Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Acrocephalus ("topmost head") palustris ("loving marshes") 

Adult Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) at Branston Gravel Pits, Staffordshire - May 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 11-15g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-21cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Like the Savi's Warbler, the Marsh Warbler is a small, brown, reedbed species for which the UK is the very last fringe of it's range, with only a tiny precarious handful of pairs still breeding in the country. Superficially similar to reed warblers, they differ subtly in plumage, but more conspicuusly in song where they incorporate a spectacular range of mimicry, with an average of 75 species by each individual! This also frequently includes the songs of African species from their Summer range, bringing songs to a European soundscape seen a continent away!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Acrocephalidae
Genus: Acrocephalus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A passage migrant and fringe breeding species (1-3 pairs)
 - Vagrant seen at Branston Gravel Pits in May 2024 .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Locustella ("small locust") luscinioides ("resembles nightingale")

Alex Holt · Savi's Warbler

Recording of Adult Male Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) at Rutland Water, Rutland - May 2024

Featured Subspecies: Locustella luscinioides luscinioides
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: 15-20cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A visually plain warbler of European readbeds - it makes a distinctive reeling like noise similar to a grasshopper warbler, but lower pitched and with a flatter tone.  Like their cousin they are secretive and difficult birds to locate even when you can hear them, and even when showing, may not be doing so for long! I saw them at Arrocampo in Spain in 2016 but they would only be visible for moments, while my two UK birds to date have both been at Rutland and neither seen, only heard from deep in the reedbeds.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Locustellidae
GENUS: Locustella
SUBSPECIES: L. l. luscinioides, L. l. sarmatica, L. l. fusca

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fringe breeding species (1-3 pairs) and passage migrant
 - Heard at Rutland Water in  May 2024

SPAIN - Spanish - Buscarla Unicolor - 

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Numerous glimpsed at Arrocampo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Black Grouse, Eurasian Black Grouse, Blackcock
Latin Etymology:  Lyrurus ("lyre tail") tetrix ("grasshopper")

Adult male Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) at World's End, Denbighshire, Wales - April 2024

Featured Subspecies: Lyrurus tetrix britannicus
Weight: 900-1200g  /  Length: 60cm  /  Wingspan: 65-80cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A rare resident of remote uplands in Scotland, Wales and Northern England, the Black Grouse in it's adult male plumage is a distinctive species that is nearly unmistakable, except perhaps for the rarer and much larger Capercaillie. They are easiest to see at traditional lekking sites where males display for females through dance like motions.

Related Species:
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Lyrurus
SUBSPECIES: L. t. britannicus, L. t. tetrix, L. t. viridanus, L. t. tschusii, L. t. baikalensis, L. t. mongolicus, L. t. ussuriensis 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare resident  of remote Uplands (5000 breeding birds)
 - Seen at World's End (8 displaying males in April 2024)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

OTHER NAMES: Wood-wren
Latin Etymology:  Phylloscopus ("leaf seaker") sibilatrix ("whistler")

Adult Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) at Wyre Forest, Worcestershire - May 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6.5-15g  /  Length: 11-12.5cm  /  Wingspan: 19.5-24cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest and most colourful of Britain's Phylloscopus warblers, it is also the scarcest and hardest to see. Unlike the more adaptable chiffchaff and willow warbler it is found solely in Old Growth forests, particularly in Wales and Scotland, though there are also some parts of England where it is found. It arrives in late April and will set up territories where it can often be identified by it's distinctive call, which has been described as a coin spinning on marble.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Phylloscopidae
Genus: Phylloscopus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A Summer migrant to Old Growth Forests (6500 males)
 - Seen at Wyre Forest, .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Twite (Linaria flavirostris)

OTHER NAMES: Mountain Linnet
Latin Etymology: Linaria ("linen weaver") flavirostris ("yellow billed")  

Three Twite (possibly subspecies L. f. pipilans) at Onager Hill, Norfolk - March 2023

Featured Subspecies: possibly Linaria flavirostris pipilans
Weight: 13-18g  /  Length: 13-1cm  /  Wingspan: 22-24cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small finch of cold uplands, the twite is arguably the drabbest of the native finches of the UK, with only the often obscured pink rump of the breeding males as colouration on its otherwise brown plumage. Their global range is separated into two broad areas a highly migratory population in Northern Europe and resident birds of Central Asia and the Caucasus. The UK breeding population is in major decline, though it is supplemented by migratory continental birds in Winter. Their distinctive yellow bill is only present in Winter.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Linaria
SUBSPECIES: L. f. bensonorum, L. f. pipilans, L. f. flavirostris, L. f. brevirostris, L. f. kirghizorum, L. f. korejevi, L. f. altaica, L. f. montanella, L. f. pamirensis, L. f. miiakensis, L. f. rufostrigata

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce breeder in Northern uplands (7850 pairs), Winters in saltmarshes (100,000 birds)
 - A flock at Onager Hill in March 2023,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sterna (Old English word for Black Tern) dougallii (after Dr Peter McDougall)

Adult Roseate Tern (subspecies S. d. dougallii) at Coquet Island, Northumbria- Month 2022

Featured Subspecies: Sterna dougallii dougallii
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 33-36cm  /  Wingspan: 67-76cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

On Coquet Island in Northumbria lies the most Northerly regular breeding colony of roseate terns in the world. Formerly more common in the UK, they are now subject to a single no-access allowed location where special nesting box have been provided to support them breed. Yet, elsewhere in the world they are more numerous, and found more substantially around East and South East Asia, Australia, Madagascar and the Caribbean, with various other smaller colonies. Like all terns found in the UK, they are Summer migrants, and so can, on occassion, be seen on passage elsewhere in England.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Sterna
SUBSPECIES: S. d. dougallii, S. d. arideensis, S. d. korustes, S. d. bangsi, S. d. gracilis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An extremely rare and local Summer visitor and breeding species, almost exclusively on Coquet Island

 - Seen at Coquet Island (June 2022)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)

OTHER NAMES: Dotterel
Latin Etymology: Charadrius (a bird named in the Vulgate Bible) morinellus ("foolish")

Adult Female Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) at Piddington, Northants - May 2021

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 90-145g  /  Length: 20-22cm  /  Wingspan: 57-64cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Dotterels are one of the scarcest of waders found in the UK - a bird of high mountains that migrates to Northern Africa for the Winter. It is also unusual in that the female is the more brightly coloured, and the male incubates the chicks. Outside the UK it is a widespread species found across much of the Northern reaches of Eurasia, plus in highly mountainous areas. It was historical regarded as a particularly foolish bird due to its tame nature.

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadridae

Genus: Charadrius

SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very localised breeder in Scottish mountains, and passage migrant elsewhere

 - Two birds on passage seen at Piddington - May 2021.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)

OTHER NAMES: Parasitic Jaeger, Arctic Jaeger, Parasitic Skua
Latin Etymology: Stercorarius ("of dung") parasiticus ("parasitic)

First Calender Year Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk -  July 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 300-650g  /  Length: 41-48cm  /  Wingspan: 107-125cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Arctic Skua is the smallest of the four skuas found in the UK; a group that I'd had a lot of trouble catching up with at all.  The three smaller skuas (arctic, great and pomarine) all have fairly similar plumage and occur in different colour morphs broadly categorised as light and dark. Compared to the other two species, it has a shorter tail and is smaller.  They are migratory, breeding mostly around the Arctic ocean and migrating to spend Winters around the South of South America, Africa and Australasia. 

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Stercorariidae
Genus: Stercorarius
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very local breeding species in the North of Scotland (2100 pairs) and passage migrant along all coasts.

 - A single dark phase bird seen at Herne Bay in October 2019, .

 - A single 1cy bird seen at Winterton-on-Sea in July 2023, .

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, coastal passage elsewhere
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Emberiza ("bunting") cirlus (ultimately derived via Italian from zirlare; "to chirp")

Adult male Cirl Bunting (subspecies E. c. cirlus) at Roseland Penninsula, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Emberiza cirlus cirlus
Weight: 21-27g  /  Length: 15.5cm  /  Wingspan: 22-25.5cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

It is an established trend that farmland birds have suffered from industrialisation the most, and the Cirl Bunting is a prime example; once a widely spread resident of the UK, modern farming techniques utterly crashed it's population, restricting it solely to a stretch of the South Devon Coast where it remains largely restricted to this day.  There is some small good news however; a reintroduced population in South Cornwall seems to be doing well, which is where I caught some distant views of them.  The population on the continent is far healthier, and is widely distributed around the Mediteranean.

Related Species:

Order:Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Emberiza
SUBSPECIES: E. c. cirlus, E. c. nigrostriata

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare resident with a very restricted range.

 - Several birds seen on the Roseland Penninsula in 2019.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phalaropus ("coot foot") lobatus ("lobed")

Non-breeding Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 27-48g  /  Length: 17-19cm  /  Wingspan: 32-41cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Red-necked Phalarope is one of the most tenuous breeding species in the UK; it is at the very southerly fringe of it's range on some of the islands of Scotland, otherwise it largely breeds in Norway, Finland, Russia, Canada, Greenland and Alaska.  It is however migratory, and a small number pass through on passage each year, allowing it to be seen in more easily seen on passage as it heads out to open patches of sea in the tropics.  Typically however it is still hard to catch up with on passage, not staying more than a day at a single location, however a few individuals in 2018 proved to be more lingering, making them a lot easier to catch up with.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Phalaropus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare passage migrant (30 birds) and very local breeding species (22 males)

 - An single passage migrant at Oare Marshes in July 2018.

UNITED STATES 
Patchily distributed across Western Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

OTHER NAMES: Golden Oriole, European Golden Oriole, Western Golden Oriole
Latin Etymology: Oriolus ("golden") oriolus ("golden")

Adult male Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) at Fiume Ciane, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Local Name (Italian): Rigogolo ("Oriole")
Weight: 68-84g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: 43cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Golden Oriole is one of the most colourful birds in Europe, but despite both that and a fairly loud and distinctive call, it's surprisingly difficult to see.  Despite being able to hear the birds are there, and them being so brightly coloured, I was able to spend 20 minutes looking for them and not see a sign.  It was only later when we returned back down the track that we noticed one drinking from the river in short burst flights.  The Oriole family is actually fairly large, but the Eurasian is the only member of the entire family found in temperate countries, including a very tiny population in the UK.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Oriolidae
GENUS: Oriolus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Several heard and one seen at Fiume Ciane 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)

OTHER NAMES: Woodcock, Great snipe, Kevelek
Latin Etymology: Scolopax ("woodcock") rusticola ("rural inhabitant")

Adult Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire - November 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 240-420g  /  Length: 33-35cm  /  Wingspan: 55-65cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The woodcock is a species that manages to be abundant, but at the same time one of the most hard to catch up with in any meaningful way of all British species.  Although it is a member of the waders, it is a resident of woodland, where it uses it's long beak to probe into wet ground to find it's food.  It is also a species that is not only largely nocturnal but very well camouflaged and frequently only breaks cover at the last possible second - this bird here was in a ditch about 2 meters away from me, with me having no idea it was there until it burst forth for an instant before swooping off and vanishing again.  It's more readily seen on evenings at places where it breeds, where it has a distinctive "roding" call, although in other places it is best seen after snow in Winter, where they are both more conspicous and more likely to come into the open.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Scolopax
Subspecies: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Uncommon breeding (55,000 pairs) and abundant Winter visitor (1.4 million birds)

 - Migrant birds seen at Geddington during periods of snow. Two birds flushed on Flamborough Head in November 2023.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)

OTHER NAMES: Grasshopper Warbler, Western Grasshopper Warbler
Latin Etymology: Locustella ("small locust") naevia ("spotted")

Adult male Common Grasshopper Warbler (subspecies L. n. naevia) at Laundinum Woods, Northants - April 2017

Featured Subspecies: Locustella naevia naenvia 
Weight: 9.7-15g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 15-19cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Grasshopper Warbler is a widespread but scarce Summer migrant to the UK - a small brown warbler with very skulking behaviour whose presence is largely revealed by it's distinctive song.  Apart from the related and far rarer Savi's Warbler it's call is unmistakable in the UK - it is often described as insect like, giving the species it's name, or, like a fishing line being reeled in, hence the description of it's song as "reeling".  I struggled to locate this species for years, but eventually came across some after following a tip for a local site.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Locustellidae
GENUS: Locustella
SUBSPECIES: L. n. naeiva, L. n. obscurior, L. n. straminea, L. n. mongolica

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce and local breeding Summer migrant.

 - Two birds at Laundinum Woods in April 2017, one heard only .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

OTHER NAMES: White-Tailed Sea Eagle, Erne

Latin Etymology: Haliaeetus ("Sea Eagle") albicilla ("white tail")

Adult White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) from Akan Crane Centre, Hokkaido, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 3-7kg  /  Length: 70-90cm  /  Wingspan: 1.78-2.45m

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest of all raptors found in the UK, I must admit somewhat cheating and finally caught up with this species on the other side of the world in Hokkaido.  This was however, not my first attempt to see this species - several years ago I spend a day walking round a field near Basingstoke of all places looking for a vagrant bird that had been staying there for a while (just my luck, after being there for a while I arrived the day it left).  In Britain this species went extinct early in the 20th Century and was only restored later by a reintroduction program in 1975 on the Isle of Rum in Scotland and has subsequently expanded its range.  Seeing it in Hokkaido as an affix to a trip to Tokyo is actually probably easier and cheaper than seeing them as a trip in the UK - I saw these eagles on over half the days we were in Hokkaido, though unfortunately the closest views of down to 10m were through dusty windows on a moving train in the mist - hardly ideal for photographs!

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Haliaeetus
Subspecies: None - Monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - オジロワシ  /  O-jiro washi  ("White-tailed Eagle")  ///   Ainu - Onneu ("Old and Large One")

Locally fairly common resident to Hokkaido.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen from various locations including Akan Crane Centre, Akkeshi and Kushiro Airport in early December.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

OTHER NAMES: Eurasian Nightjar, Nightjar

Latin Etymology: Caprimulgus ("goat sucker") europaeus ("European")

Two views of European Nightjar (subspecies C. e. europea) at Middlesex Filter Beds, London - September 2014

Featured Subspecies: Caprimulgus europaeus europea
Weight: 51-101g  /  Length: 24-28cm  /  Wingspan: 52-59cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

If I am honest, the Nightjar was a strong contender for the species I was least looking forward to tracking down.  It is highly crepuscular, incredibly well camouflaged and found on heath-land that isn't anywhere near my normal stomping grounds.  The sum total of which would be having to find a late running train-station near an appropriate heath-land or a lot of begging.  Neither appealed, and thus it was with great relief that this individual turned up in London for a few days, sleeping on a branch in a small city nature reserve.  While not going to give me any awards, this is a far better photo than I was ever expecting of this species which are normally only seen at dusk.  The benefit at least of species that rely on camouflage is that they aren't that bothered about people fairly nearby, including in this case, dog walkers and cyclists within 8 or so meters.

Related Species:
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Genus: Caprimulgus
Subspecies: C. e. europaeus, C. e. meridionalis, C. e. sarudnyi, C. e. unwini, C. e. plumipes, C. e. dementievi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce and locally Summer breeding visitor (4500 pairs).

 - A single individual seen as a passage migrant/vagrant to Middlesex Filter Beds in September 2014.  Ordinarily not seen on passage.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto   .

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Anthus ("small bird mentioned by Pliny") trivialis ("common or ordinary")

Adult Tree Pipit (subspecies A. t. trivialis) at Ashdown Forest, East Sussex - June 2014

Featured Subspecies: Anthus trivialis trivialis
Weight: 19-25g  /  Length: 14-15.5cm  /  Wingspan: 25-27cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Tree Pipit is a far later addition to this website than realistically it has any right to be given its numbers and proximity to London, however, there are a couple of reasons which have conspired to delay its addition.  The first is that at a glance it looks very similar to the Meadow Pipit, a far more numerous species found in similar habitats and others besides, and requires a fairly good view to be able to see the diagnostic features (fine "pencil-line" like streaks on the side, pink legs, differences in song and behaviour and a few more subtle things) and secondly that it is a heathland specialist and summer migrant, and heathland, while having a few unique species found in no other UK habitat, is a habitat likely to produce far fewer wildlife sightings per hour than most other habitats.   I finally did a Summer visit to Ashdown forest in the vague hope of seeing a Short Toed Eagle that had been present there, and while failing to see that, I did manage to add this to my list.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Anthus
Subspecies: A. t. trivialis, A. t. haringtoni

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Sparsely distributed but locally common summer migrant breeding species (88,000 territories)

 - Single bird seen singing at Ashdown Forest in June 2014

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Calidris (bird named by Aristotle) temminckii (after Coenraad Temmick - ornithologist)

Adult Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - May 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 20-31g  /  Length: 13.5-15cm  /  Wingspan: 34-37cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Temminck's Stint is probably a drastically overlooked species in many ways - it is a fairly boring grey-brown and is utterly tiny - even next to other typically tiny waders such as ringed plover and sanderling it is quite distinctly a lot smaller, and combined with its rare passage migrant / very rare breeding status it means that this easily qualifies as one of the hardest British waders to get hold of, if not of all British birds in general.  This individual was an unplanned find - I'd attempted to see them twice before (at Oare Marshes and Summerleys) but missed them on both occasions, but after visiting Cliffe Pools to see the Black Winged Stilts, by pure chance some other birdwatchers spotted this tiny bird come in to land and were kind enough to point it out to me and let me use their scopes for better views.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Calidris
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce breeder on remote Scottish Islands (1-4 pairs) and regular passage migrant (around 100 birds)

 - A single bird on passage at Cliffe Pools in 2014.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .