Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (6, 30)

Photo © Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3488168

STATUS

North America. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Records are widespread with twenty-five individuals having occurred in England, two in Wales and twelve in Scotland.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1906 Isles of Scilly Great Pool, Tresco, adult, shot, 16th September, photo, now at Isles of Scilly Museum.

(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 19: 7; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Zoologist 1906: 470; F. W. Frohawk, Field 10th Nov., 1906: 823, fig.; J. Clark, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 17: 135; H. Saunders, British Birds 1: 16; Witherby, 1920-24; Eds., Ibis 1927: 781-782; A. A. Dorrien-Smith, British Birds 33: 113; Penhallurick, 1969; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 59).

2). 1927 Isles of Scilly Great Pool, Tresco, seen, 23rd to 28th August.

(Eds., Ibis 1927: 781-782; Eds., British Birds 21: 162; A. A. Dorrien-Smith, British Birds 33: 113; Penhallurick, 1969).

3). 1939 Isles of Scilly Abbey Pool, Tresco, seen, 7th May.

(A. A. Dorrien-Smith, British Birds 33: 113; B. H. Ryves & D. Valentine, Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society Report 1939: 25; Penhallurick, 1969, 1978: 427).

4). 1943 Kent Medway Estuary, seen, 7th September to 1st October.

(R. Whitlock, South-Eastern Bird Report 1943: 47; Eds., British Birds 38: 219; Eds., British Birds 42: 157-158; T. C. Gregory, British Birds 42: 158,192, corr.; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1981).

5). 1948 Northamptonshire Ecton Sewage-farm, adult, seen, 21st to 22nd August.

(F. K. Boston, E. H. Lousley & B. W. Tucker, British Birds 42: 155-157; Taylor, 1959).

6). 1949 Essex Abberton Reservoir, 28th to 31st July.

(A. Marshall & G. A. Pyman, British Birds 43: 130-131; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984).

7). 1955 Cornwall/Devon Tamar Lakes, first-winter, 11th October.

(F. E. Carter, British Birds 49: 230-231; F. R. Smith, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1955: 28; B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons, Cornwall Bird Watching & Preservation Society Report 1955: 23-24; Moore, 1969; Penhallurick, 1969).

8). 1957 North-East Scotland Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, juvenile male moulting into first-winter, 25th October, found dead later same day, now at Harrison Institute, Sevenoaks, Kent (HZM 2.14793).

(J. G. Harrison & J. M. Harrison, Scottish Birds 1: 94; J. W. Campbell, Scottish Birds 1: 256; Thom, 1986; P. R. Gordon & D. L. Clugston, Scottish Birds 18: 137; A. G. Knox, Birding Scotland 9 (1): 39-40, plates 40-42; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

9). 1961 Flintshire Shotton Pools, Cheshire, 23rd July.

(C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 55: 572; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

10). 1972 Kent Medway Estuary, 22nd November.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 66: 341).

11). 1975 Isles of Scilly Great Pool, Tresco, 24th August to 3rd September, found dead, 6th September, photo.

(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 336; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 59).

12). 1975 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, 8th to 13th September.

(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 336; Piotrowski, 2003).

13). 1978 Outer Hebrides Peninerine, South Uist, 14th August.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 524).

14). 1983 Flintshire Shotwick Lake, 24th November.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 77: 526; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

15). 1985 Highland Loch Sligachan, Skye, Skye & Lochalsh, 19th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 550).

16). 1985 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, discontinuously, 4th July to 14th August, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 550; T. D. Charlton, Suffolk Birds 1985: 79-80, photo).

17). 1985 Argyll Glenegedale, Islay, 25th October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 559).

18). 1992 Cambridgeshire Welches Dam, Ouse Washes, 24th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 515).

19). 1994 Cumbria Carr Beds, Rockcliffe, juvenile to first-winter, 15th to 28th October, 12th to 13th November, photo.

(Birding World 7 (10): 382, photo; Birding World 7 (12): 484, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 515, plate 163).

20.0). 1995 Essex Deal Hall, Dengie, first-summer, 10th May; also in Norfolk, Suffolk.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 90: 479; Wood, 2007).

20.1). 1995 Suffolk Southwold, first-summer, 14th May; presumed same as Essex; also in Norfolk.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 502; B. J. Small, Suffolk Birds 1995: 162).

20.2). 1995 Norfolk/Suffolk Breydon Water, Berney Marshes and Burgh Castle, first-summer, 15th to 18th, 22nd to 25th May; presumed same as Essex, Suffolk.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 502; Piotrowski, 2003).

21.0). 1996 Kent Stoke Lagoon, 22nd March to 2nd April.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 90: 479).

22). 1996 Devon Braunton, 29th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 477).

21.1). 1997 Kent Allhallows, North Kent Marshes, 21st January to 2nd February; presumed same as Kent 1996.

(P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 43).

21.2). 1999 Kent Elmley, Sheppey, adult, 16th, 30th to 31st March; presumed same as Kent 1996.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 128, 534; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 43).

23). 1999 Outer Hebrides Loch Mor, Benbecula, 2nd November to 9th March 2000. Last noted at Loch Bail'Fhionnlaidh, 7th May, photo.

(Birding World 13 (4): 139, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 534; B. Rabbitts, Birding Scotland 3 (1): 35; Birding Scotland 3 (3): plates 96 & 97; Birding Scotland 4 (2): plate 80).

24). 2002 Outer Hebrides Hirta, St Kilda, 28th to 30th April, 8th to 9th May, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 571; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

25). 2002 Argyll Loch Gruinart, Islay, 11th to 14th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 571).

26). 2007 Lincolnshire Freiston Shore RSPB, first-summer, 9th April and 19th May; presumed same, Gibraltar Point NNR, 30th to 31st May, photo.

(Birding World 20 (5): 188, photo; K. Wilson & J. Shaughnessy, Birding World 20 (6): 247-253, plates 1-4, 12 & 13; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 543).

27). 2007 Lincolnshire Baston Gravel-pits, near Bourne, 25th September, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 557).

28). 2007 Hampshire Farlington Marshes, 26th to 27th September, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 543).

29). 2007 Shetland Ristie, Foula, juvenile, 11th October, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 543; B. Thomason & M. Maher, Shetland Bird Report 2007: 106, photo).

30). 2011 Cornwall Treraven Meadows, Wadebridge, adult, 12th to 13th September, photo.

(Birding World 24 (9): 364, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 585).

31.0). 2011 Northumberland East Chevington, Hauxley, Druridge Bay and Cresswell Pond, first-winter, 12th November to 12th December, photo; also in Highland, North-east Scotland, Caithness.

(Birding World 24 (11): 449, photo; British Birds 105: plate 34; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 585).

31.1). 2011 Highland Knockglass, Loch Fleet, Sutherland, first-winter, 14th December to 26th January 2012, photo; presumed same, Dornoch, 20th February 2012, photo; presumed same as Northumberland.

(D. MacAskill, Scottish Birds 32: 186-188, plates 154-157; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 585, plate 338; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 595).

31.2). 2012 North-East Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, first-winter, 3rd March to 4th May; presumed same, Ythan Estuary, 5th to 12th May; presumed same, Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, 14th to 27th May, photo; same, 26th to 29th September, photo; presumed same as Northumberland; also in Caithness, Highland.

(P. A. A. Baxter & C. Gibbins, Scottish Birds 32: 188-189, plate 158; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 595).

31.3). 2012 Caithness Loch of Mey, first-summer, photo; presumed same, St John's Loch, Dunnet, 25th July to 1st August, photo; same as Northumberland; also in Highland, North-east Scotland.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 595).

32). 2013 Kent Coldharbour Lagoon, Reculver, adult, 10th September, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 601).

33.0). 2015 Hampshire Titchfield Haven, 2CY+, 11th January, photo; presumed same, 11th April to 24th July, photo; also in Isle of Wight.

(British Birds 108: plate 245; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 588, plate 316; Hampshire Bird Report 2015: photo).

33.1). 2015 Isle of Wight River Medina, Whippingham, 2CY+, 23rd September to 13th February 2016, photo; same as Hampshire.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 588; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 582).

34). 2019 Argyll Loch a' Phuill, Tiree, 2CY+, 28th April.

(J. Bowler, Scottish Birds 39: 366-367; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 604).

35). 2020 Suffolk Dingle Marshes, 2CY+, 7th to 19th November, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 585, plates 24 & 392).

36). 2021 North-east Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, 2CY+, 28th September to 20th October.

(A. Carroll, Scottish Birds 42: 86-87, plate 69; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 571).

P) 2022 North-east Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, 3rd to 12th November.

(www.the-soc.org.uk/batch 257).