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Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Semipalmated Sandpiper

 

Awaiting image for this species

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

 

• Semipalmated Sandpiper
• Calidris pusilla
• UK: Scarce but regular visitor. A couple of records every year, mostly Aug-Oct. (75 records 1958-2005) BTO
  WI: Very rare (five or less records) one in 2008
• Breeds: Southern tundra (Arctic North America, Canada). Nest is scrape on ground. (Male makes several, female chooses one & adds grass lining). Both incubate the eggs. Then female leaves the young to forage with male.
• Winters: Migrates in large flocks. Coastal South America, Mexico. (On migration found on coastal, wet meadows)
• Diet: Forages (saltwater & freshwater) mudflats, sometimes also on land. Mostly aquatic insects, worms, crustaceans.
• Shorebird. Adult black legs. Short straight, stout dark bill. Body dark grey-brown above, white below. Head & neck light grey-brownish.

 

 

BBRC records 1950 - 2006
0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0,
1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0,
2, 0, 4, 1, 3, 1, 4, 0, 2, 4,
2, 0, 3, 4, 2, 2, 4, 1, 1, 15,
2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 1, 4,

 

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper in the Western Isles

Very rare (five or less records)
There was a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Balranald Nature Reserve in North Uist in July 2008.

 

The chart below shows how abundant the Semipalmated Sandpiper is during a month or when you are more likely to see it.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

 

Other local bird photographs

Sources of information for the bird sightings section

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