Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/198

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A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE Whitlock on the return journey, July 20, 1889, still bore traces of down on the nape. 189. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. A rare occasional visitor, said to have once been killed near Burton. F. B. Whitlock shot one on September 21, 1890, near the mouth of the Erewash (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 208). 190. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa strtata, Linn. Another scarce visitor, three specimens of which have been killed on the sewage farm at Egginton and one near Sutton Scars- dale. All but one were observed in the winter of 18901. 191. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. An occasional winter visitor to the Trent valley. The most definite instances of its occurrence are one from Breadsall, April 25, 1891, and three shot near Burton, October 5, 1891 (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 209). 192. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). About 1878 three of these birds were killed by a keeper at Walton-on-Trent (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 210). 193. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn). In Pilkington's time ruffs were to be found on S infin Moor. In 1857 two immature birds were shot near Burton : Mr. R. C. Cotton shot a reeve on the Egginton sewage farm in October, 1892, and on March i, 1897, Mr. A. S. Hutchinson killed an im- mature ruff in the same place. 194. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.). A common summer visitor to the valleys of the Dove and Derwent ; comparatively few birds remaining to breed near the Trent. The nests are sometimes placed on shingle banks or among rough herbage close to the water, but at other times at a considerable distance from it. One found June 17, 1900, was built among grass on the side of a rail- way embankment between Clifton and Nor- bury, and was placed not more than 8 feet from the metals (Zoo/. 1900, p. 431. It is common on the moorland streams of the High Peak. 195. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin). An immature bird was killed near Breadsall in August, 1885, and is now in the Sheffield Museum (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 212). 196. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.). Occasionally met with on the streams of south Derbyshire at all times of the year ex- cept June and the first half of July, but occurs most frequently on migration in April or May, and on the return at the end of July or in August. 197. Common Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.). Locally, Whistling Plover. Although formerly known only as a scarce visitor, the redshank is now a regular breeder in the wide meadows adjoining the Trent and lower Dove, and is increasing in numbers and extending its range. About 1896 they began to breed near Sudbury, and in 1901 a pair nested for the first time near Norbury. Between Willington and Burton it is not uncommon. In 1902 a pair were reported as nesting not far from Staveley (Canon Molineux). 198. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus (Linn.). Mr. E. Brown mentions a specimen in his possession killed near the Dove (prior to 1869). 199. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). An occasional visitor, included by Sir O. Mosley and Mr. Brown in their lists. Whit- lock mentions three specimens shot at Ilkeston (1890), Overton Hall and near Draycott. Mr. C. Oldham (Naturalist, 1897, p. 308) observed one at Combs reservoir, near Chapel- en-le-Frith, from August 16 to 23, 1897. 200. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica (Linn.). No distinction is made in the writings of the early Derbyshire ornithologists between the two species of godwits. J. J. Briggs (Zool. p. 2818) however states that a bar- tailed godwit was shot at Swarkestone about 1844, and two shot near Burton ' many years ago ' were identified by Mr. C. Hanson (Birds of Derbyshire, p. 215). Another was shot near Baslow by a gamekeeper, prior to 1893, an ^ is now in ms possession (W. S. Fox). [Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). Pilkington in 1789 wrote that 'the god- wit ' had been ' shot at Barlborough and another on Sinfin Moor.' At this time the black-tailed godwit was still a British breed- 146