Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus (Bonaparte, 1826) (0, 43)

Photo © By Len Blumin - originally posted to Flickr as STILT SANDPIPER, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4799352

STATUS

North America. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

This vagrant arrives here in April and May and between July and September. One each in the Isle of Man and Wales, seven in Scotland, but the remaining scattered across England.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1954 Yorkshire Kilnsea, adult, 31st August to 4th September.

(R. Chislett, British Birds 48: 18-20; R. Chislett, Naturalist 80: 80-81; BOURC (1956), Ibis 98: 155; Mather, 1986).

2). 1962 Sussex Chichester Gravel-pits, adult, 1st to 7th September.

(M. J. Carter, C. J. Mead & A. B. Sheldon, British Birds 56: 64-66; D. D. Harber & C. M. Swaine and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 56: 401).

3). 1963 Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire/Norfolk Wisbech Sewage-farm and River Nene, adult, 19th July to 7th August, trapped 19th July, released 20th July, photo.

(C. D. T. Minton, British Birds 57: 125-126; D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 57: 270).

4). 1963 Sussex Manhood End, Chichester Harbour, adult, 7th to 13th August.

(M. Shrubb, British Birds 57: 126-127; D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 57: 270).

5). 1965 Lincolnshire/Norfolk Wisbech Sewage-farm, adult, 12th to 26th August.

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 59: 289).

6). 1967 Lancashire & North Merseyside Hundred End, Southport, juvenile, 27th September to 8th October.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 340; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 713).

7). 1969 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, age uncertain, 27th to 29th July.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 63: 276).

8). 1970 Highland Dornoch Point, Sutherland, age uncertain, 18th April.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 350; D. Macdonald & V. M. Thom, Scottish Birds 6: 280-281).

9). 1972 Sussex Sidlesham Ferry, adult, 14th July.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 66: 340).

10). 1973 Essex Walton-on-the-Naze, adult, 2nd September.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 67: 321).

11). 1976 Shetland Loch of Gards, Scatness, Mainland, adult, 11th to 18th September, photo.

(J. O'Sullivan and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 70: 421; Scottish Birds 10: plate 9c).

12). 1984 Cheshire & Wirral Frodsham area, first-summer, 16th April to 3rd October, photo.

(British Birds 77: plates 128 & 129; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 78: 549; J. W. Raynor, Cheshire Bird Report 1984: 84-85; S. Holmes, Cheshire Bird Report 1984: 85-86; Birding World 3 (8): 289, photo; Saunders, 1991: 110, photo; British Birds 94: plates 15 & 16).

13). 1985 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, adult, 4th to 10th May.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 547).

14). 1985 Kent Dungeness, adult, 22nd August.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 547).

15). 1987 Kent Cliffe, adult, 18th to 25th August.

(A. McKee & J. McKee, Twitching 1: 222-223; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 558).

16). 1989 Yorkshire Flamborough Head, adult, 2nd July; same, Sandfield Pond, Catwick, 3rd to 4th July.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 463).

17). 1990 Kent Cliffe, adult, 11th to 22nd July, trapped 12th July, photo.

(Birding World 3 (7): 228, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 85: 526; Kent Bird Report 1990: photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 480).

18). 1990 Suffolk Trimley St Mary, adult, 7th to 19th August, photo.

(Birding World 3 (8): 262, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 471, plate 260; S. H. Piotrowski, Suffolk Birds 1990: 140-142, plate 14).

19). 1997 Suffolk Minsmere RSPB, adult, 7th to 13th September, photo.

(Birding World 10 (9): 324, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 476, plate 127; B. K. Small, Suffolk Birds 1997: 153-154; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 575, corr.).

20). 2002 Hampshire Pennington Marsh, adult, 21st July to 3rd August, photo.

(R. B. Wynn, Birding World 15 (7): 282-283, plates 1-4; Birding World 15 (12): 512, photo; British Birds 95: plate 278; R. B. Wynn, Hampshire Bird Report 2002: 198-201, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 569, plate 350).

21). 2002 Shetland Norwick, Unst, juvenile, 5th to 7th November, photo.

(Birding World 15 (11): 448, photo; M. Maher, M. G. Pennington & M. Smith, Birding Scotland 6 (1): 7-8, plates 1-3; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 569, plate 351; M. Maher, M. G. Pennington & M. Smith, Shetland Bird Report 2002: 102-103, photo; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

22). 2005 Norfolk Burnham Norton, 10th to 17th May, photo; same, Titchwell RSPB, 11th to 12th May, photo.

(Birding World 18 (5): 185, photo; A. Bloomfield, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2005: 300-301, photo; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 41).

23). 2006 Denbighshire Conwy RSPB, first-summer, 11th to 13th July, photo.

(Birding World 19 (7): 267, photo; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 713; M. Duckham, Welsh Birds 5: 113-114).

24). 2006 Dorset Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, adult, 12th to 21st August, photo.

(Birding World 19 (8): 313, photo; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 713; Dorset Bird Report 2006: photo).

25). 2008 Leicestershire & Rutland Rutland Water, adult, 27th May, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 554).

26). 2008 Gloucestershire Coombe Hill Meadows, adult, 15th to 21st August, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 554; Gloucestershire Bird Report 2008: photo).

27.0). 2008 Outer Hebrides Rubha Ardvule, South Uist, juvenile, 14th to 15th September, photo; also in Isle of Man, Cumbria.

(Birding World 21 (9): 359, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 554).

27.1). 2008 Man, Isle of Glascoe Dubh, juvenile, 17th September, photo; same as Outer Hebrides; also in Cumbria.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 554).

27.2). 2008 Cumbria Campfield Marsh RSPB, juvenile, 22nd September to 1st October, photo; presumed same as Outer Hebrides, Isle of Man.

(Birding World 21 (9): 359, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 554; D. J. Robson, Birds and Wildlife in Cumbria 2008: 186-187, photo).

28). 2009 North-East Scotland Loch of Strathbeg RSPB, adult, 9th to 11th July, photo.

(Birding World 22 (7): 269, photo; D. Parnaby, Scottish Birds 29: 268-272, plates 231-233; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 587).

29). 2011 Dorset Lodmoor RSPB, adult, 23rd July to 7th August, photo.

(Birding World 24 (8): 315, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 105: 581).

30). 2012 Northumberland Low Newton-by-the-Sea, adult, 5th to 9th August, photo.

(Birding World 25 (8): 313, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 592, plate 343; G. Woodburn, Birds in Northumbria 2012: 196-199, photo).

31). 2013 Cheshire & Wirral Neumann's Flash, adult, 29th August to 2nd September, photo; presumed same, Sandbach Flashes, 2nd to 7th September, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 107: 598).

32). 2014 Norfolk Hickling Broad, adult, 11th to 12th July, photo.

(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 586).

33). 2014 Northumberland Cresswell Pond and Druridge Pools, adult, 29th July to 14th August, photo.

(British Birds 107: plate 275; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 586, plate 334).

34). 2016 Hampshire Fishtail Lagoon, Keyhaven Marshes, 2CY+, 22nd to May, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 578).

35). 2016 Perth & Kinross Carsebreck Loch, 2CY+, 24th to 25th June, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 578).

36). 2017 Norfolk Holkham NNR, 2CY+, 2nd to 3rd July, photo.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 570).

37.0). 2017 Dorset Lodmoor RSPB, 1CY, 11th to 15th September, photo; presumed same, Lytchett Fields RSPB, 21st September to 7th October, photo; same, Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, first-winter, 24th November to 28th December, photo; also in Hampshire.

(British Birds 111: plate 77; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 570, plate 365).

37.1). 2017 Hampshire Farlington Marshes, 1CY, 7th November; same as Dorset.

(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 570).

37.2). 2018 Dorset Coward's Marsh, 2CY, intermittently, 12th January to 27th February, photo; presumed same, Stanpit Marsh, intermittently, 17th January to 1st March, photo; presumed same as 2017.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 575).

38). 2018 Lincolnshire Frampton Marsh RSPB, 2CY+, 22nd August to 3rd September, photo.

(British Birds 111: plate 429; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 575, plate 316; Lincolnshire Bird Report 2018: photo).

39). 2019 Lancashire & North Merseyside Lunt Meadows, 3CY+, 17th to 21st May, photo.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 601).

40). 2020 Orkney North Hill, Sanday, 2CY+, 22nd to 24th July, photo.

(R. Neave & E. Neave-Webb, Scottish Birds 41: 165-167, plates 140-142; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 581).

41). 2022 Lincolnshire Alkborough Flats, 15th July to 3rd August, photo.

(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 563).

42). 2023 Outer Hebrides Loch Paible, North Uist, 1st to 3rd October.

(G. Boner & I. Lang, Scottish Birds 44: 175-178, plates 137 & 138; BBRC - Web-WIP-11-3-24).

43). 2023 Dumfries & Galloway Crook of Baldoon RSPB, 27th to 28th October, photo.

(G. Boner & I. Lang, Scottish Birds 44: 175-178, plate 139; BBRC - Web-WIP-11-3-24).

P). 2024 Yorkshire Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea, adult, 30th to 31st August.

(British Birds 117: plate 438).