A HISTORY OF ESSEX 



215. Oyster-Catcher. 

 Linn. 



Heematopus ostralegus, 



Locally, Olive, Olaf, and Sea-pie. 

 A scarce resident on our coast, where it used 

 to breed commonly, but now does so only 

 occasionally. Fairly common as a winter 

 visitor. 



2 1 6. Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. 

 Now only a rare and accidental straggler, 



but formerly a not uncommon summer visitor. 

 An old record leaves no doubt that in 1700 

 it bred on Northey Island (Dale : History of 

 Harwich and Dovercourt, 1730, p. 402). 



217. Black-winged Stilt. Himantopus candi- 



dus, Bonnaterre. 



A very rare straggler. One was seen near 

 Saffron Walden about the year 1820 (see 

 Birds of Essex, p. 240). 



2 1 8. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius 



(Linn.). 



An uncommon and irregular visitor, gener- 

 ally when on its autumn migration. In some 

 years it appears in numbers. 



219. Red - necked Phalarope. Phalaropus 



hyperboreus (Linn). 



An uncommon passing migrant in spring 

 and autumn. 



220. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. 



A resident, breeding occasionally in suitable 

 localities throughout the county. It is 

 better known however as a fairly common 

 winter visitor, much more abundant in some 

 years than others. 



221. Great Snipe. Gallinago major (Gmelin). 

 A scarce visitor, generally when on migra- 

 tion in autumn, though one was shot near 

 Waltham Abbey on February 27, 1897. 



222. Common Snipe. Gallinago caelestis 



(Frenzel). 



A resident, but in very small numbers, 

 breeding on the marshes at various spots 

 round our coast and perhaps in Epping 

 Forest. Much better known however as a 

 common winter visitor, appearing singly or 

 in small parties, usually before or during hard 

 weather. 



223. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). 

 A not uncommon winter visitor. 



224. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. 



Locally, Oxbird. 



A very abundant visitor to our coast from 

 early autumn to late spring : rarely seen 



250 



inland. Non-breeding birds remain occasion- 

 ally through the summer. 



225. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. 

 Not uncommon on the coast when migra- 

 ting in spring and autumn. 



226. Temminck's Stint. Tringa temmincki, 



Leisler. 



A scarce straggler, seen occasionally when 

 on migration. 



227. Curlew-Sandpiper. Tringa subarquata 



(Goldenstadt). 



Not rare, especially in some years, on the 

 coast during autumn migration. 



228. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, Linn. 

 A regular though scarce winter visitor. 



229. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. 

 Locally, Male or Marie. 



A very common visitor to our coast from 

 autumn to spring. 



230. Sanderling. Calidrh arenaria (Linn.). 

 A not uncommon visitor to our coast from 



autumn to spring. 



231. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.). 

 Formerly a resident breeding on our coast : 



now known only as a scarce passing migrant 

 in spring and autumn. 



232. Common Sandpiper, lot anus hypoleucus 



(Linn.). 



Not rare as a passing migrant in spring and 

 autumn, but not recorded as having bred in 

 the county. 



233. Wood Sandpiper. Totanus glareola 



(Gmelin). 



A scarce visitor, seen occasionally when on 

 migration. 



234. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropm 



(Linn.). 



An occasional visitor, met with singly or 

 in small parties irregularly at almost all sea- 

 sons of the year, most frequently on the 

 coast but occasionally inland. 



235. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.). 

 An abundant resident on our coast, breed- 

 ing in all suitable localities among the marshes 

 and saltings, but rapidly decreasing, owing to 

 persistent 'egging.' Its numbers are largely 

 increased in winter by arrivals from elsewhere. 



236. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fascus 



(Linn.). 



A rare visitor, seen occasionally when on 

 migration. 



