appearance of an arrow-head; two outer feathers 2½ inches long, white, with five black bands on outer web; inner web dashed with orange close to the shaft, and irregularly barred with black; rump and tail feathers black, faintly margined with white. Length of tibia 2½ inches, feathered to within three-fourths of an inch of the tibia tarsal joint. Tarsus 2 inches, of a yellow colour, with a slight tinge of green. Toes the same colour as tarsus and tibia; middle toe 1 inch in length; outer ⅞ inch; inner ¾ inch; hinder ¼ inch; with a slight attempt at webbing between the outer and middle toe; nails dark brown, triangular, curved, and excavated. Under surface of wings beautifully streaked and barred with silver grey and white. The whole surface of the body was loaded with fat. The tongue long, narrow, and sharp-pointed, being hastate in shape; trachea narrow and cylindrical, except at about an inch before its junction with the lungs, where it is slightly dilated. Lungs moderately large, firmly adherent and very vascular; heart, normal in size. The stomach was comparatively large, and contained the two elytra and head of the common black beetle, four or five small earthworms, and a little slimy green herbage. The caecal appendages, I regret to say, I was unable to examine, as the intestines had already advanced into a state of decomposition. The breast bone measured, to horizontal plates, two inches in length, half an inch in width; depth of keel 1¾ inches; clavicles 1 inch, and very stout; scapula 2 inches; furculam 1¼ inch, much arched and strong.
Some little discrepancy has unfortunately crept into Mr. Wilson's description of this bird, as quoted by Mr. Yarrell, who states, "This bird frequently reaches three quarters of a pound".
My specimen, though loaded with fat, in capital condition, and weighed when fresh, only just brought down the beam at six ounces two drachms, and it appears to me that had it attained anything like Mr. Wilson's weight it must have been a perfect monstrosity, consequently I am therefore disposed to regard this statement as an entire misprint.'
"Sportsman" of Falmouth (1867) in The Field of 16th Feb., Vol. XXIX. p. 111, dated 16th February 1867, says: 'Such a rare occurrence as the killing of a Bartram's Sandpiper in this county will no doubt cause many inquiries as to time, place, and under what circumstances the bird was shot. For the information of your correspondent "Ornithologist", and all others interested, I would refer them to the "Times" of Nov. 14, 1865, and The Zoologist for January, 1866, where every particular was given. I may state that Dr. Bullmore of this town is now the owner of the valuable stranger, and will, I have no doubt, be only too happy to give further particulars.'
[It could scarcely have been supposed, when our correspondent alluded to a Bartram's Sandpiper being "shot last year", that he referred to one the occurrence of which had been duly recorded in the year previous. The bird in question is doubtless that of which Mr. E. H. Rodd wrote in The Field of Nov. 25, 1865, as having been shot on the Goonnelly [sic] Downs, in the Lizard district, and set up by Mr. Couch, of Falmouth. The mention as novelties of old occurrences, which have been recorded in zoological publications long before, can have no other result than to produce confusion - Ed.]
E. H. Rodd (1870) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. V. p. 2244, adds: 'A specimen of T. Bartramii was shot at or near Goonhilly, on the 6th of November, 1865, which I examined in the hands of the preserver, and is now in the possession of Dr. Bullmore, of Falmouth.'
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - Cornwall, November, 1865.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 444, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'The stomach of the one shot in Cornwall contained some remains of the common black beetle, four or five small earth-worms, and a little slimy green herbage; the bird was loaded with fat, and weighed 6 oz. 2 drs.'
4). 1879 Northumberland Longhoughton Low Stead, Boulmer, female, shot, 21st November, photo., now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
(G. Bolam, Field 20th Dec., 1879: 848-849; G. Bolam, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 9: 167-169; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Yarrell, 1871-85; Bolam, 1912, plate XXI; Witherby, 1920-24; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).
History George Bolam of Berwick-on-Tweed (1879) in The Field of 20th Dec., Vol. LIV. pp. 848-849, dated 16th December, says: 'Doubtless it will prove interesting to some of your readers to know that a specimen of this rare British bird was killed upon the coast near Boulmer on the 21st of last month.
On dissection it was found to be a female, and is in moulting condition; its dimensions are: length, 12½ in.; expanse of wings, 22½ in.; tarsi, 2 in.; bill to gape 1⅝ in.; weight, 5¼ oz. Can any of your numerous correspondents inform me how many instances there are on record of the capture of this bird in Britain? Morris, I see, only mentions two, while MacGillivray and others do not refer to it at all.'
[The first specimen of this bird procured in England was not recorded until 1852, in March of which year MacGillivray published the volume of his British Birds, containing the sandpipers. In Mr. Harting's Handbook of British Birds, p. 137, particulars are given of the occurrence of this species in England in four different instances. A fifth specimen, shot on the River Parrett, in the parish of Cambwich [sic], Somersetshire, is noticed in The Zoologist for 1877 (p. 389) as being in the collection of Dr. Woodforde of Taunton. - Ed.]
George Bolam (1879-81) in the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. IX. pp. 167-169, says: '...Professor Newton, to whose kind courtesy I am indebted for some interesting information on the subject, tells me that so far as he is aware "the Bartram's Sandpiper has, up to the present time, unquestionably occurred three times in England, namely: - One near Warwick, 31st October, 1851, Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds - Ed. 3. Vol. II. p. 633; one near Cambridge, 12th December, 1854, Yarrell, op. cit. - in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney; one near Falmouth, 13th November, 1865, Bullmore, Zoologist, 1866, p. 37; and that Mr. Murray Matthew states (Zoologist, 1877, p. 389) that Dr. Woodforde's collection at Taunton contains a specimen said to have been obtained "at least thirty years ago", on the River Parrett, in the parish of Cambwick [sic], Somersetshire; while Mr. Morris (Hist. Brit. Birds, Vol. IV. p. 296) quoted from the Illustrated London News, a statement by a person signing himself "N.S.R." to the effect that he had one shot at Bigwear [sic], on the Wye, in Gloucestershire, on the 19th of January, 1855.
As it is not known whether this last has ever been examined by a competent authority, the record can hardly at present be accepted. The species does not appear to have been obtained, as yet, in either Scotland or Ireland".'
Bolam (1912: 574-575) says: 'A beautiful specimen of this rare casual visitant to Europe, a female just recovering from the autumnal moult, was shot on the sea-banks, at Longhoughton Low Stead, Northumberland, by the late Mr. James Grey, on 21st November, 1879, and sent to me on the following day. It was presented, together with some fifty other birds from my collection, to the Museum at Newcastle, in the spring of 1905.
At the time it was killed, it was only the sixth example recorded for Great Britain, but two or three later occurrences are referred to in Saunders' Manual, only two further satisfactory instances of the birds having been met with elsewhere in Europe being then (1899) known.
My specimen, depicted on the annexed photograph, had been seen frequenting the links, and the neighbouring lands, for about a week before it was killed, and was observed by Mr. Henry Grey, son of the gentleman who shot it, to be not at all shy, hiding amongst the "bents" (Ammophila arundinacea) like a Woodcock, and allowing of an approach within a few yards before rising. When flushed, it seldom flew more than a hundred yards before again dropping into covert; or, alighting on the bare sand of the shore, would run quickly to the nearest shelter. When surprised in the open, with no covert at hand in which to get out of sight, it preferred to escape on foot rather than take wing, and ran very swiftly for the nearest shelter, frequently stopping behind a stone; or, after it had got some distance away, mounting any slight eminence, and taking stock of the intruder, its tail, the while, swaying up and down with the peculiar action so well known in the Common Sandpiper. In running, Mr. Grey described its pace as exceeding that of a Partridge. When flying, it frequently uttered a shrill, piping whistle. The day after it was shot, it weighed 5¼ ozs., but had bled a good deal, and, when fresh, was no doubt considerably heavier. It measured, in length, 12½ inches, alar expanse 22¼ inches, tarsus 2 inches, bill along- the ridge 1¼ inches, the legs bare of feathers for about an inch above the tarsal joint, they, together with the feet, being reddish orange in colour, claws black and strong, considerably curved. Tail wedge-shaped, the central rectrices 3½ inches long. The bill had a dark-brown tip, extending about a quarter of an inch along either mandible; there was about half an inch of similar dark brown at the base of the upper mandible, the rest of the bill being orange yellow. The whole plumage, when fresh, was suffused with a fine yellowish fawn, particularly noticeable on the flight feathers of both wings and tail, but this faded greatly before the specimen was a year old.'
[Obs. Low Stead lies immediately to the north of Boulmer, and is bounded on the other side by Lord Grey's woods at Howick Hall, which stretch down to the sea, and have already been remarked upon (page 328) as having produced so many rare birds from time to time. This may be only owing to the fact that good observers happened to be residing there, but the moral ought to be laid to heart by other residents on the coast. In addition to other casual migrants noticed there by Mr. Henry Grey, and referred to in this volume, I may add that, in October, 1880, he saw what he confidently believed to be a Yellow Shank (Totanus flavipes) at the mouth of Sandilands Burn, dividing Low Stead farm from Boulmer, and very near the exact spot where the Bartram's Sandpiper was shot. He "was within six feet of it as it stood in the shallow water on one occasion", and subsequently had three shots at it, but was so anxious to secure it, that he missed it each time.
Next day it could not be found, and was never seen again, and the evidence is, unfortunately, too slender to warrant the inclusion of so very rare a wanderer to Europe in this work, great confidence though I always reposed in Mr. Grey's powers of identification, and often though events have subsequently shown his surmises to have been well founded.]
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - Northumberland, November, 1879.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 442, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.
5). 1883 Cornwall Near St Keverne, The Lizard, shot, October.
(T. Cornish, Zoologist 1883: 495; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. E. Dresser, Zoologist 1885: 232; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 15: 32; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 134; Witherby, 1920-24; Penhallurick, 1969).
History Thomas Cornish of Penzance (1883) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. VII. p. 495, says: 'There are at present in the hands of our taxidermist, Mr. W. H. Vingoe, for preservation, a specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper, killed at St. Keverne, near the Lizard, in October last.'
[We should be glad of further information respecting this American sandpiper. - Ed.]
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 443, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Mr. Harting has shown to the Editor a letter from Mr. T. Cornish, announcing the capture of another at St Keverne, near the Lizard, Cornwall, last October (1883).'
H. E. Dresser of Farnborough, Kent (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 232, says: 'When at Penzance, in November last, I was told by Mr. Vingoe, the birdstuffer, that a doctor at Truro possessed a specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper shot by his brother at the Lizard (as already recorded in The Zoologist), but he could not remember the name of the doctor.
When at Truro some days afterwards, I called on the various doctors resident in that city, and after one or two unavailing visits I found the bird in the possession of Dr. H. S. Leverton, 68, Lemon Street, who most courteously handed it over to me for examination; and I at once recognised it as my old friend Bartramia longicauda, which I had so often shot when in Texas. Dr. Leverton informed me that this specimen (which is remarkable as being a rather pale-coloured example) was shot by his brother, between two and three years ago, on the cliffs near Coverack, a village a few miles on the Truro side of the Lizard, and sent to him in the flesh. He was unable at first to make out what the bird was, but soon succeeded in identifying it by reference to Mr. Gould's work on the Birds of Great Britain.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1905) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 32, at the 111th Meeting of the Club held on 18th January 1905 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. J. L. Bonhote exhibited a specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper that had been shot near St Keverne, Cornwall, in October 1883, and had been recorded in The Zoologist of that year (p. 495). Mr. Bonhote had recently received the specimen from Mrs. Leverton, of Truro, whose husband, the late Dr. Leverton, had shot it. Mr. Harting had recorded some eight occurrences of this American species in England, this specimen being the last record.'
J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 134, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', says: 'Was obtained near St Keverne in October, 1883, and passed into the collection of Dr. Leverton, of Truro.'
6). 1903 Cornwall The Lizard, shot, October.
(J. Clark, Zoologist 1907: 286; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 134; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 269; Penhallurick, 1969).
History J. Clark (1907) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XI. p. 286, says: 'Three examples of Bartram's Sandpiper have been killed in the county, and all in the Lizard district. The last specimen was found by Dr. Owen hanging up in a poulterer's shop in Falmouth in October, 1903, and is now in his collection.'
J. Clark (1907) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Vol. XVII. p. 134, under 'American Birds in Cornwall', says: 'This example was brought into a poulterer's shop at Falmouth from the Lizard district in October, 1903. The bird was bought by H. C. Owen and stuffed by Gill.'
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'.
Comment Very low risk of it having been obtained anywhere other than Cornwall.
7). 1922 Isles of Scilly Tresco, shot, 22nd September.
(P. R. Lowe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 43: 76; Eds., British Birds 17: 289; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 22: 46-47; Penhallurick, 1969).
History P. R. Lowe, Editor (1922) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLIII. p. 76, at the 254th Meeting of the Club held on 13th December 1922 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Mr. N. B. Kinnear, on behalf of Major A. A. Dorrien-Smith, also exhibited a Bartram's Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), which had been shot at Tresco, Scilly Isles, on 22 September, 1922. Mr. Kinnear stated that there had been about thirteen occurrences of this American Sandpiper in the British Isles, three of which were in Cornwall.'
In an Editorial (1924) in British Birds, Vol. XVII. p. 289, they say: 'Dr. G. C. Low, whose work on the Literature of the Charadriiformes is about to be published, has brought to our notice that we have omitted to refer in British Birds to a Bartram's Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) shot at Tresco, Scilly Isles, on September 22nd, 1922, by Major A. A. Dorrien-Smith.
The bird was exhibited at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, by Mr. N. B. Kinnear, on December 13th, 1922 (Bull. B.O.C., XLIII. p. 76). This is the fourteenth recorded occurrence, if two found in poulterers' shops are accepted as good records, of Bartram's Sandpiper in the British Islands, and this record should also have been included in the additions in the Practical Handbook.'
H. F. Witherby (1928) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. pp. 46-47, in a Review of W. E. Clarke's 3rd ed. of Saunders's Manual of British Birds, says: 'For years Howard Saunders' Manual was the standard authority for British ornithology until his last (1899) edition became too out of date to be so regarded. The present edition we fear falls short in the accuracy sustained in Saunders's own two editions....There are many details in the book to which we take exception, and there are also certain records which do not appear to have been published previously, and it must suffice to refer here to a few of these items....The occurrence of Bartram's Sandpiper in Scilly in September, 1922, the omission of which from the Practical Handbook was pointed out in British Birds, XVII. p. 289, has escaped Dr. Clarke's notice.'
8). 1933 Dumfries & Galloway Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire, adult female, shot, 13th October, photo, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1976.68).
(J. Ritchie, British Birds 27: 205-206; Thom, 1986).
History John Ritchie (1933) in British Birds, Vol. XXVII. pp. 205-206, says: 'Mr. Richardson, of Dumfries, on behalf of Mr. Jas. Paterson, of Collin, Dumfries, sent to Messrs. Malloch, taxidermists, Perth, a bird, to be set up and mounted, on October 16th, 1933. Mr. Gilbert D. Malloch, observing that it was unusual, brought it to me for identification.
The only bird I could refer it to was Bartram's Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda). It was sent to Mr. H. F. Witherby who confirmed my diagnosis. Examination in the flesh showed it to be an adult female, with well-developed ovary packed with ova maturing for next year's laying. The left oviduct was wide and tough as if eggs had been passed this year. I regret that I had not time to make an examination of its other organs as to its food or internal parasites.
As I did not have any particulars regarding its capture I wrote to the sender and received from Mr. Paterson, of Brocklehirst, Collin, Dumfries, the following reply: - "When shooting on October 13th over a part of Comlongon Castle Estate, belonging to the Earl of Mansfield, of which I am shooting tenant, this bird was driven over a party of guns, off a grass field, and was shot for a Golden Plover. Its call in flight was similar to that of the Golden Plover or Redshank.
The bird was killed in the afternoon between 2.30 and 3.30, on the farm lands of "Kirkstyle", parish of Ruthwell, Dumfries County, and approximately two miles from the shores of the Solway. I might add that the bird was a solitary one with flight similar to the Golden Plover".
This is the first recorded occurrence of the bird in Scotland.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1835 Yorkshire Hawsker Moor, shot, undated, now at Whitby Museum.
(M. Simpson, Zoologist 1871: 2870).
[F. Bond, Zoologist 1872: 2905; Not in BOU, 1971].
History Martin Simpson of Whitby Museum (1871) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VI. p. 2870, dated 17th October 1871, says: 'We have had a gentleman skilled in ornithology, Mr. S. Gardner, of Sheffield, and he is of opinion that our bird is Bartram's Sandpiper. On comparing it with Montagu's description (Mont. 280) and with Yarrell's, it corresponds so closely in measurements and differs so little in colour that I do not see how it can be anything else. I see you refer to Mr. F. Bond: the bird was shot by Mr. Thomas Bond. A small label is attached to the bird, probably in his handwriting, "Shot by Mr. Bond on Hawsker Moor, 1835, named Egyptian Plover".
In the Society's Report for that year we find, "Egyptian Plover presented by Mr. Thomas Bond", whom none of us know anything about. If we are right in the species, it is a great curiosity, as our Sheffield friend believes that there are only three specimens recorded as having been procured in the United Kingdom.'
F. Bond of South Hampstead (1872) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VII. p. 2905, undated, says: 'Through the kindness of Mr. Gould, I saw yesterday the "Whitby Wader", which had been sent to him for his opinion as to its identity. It turns out to be a young male of the Ruff [Philomachus pugnax]. I see by the stand on which the bird is, that it has lately been called "Bartram's Sandpiper", which name is certainly wrong, and Mr. S. Gardner, of Sheffield, is wrong in his identification. This is not the first time this bird, the Ruff, has been taken, or rather mistaken, for Bartram's Sandpiper.'
Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.
0). 1836-40 Sussex Newhaven, shot, undated.
(J. Dutton, Zoologist 1864: 9118; Newman, 1866; Borrer, 1891).
[Harting, 1872; F. E. Sawyer, Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society Report 22: 99-111; Walpole-Bond, 1938].
History J. Dutton of Eastbourne (1864) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XXII. p. 9118, undated, says: 'I purchased, at a sale of birds belonging to the late Mr. Wille, of Lewes, on Monday 18th April, a beautiful specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper, shot at Newhaven some time between 1836 and 1840.'
Examined by J. E. Harting and found to be a Ruff Philomachus pugnax (Harting 1872).
Locally Borrer (1891: 239) says: '...This is the first instance of the occurrence of this species in England on record', but as it was misidentified it was not accepted by Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 150).
Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Borrer had obviously not read Harting (1872). Misidentified. Not acceptable.
0). c. 1847 Somerset River Parrett, Turf Moor or Combwich, shot, autumn, now in Taunton Castle Museum.
(M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1877: 389; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Yarrell, 1871-85; C. Smith, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 29: 20; G. Bolam, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 9: 167-169; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; M. A. Mathew, Zoologist 1888: 220; M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 1893: 130-131; Saunders, 1899; Witherby, 1920-24; Somerset Ornithological Society, 1988; Ballance, 2006).
[BOURC (2013), Ibis 155: 649].
History M. A. Mathew of Bishop's Lydeard (1877) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. I. p. 389, says: 'In the collection of birds belonging to Dr. Woodforde, of Amberd House, near Taunton, and chiefly obtained in the county of Somerset, is a very perfect example of Bartram's Sandpiper, which was shot at least thirty years ago on the banks of the River Parrett, in the parish of Combwich. It was shot in one of the winter months, and appears to be in complete winter plumage, being more ashy in its coloration than any other example of this sandpiper which I have seen. So far as I am aware, this specimen has not hitherto been recorded.'
George Bolam (1879-82) in History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. IX. pp. 167-169, says: '...Professor Newton, to whose kind courtesy I am indebted for some interesting information on the subject, tells me that so far as he is aware "the Bartram's Sandpiper has, up to the present time, unquestionably occurred three times in England, namely: - One near Warwick, 31st October, 1851, Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds - Ed. 3. Vol. III. p. 633; one near Cambridge, 12th December, 1854, Yarrell, op. cit. - in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney; one near Falmouth, 13th November, 1865, Bullmore, Zoologist, 1866, p. 37; and that Mr. Murray Matthew states (Zoologist, 1877, p. 389) that Dr. Woodforde's collection at Taunton contains a specimen said to have been obtained "at least thirty years ago", on the River Parret [sic], in the parish of Cambwick [sic], Somersetshire".'
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - in Somersetshire, autumn, 1847.'
Admitted by Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 441, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds.
C. Smith (1883) in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society, Vol. XXIX. p. 20, says: '...and there is in Dr. Woodforde's collection, now deposited in our Museum, a Bartram's Sandpiper said to have been obtained in the county.'
M. A. Mathew (1888) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XII. p. 220, says: 'A specimen of this American sandpiper, the earliest, perhaps, obtained in this country, was for a long time unrecognised in the collection of Dr. Woodford, of Taunton, until identified by me. It is now in the county collection of birds at Taunton Castle; it is in almost complete winter dress, and was shot on the bank of the River Parrett, now nearly fifty years ago.'
M. A. Mathew (1893) in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society, Vol. XXXIX. p. 130-131, states nothing new to above.
Comment BOURC (2013), in The Ibis, Vol. CLV. p. 649 state that the first record was in 1851. Smith states that it was "said to have been obtained in the county". Lacks a precise date for a scientific record for a first for Britain.
0). 1855 Gloucestershire Bigsmere, River Wye, shot, 19th January.
(Eds., Field 10th Feb., 1855: 90; E. E. Evans, Midland Naturalist 3: 263; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 509; Yarrell, 1871-85).
[G. Bolam, History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 9: 167-169; Swaine, 1982].
History In an Editorial (1855) in The Field of 10th Feb., Vol. V. p. 90, he says: '...The same journal [Cambridge Chronicle] of the 3rd inst. has the following paragraph: "It appears from a letter in a London contemporary, that another of these birds (making, according to Mr. Gould, the third) has been killed in this country. It was shot on the 19th ult. at Bigsmear, on the banks of the Wye, in Gloucestershire. The person who shot it was at a loss to know what kind of bird it was, and showed it to several gentlemen. After comparing it with the description given by Mr. Tearle, there was no doubt that it was a Sandpiper; but, unfortunately, when this was ascertained, it was too late to preserve it".'
George Bolam (1880) in a History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. IX. pp. 167-169, says: '...Professor Newton, to whose kind courtesy I am indebted for some interesting information on the subject, tells me that so far as he is aware "the Bartram's Sandpiper has, up to the present time, unquestionably occurred three times in England, namely: - One near Warwick, 31st October, 1851, Yarrell Hist. Brit. Birds - Ed. 3. Vol. II. p. 633; one near Cambridge, 12th December, 1854, Yarrell, op. cit. - in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney; one near Falmouth, 13th November, 1865, Bullmore, Zoologist, 1866, p. 37; and that Mr. Murray Matthew states (Zoologist, 1877, p. 389) that Dr. Woodforde's collection at Taunton contains a specimen said to have been obtained "at least thirty years ago", on the River Parret [sic], in the parish of Cambwick [sic], Somersetshire; while Mr. Morris (Hist. Brit. Birds, Vol. IV. p. 296) quoted from the Illustrated London News, a statement by a person signing himself "N.S.R." to the effect that he had one shot at Bigwear [sic], on the Wye, in Gloucestershire, on the 19th of January, 1855. As it is not known whether this last has ever been examined by a competent authority, the record can hardly at present be accepted".'
Edward E. Evans (1880) in the Midland Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 263, under 'Birds of Gloucestershire', says: 'The Spotted Redshank, Bartram's Sandpiper, and the Avocet, have also been found. Bartram's Sandpiper was shot on the banks of the Wye some time ago...'
J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 509, says: '...The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - Gloucestershire, January, 1855.'
Comment Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Anonymous records were unacceptable to ornithologists. Not acceptable.
0). 1880 Lincolnshire No locality, male, obtained, about 25th October.
(J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1880: 508; Yarrell, 1871-85).
[Seebohm, 1883-85; F. L. Blathwayt, Zoologist 1912: 63; Witherby, 1920-24; Lorand & Atkin, 1989].
History J. E. Harting, Editor (1880) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IV. p. 508, says: 'On the 27th October, Mr. John Cooper, the well-known taxidermist of Radnor Street, St Luke's, brought for my inspection a freshly-killed specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper, Actiturus bartramius, in the flesh, which he had just purchased in Leadenhall Market. It was hanging up with a lot of Golden Plovers, with which it had been sent up with from Lincolnshire.
Enquiries subsequently made at my request failed to elicit the name of the locality whence it was obtained, there being apparently some mistaken impression on the part of the salesman as to the motive of the enquiry. In answer to my question whether he had examined any of the Golden Plovers, and particularly whether he had noticed the colour of the axillary plumes (which in the American Golden Plover are grey), Mr. Cooper replied that he had not. This is to be regretted, for I have often seen a single Sandpiper or Plover flying in company with a flock of a different species; and it is not unlikely that the Golden Plovers in question may have been also of American origin, and this little flock of migrants may have brought the sandpiper with them. I carefully dissected the bird, which I found to be a male, and prepared the sternum, which in point of size approximates to that of Totanus fuscus, and has the posterior margin doubly cleft as in T. fuscus, calidris, glottis, and other Sandpipers. The apex of the keel, however, is not pointed as in the species named, but rounder as in Numenius. It would be interesting to compare it with the sterna of the smaller short-billed Curlews, Numenius borealis and minor, to which actiturus externally bears so close a resemblance.
Upon examination of the stomach I found it to contain numerous fragments of the wing-cases of small beetles in such a condition as to be barely recognizable. Being unable to identify them myself, and being anxious to test, if possible, the accuracy of the statement that the bird had been killed in this country, I forwarded the entire contents of the stomach to Mr. E. C. Rye, whose knowledge of the Coleoptera I felt sure would enable him to satisfy me upon the questions I was anxious to have solved, namely, whether the fragments of Coleoptera forwarded belonged to British species; and if so, whether to British species not found in North America. In the event of his replying to both questions in the affirmative, it would be reasonable to conclude that the bird had been feeding in this country, and was really a British-killed specimen.
Mr. Rye has been kind enough to reply as follows: - "You propound a question incapable of precise solution. The remains are so comminuted, and represent so many specimens and species, that I should be sorry to attempt a decided opinion. But after a tolerably long examination I can find nothing to make me believe the fragments of insects represent other than British species. There are remains of Ocypus cupreus, I am almost sure; also of a common little Othius, and the body of a tolerably large Philonthus, the elytron of Cytilus varius [I am nearly positive], and the anal forceps of many earwigs. All these a Sandpiper would readily find in our fens, but the bits are so champed up and disguised by cracking, &c., that no one could positively hang a poulterer on the evidence! There is nothing saliently North American, but unfortunately we have many species in common, and many so closely allied that such an examination as this could give little clue. I personally think the bits are British".
If, on the evidence adduced, then, we may add this specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper to the list of "Rare and Accidental Visitants", and it seems warrantable to do so, this will make the seventh example of this American species which has been procured in the British Islands. The half dozen specimens already recorded were obtained - in Somersetshire, autumn, 1847; in Warwickshire, October, 1851; Cambridgeshire, December, 1854; Gloucestershire, January, 1855; Cornwall, November, 1865; and Northumberland, November, 1879; all obtained either late autumn or in the winter.'
Howard Saunders (1882-84 (3): 442-443, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Respecting a sixth example, Mr. J. E. Harting writes (Zool., 1880, p. 508), that on the 27th October, the late Mr. Cooper, the taxidermist of Radnor Street, St. Luke's, brought for his inspection a freshly-killed specimen which had been purchased in Leadenhall Market, hanging up with a lot of Plovers, said to have come with it from Lincolnshire. The stomach contained numerous fragments of wing-cases of small beetles, which were submitted to Mr. E. C. Rye, who could find nothing to make him believe that the bits were other than the remains of British insects.'
Further, p. 445, he adds: 'Mr. Harting, who carefully dissected the Lincolnshire specimen, remarks that the sternum, in point of size, approximates to that of Totanus fuscus, and has the posterior margin doubly cleft as in that species and its congeners; the apex of the keel is, however, not pointed as in the above, but rounded as in Numenius (Zool., 1880, 509). It will be observed that the tail is barred, as in Totanus, and not plain, as in Tringa.'
Seebohm (1885 (3): 110) says: 'A sixth, said to have come from Lincolnshire....'
F. L. Blathwayt (1912) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. XVI. p. 63, placing the record in square brackets, says: 'A freshly killed specimen, purchased in Leadenhall Market, and said to come from Lincolnshire, was identified by Mr. J. E. Harting on October 27th, 1880; see Zoologist, 1880, p. 508.'
Comment Not known specifically where it came from. Not acceptable.
0). 1883 Isles of Scilly No locality, shot, before 12th October.
(Yarrell, 1871-85; Penhallurick, 1978).
[Witherby, 1920-24].
History Penhallurick (1978: 426) says: '1883, about the same time as the bird was taken at St. Keverne, another was shot, before 12th October, on Scilly (Yarrell (1871-85, Vol. III. p. 443).' However, it was not mentioned by Witherby, (1920-24).
Comment There is no mention of the Scilly record in Yarrell (1882-84 (3): 443), only the Cornish record. But in a footnote there is mention of a Pectoral Sandpiper from Scilly. Misrecorded. Not acceptable.
0). 1908 Kent Romney Marsh, adult male, shot, 18th July.
(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 1: 187; M. J. Nicoll, British Birds 2: 206; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 23: 25; Ticehurst, 1909).
[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 - Bartramia longicauda, Bechst., Bartram's Sandpiper, Lydd, July 18th, 1908.'
M. J. Nicoll (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 206, says: 'On July 18th a Bartram's Sandpiper (Bartramia longicaudata) was shot on Romney Marsh, and I examined it in the flesh two days later in Mr. Bristow's shop at St. Leonards. It was an adult male in good condition, but in somewhat worn breeding plumage. On July 23rd Mr. Bristow informed me that on the previous day (the 22nd) he saw a bird on Pevensey Level which he believes to have been a Bartram's Sandpiper.'
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: - Bartram's Sandpiper. An adult male, shot in Romney Marsh on July the 18th, 1908, and examined in the flesh by Mr. M. J. Nicoll.'
Ticehurst (1909: 471) says: '...In an otherwise fine and hot summer, with slight easterly and south-easterly breezes, the week commencing July 12th was remarkable for its rainstorms and strong south-westerly winds. This seems to have brought or stayed in their migration a number of Whimbrel, Sanderlings, Ruffs, Common Sandpipers and Wood Sandpipers, and with them no doubt came the three American species, the Pectoral, Solitary and Bartram's Sandpipers. The latter was shot near Lydd on July 18th by a man, who brought it to Mr. Bristow three days later as a "funny sort of Redshank".'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1908 Sussex Pevensey Levels, seen, 22nd July.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (3): 150-151) says: 'On 22nd July 1908, Mr. G. Bristow, a very capable observer, saw a bird in Pevensey Level which he believed was B. longicauda, having a day or two ago skinned an example which had been killed on Romney Marsh in Kent.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1914 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, male, picked-up, 3rd July.
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 8: 101; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VIII. p. 101, says: 'On July 3rd, 1914, a specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) was picked up at Bopeep, St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, by a workman. It had flown against the telephone-wires which run along the side of the marsh adjoining the road. It was badly damaged about the head and neck. Thinking it was a Snipe, the man gave it to a publican at St. Leonards, and I saw it in the flesh the same day. It proved to be a male.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (3): 151).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1927 Lancashire & North Merseyside Speke, February.
(E. Hardy, North-Western Bird Report 1971-85: 23).
[BOU, 1971].
History E. Hardy (1985) in the North-Western Bird Report 1971-85: 23, says: 'Previously on the Mersey at Speke in February 1927.' Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
