Page:VCH Sussex 1.djvu/340

A HISTORY OF SUSSEX Norfolk, comes occasionally in small parties to the mud-flats and estuaries of our tidal rivers. Usually it arrives in August, but one was shot by the late Mr. Booth on July 25, 1878, at Shoreham.

241. Curlew-Sandpiper. Tringa subarquata (Güldenstädt).

This sandpiper often arrives as early as May and is then in full breeding plumage, but it is not in any sense numerous till August and September, when young birds with a few old ones arrive from the arctic circle and stay till the beginning of October.

242. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, Linn. An autumn and winter visitor in small numbers, preferring the rocky parts of the coast. Like the phalaropes it is always re- markably tame. I have seen oyster-catchers, redshanks and purple sandpipers swim without fear from an isolated rock to the shore.

243. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn.

A common autumn and winter visitor. Many knots arrive in May, and after spending a month or so on the coast they move north- ward to the breeding grounds, only a few staying throughout the year.

244. Sanderling. Calidns arenaria (Linn.)

The appearance of the sanderling on the coast is more or less coincidental with the last named species. Parties of sanderlings are very tame on their first arrival in autumn.

245. RufF. Machetes pugnax (Linn.)

Formerly the ruff used to breed in small numbers on Pevensey levels, but it has long ceased to visit us except as a rare visitor in autumn.

246. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tringites ruf- escens (Vieillot).

In the Zoologist for 1843 the late Mr. Bond, in a note dated March 28, stated that a specimen of the buff-breasted sandpiper, obtained on the Sussex coast, had lately come into his possession (Borrer). This seems to be a most unusual date for this American sandpiper to have visited our shores, and I cannot help thinking that there was some mistake as to the identification of the bird.

247. Bartram's Sandpiper. Bartramia longi- cauda (Bechstein).

In the Zoologist,^. 9118, is recorded by Mr. Dalton of Eastbourne that he purchased at the sale of birds belonging to the late Mr. Wille of Lewes a specimen of Bartram's sandpiper shot at Newhaven some time be- tween 1836 and 1840.

248. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypo- leucus (Linn.)

A regular spring and autumn visitor. Though often remaining throughout the summer, it has not been known to breed within the limits of the county.

249. Spotted Sandpiper. Totanus macularius (Linn.)

Two specimens of the American sand- piper were shot at the Crumbles Pond near Eastbourne in October, 1866 (Borrer).

250. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.)

A regular migrant in spring and autumn, but so erratic are the visits of this sandpiper that in suitable places it may be seen in any month of the year.

251. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin).

A rare autumn migrant.

252. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.)

A resident which still breeds sparingly in Sussex. It is common on migration.

253. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus (Linn.)

A scarce autumn migrant.

254. Greenshank. Totanus cancscens (J. F. Gmelin).

The greenshank arrives in May on the coast but soon passes on to the northern breeding grounds. In August a few, mostly young birds, appear, and these are reinforced by others throughout September. A green- shank is seldom seen after October 18. I observed two greenshanks on Warnham Pond on July 25, 1 90 1.

255. Bar-tailed God wit. Limosa lapponica (Linn.)

So well is the summer arrival of this species known to the coast men that May 12 is known as ' Godwit day.' Like most of the summer arrivals amongst the waders it goes elsewhere to nest, but returns to us in considerable numbers in August.

256. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa helgica (J. F. Gmelin).

A rare visitor on migration.

257. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.) A very common species in spring and autumn. It is no longer known to nest with us.