Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis

Local status: Very rare vagrant

Both records have occurred in the Lower Derwent Valley. This species has a bias towards the south and west of Yorkshire and its rarity in the York area fits this pattern. Whilst they have been located in the traditional wader hotspots of the Lower Derwent Valley they could conceivably turn up in other, drier habitats, such as airfields and agricultural fields. Despite the 2002 individual being aged as a juvenile in the field, it proved to be an adult female when trapped for ringing, suggesting ageing in the field is not as clear-cut as thought. Remarkably, this bird shared the muddy pools with a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, for
most of its stay

Records:
2004: Thorganby Ings, 4th to 9th September (not seen on 6th).
2002: Bank Island, 25th September to 5th October. Adult female