Greater Sand Plover (BBRC)

Vagrant. Central Asia.  

 

 

One record of an immature bird on August 7th, 1981 at North Cotes Point, the 4th British record. It was considered to be the same bird which had been at Spurn for the previous nine days. It turned up in a mixed wader flock on the morning high tide but quickly flew off only to be re-found later in the day affording good views as it fed with Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula and Dunlin Calidris alpina.

These are large, long-billed and long-legged sand plovers and given good views identification should be reasonably easy. They are polytypic with three subspecies currently recognised by IOC (12.1). These breed across the arid regions of Asia from central Turkey to northwest China and Mongolia; none of the British records has been ascribed to a particular subspecies. First recorded in Britain in 1978 when a bird was found in Pagham Harbour in December, it stayed for 24 days until January 1st, 1979. There have been 17 records in all up to 2021 with only five since the turn of the century. Of the 17 to date, 11 have been in England and six in Scotland. Most have arrived in June and July (10), others in April (2), with singles in August, September, November and December.

 

Site	First date	Last date	Count	Notes
North Coates Point	07/08/1981	-	1	Probably an adult, sex indeterminate; also at Spurn Jul 29th - Aug 6th 1981

 

 

Finder's report: Greater Sand Plover at North Coates Point, 7th August 1981, the first county record.

by Howard Bunn.

Note: this account appeared in the Lincolnshire Bird Report for 1981. BBRC noted that as with Ring-billed Gull, this species has perhaps been overlooked prior to the discovery of the first British record in December 1978. Now that many hundreds of observers have learned its identification features, it could well become an annual vagrant.

 

During very high tides at Northcotes Point on the morning of 7th August large numbers of waders were observed arriving from the north Humber Bank and landing on the few remaining exposed areas of shingle.

Among a mixed flock of these waders, concentrated on the upper part of the beach, bordering the dunes, was a Charadrius-type plover which recalled my previous experience of Greater Sand Plover. After about 30 seconds of observation on the ground it became aware of my presence and flew directly away. Despite the inclement weather and somewhat brief encounter, the structure of the bird was well observed, and a passable plumage description taken, confirming the initial identification.

Although assumed to have departed permanently, it later returned to the area and was found independently by John Leece, the RSPB Warden, on a muddy pool, partially filled with overnight rainwater, adjacent to the RAF Camp. Protected from the moderate north-easterly wind he was able to observe the bird, in the company of 45 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plover for a duration of 20 minutes. From our joint notes I have compiled the following description:

Direct comparison was possible with Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone, of which only the latter matched it in size. Although superficially resembling Ringed Plover, it stood much taller than that species with appreciably longer legs and dumpier, longer body, while maintaining a more horizontal stance. Again, compared to Ringed Plover, the all dark bill appeared longer and more robust, and exceeded half the head length.  The upper parts were a pale brown with darker primaries. The underparts were white with light brown pectoral patches, similar in colour to the upperparts Quite striking was a dark line extending from the lores to the ear coverts, bordered by a narrow white supercilium, merging into a white forehead. The legs were dark although the actual colour was impossible to determine. While feeding its movements appeared much slower and more casual than Ringed Plover. In flight the contrast between the dark flight feathers and paler coverts was noted, as was the white wing-bar.

There can be little doubt that this was the bird which frequented Spurn Point the previous week, especially considering the weather and tidal conditions.

Note: This was the same bird that had remained on mudflats opposite the Crown and Anchor Inn, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire from 29th July to 6th August 1981 and which was seen by up to 350 observers during its stay. This remains the only Greater Sandplover seen in the County.

 

Reference

Bunn, H. (undated). Greater Sand Plover at North Coates Point, 7th August 1981. Lincolnshire Bird Report 1981 p. 38.