Short-billed Dowitcher in Northeast Scotland: new to Britain Dave Pullan ABSTRACT Although Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus had previously been on the British List, the species was removed by the BOURC in 1992. A better understanding of dowitcher identification criteria became established in the 1980s, and it was apparent that all previous British records were either Long-billed Dowitchers L. scolopaceus or lacked sufficient detail to separate the two species convincingly. Consequently, the discovery of a long-staying and well-watched juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at Rosehearty, Northeast Scotland, on 11th September 1999, resulted in the species being re-admitted to the British List. n Saturday 11th September 1999, C. juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers L. griseus.On Barton, P. Crockett and I. Gordon were some individuals, the diagnostic tertial mark- Olooking for a Pectoral Sandpiper ings were not always obvious unless seen well at Calidris melanotos which had been reported at close range, and I found that the patterning on Rosehearty, Northeast Scotland, when they the inner greater coverts could be more useful. I found a dowitcher Limnodromus on the beach. decided that the Aberdeenshire bird was cer- Viewing conditions were far from ideal and a tainly going to be worth a look, at least as a detailed examination of the bird was not pos- useful ‘experience bird’. Along with James sible, but from the views they obtained, it Smith, who also had experience of both North appeared to be a Long-billed Dowitcher American dowitcher species, I arrived at Rose- Limnodromus scolopaceus and when the news hearty beach in the late morning on 13th Sep- was put out the bird’s identity was given as tember. Initially, there was no sign of the such. As the bird was still present the following dowitcher but after about 30 minutes of day, I began to think about going to see it. That searching I located it about 150 m away, feeding evening, I phoned Paul Baxter to discuss recent at the eastern end of the beach among some bird sightings and the conversation came round rock pools and seaweed. Light conditions were to the subject of the Rosehearty dowitcher, poor, with overcast skies, a strong breeze and which Paul had seen that day. After some dis- threatening rain, but even at this distance, the cussion, he mentioned a slight uneasiness about distinctly capped appearance reminded me of the tertial pattern: on the one hand there the birds I had been watching in Nova Scotia seemed to be some internal markings within the just a few weeks previously. Cautiously, we borders of these feathers but, on the other hand, edged closer and, by the time we had halved the some reference books illustrated variability in distance between the bird and ourselves, it was the tertial patterning of juvenile Long-billed beginning to look most interesting. that might account for this. At this stage, At this distance, through telescopes, we however, no serious doubts were being voiced could both see that the tertials were well- and, apparently, it had been heard to give the marked, with an internal pattern exactly as characteristic call of Long-billed Dowitcher. Short-billed would be expected to show, and Just three weeks earlier, in Nova Scotia, this was also the case with the patterning on the Canada, I had spent some time scrutinising inner greater coverts and lower scapulars. By 354 © British Birds 99 • July 2006 • 354–360 Short-billed Dowitcher: new to Britain now, excitement was setting in; this surely had leave the beach and fly to the harbour at nearby to be a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher! Being Rosehearty, where it posed brilliantly, just 20 m aware of the enormity of the observation, i.e. a away in perfect light, giving everyone superb first for Britain in northern Scotland, and the views, by far the best that it had shown all day. effect it would have on the birding community, At 17.25 hrs, just before we left, the bird flew a we set about putting together a watertight, short distance and gave a trisyllabic call, very feather-by-feather case. reminiscent of Turnstone Arenaria interpres. Often the dowitcher would be out of view, This was the classic Short-billed Dowitcher call hidden behind rocks or piles of seaweed, or and established the final link in the identifica- would be flushed by dogs and walkers and, on tion chain, neatly rounding off a fantastic day. one occasion, by a Great Skua Stercorarius skua, Fortunately, this megastar took up residence so we spent what seemed like long periods just for two weeks, allowing many birders, probably trying to relocate the bird. Typically, it would over a thousand in all, to travel from all over feed in the intertidal zone: around washed-up Britain to watch and photograph it. James and I seaweed at the rocky edge of the beach, on the returned on 24th September, which turned out beach itself, or along the tideline. It was regu- to be the last day of its stay. Amazingly, the larly accompanied by Common Redshanks same bird, identified by the two missing tertials Tringa totanus, and at high tide it roosted with on the right wing, was found in Cleveland on Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and 29th September, where it remained in the Common Redshanks on rocks at the eastern Greenabella Marsh and Greatham Creek area end of the beach. Gradually, as the light condi- until at least 30th October, and provided a tions improved, we established that all the second opportunity for those who missed it the plumage features fitted Short-billed Dowitcher, first time around. that Long-billed could be confidently elimi- nated, and although we had not heard it call, we Description were both in no doubt that this was a Short- The long, straight bill, plump body and shortish billed. olive-green legs, the overall shape and structure I put the news out to local birders and to reminiscent of a snipe Gallinago soon identified Birdline Scotland, and by late afternoon, the bird as a dowitcher, while the characteristic between 20 and 30 birdwatchers had arrived. It pattern of the wing-coverts and tertials made was only then that the dowitcher decided to ageing the bird as a juvenile equally straightfor- /Birdwatch Steve Young Steve 173. Juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus, Rosehearty, Northeast Scotland, September 1999. British Birds 99 • July 2006 • 354–360 355 Short-billed Dowitcher: new to Britain ward. In flight, the prominent white wedge slightly uneven buff fringe. Within each feather extending up the rump and lower back from the was a broader, richer buff ‘sub-border’. This base of the tail could be seen, as well as a ‘sub-border’ ran parallel to the entire length of whitish trailing edge to the wings. Making the the outer web of the feather and hooked round final identification as Short-billed Dowitcher into about a third of the inner web. It was was based on the following features: slightly wavy and broken in parts, forming dots on the inner edge and towards the base of the Tertial pattern outer edge. This was clearly defined and formed The two innermost tertials on the right wing a pattern not found in any variation of juvenile were missing, leaving the inner web of the Long-billed. longest tertial exposed, which created a mis- leading impression of a large, unmarked, plain Inner greater coverts grey tertial area. Fortunately, the longest tertial The three innermost greater coverts showed on the right-hand side and all the tertials on the markings similar to the tertial pattern. Against a left side were intact and showed a classic pattern dark background, an uneven golden-buff ‘sub- characteristic of juvenile Short-billed border’ ran parallel to the narrow outer border Dowitcher. and, as on the tertials, was broken in parts. Each tertial was dark brownish-grey, darker Again, this pattern would not be found on towards the tip and bordered by a thin, pale and juvenile Long-billed. Dave Pullan Fig. 1. Juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus, Rosehearty, Northeast Scotland, September 1999. 356 British Birds 99 • July 2006 • 354–360 Short-billed Dowitcher: new to Britain /Birdwatch Steve Young Steve 174. Juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus, Rosehearty, Northeast Scotland, September 1999. Inner median coverts nificantly narrower, although this was quite a The internal patterning to the two innermost difficult feature to judge. The tail was broadly median coverts resembled that of the inner tipped white and the overall impression of the greater coverts but appeared fainter. A few of whole tail area was of a lot of white. the inner lesser coverts also showed faint internal markings. Call Only definitely heard to call twice in about five Crown hours of observation, although the bird was A dark brown or dark rufous cap (reminiscent quite distant for some of this time. On 13th of that shown by Sharp-tailed Sandpiper C. September, it gave a fairly quiet call in flight, acuminata) was well defined above the super- comprising three syllables and very like the cilium and fairly obvious, even at a distance. It flight call of Turnstone. On 24th September, it never appeared grey. was again heard calling once in flight. At the time, I noted this as being ‘very Turnstone-like, Supercilium three rolling syllables chu-du-du’. Conspicuously broad and white in front of the eye, and continuing over and behind the eye, A chequered British history where it was duller and streaked. Prior to 1950, it was not appreciated that two species of dowitcher existed in North America, Underparts such is their similarity, and the two were known The breast, flanks and belly had a strong peachy as ‘Red-breasted Snipe L.