Dutch Birding volume 32 (2010) no 5

Long-toed Stint near Zwolle in October 2009

From 22 to 28 October 2009, a juvenile Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta stayed inland, loosely associating with a small group of Dunlins C alpina and a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper C melanotos, at Vreugderijkerwaard, west of Zwolle, Overijssel, the Netherlands. It was identified by, eg, its small size, lack of primary projection, strong double 'tram lines' on the upperparts, split supercilium, greenish-yellow legs, dark forehead (supercilia not meeting over bill) and toes projecting beyond the tail in flight. This combination of characters excludes Least Sandpiper C minutilla, which can be very similar in size and plumage, and all other stints and sandpipers. This was the first record for the Netherlands and the sixth for western Europe. Previous European records were in England (Cornwall, June 1970); Sweden (Ottenby, October-December 1977); England (Durham, August-September 1982); Ireland (Ballycotton, Cork, June 1996); and Finland (Kotka, June 2007). Elsewhere in the WP, there are two records from Israel (August 1991 and October 2003). Reports from Greece (March 1991), Egypt (March 1999) and Syria (three; September 2005) have been rejected or lack documentation.

Martijn Bot, Leverkruid 12, 9801 LR Zuidhorn, Nederland
(m.botnoorderpoort.nl)
Enno B Ebels, Joseph Haydnlaan 4, 3533 AE Utrecht, Nederland
(ebelswxs.nl)
Hans Pohlmann, Korenbloemstraat 32, 8012 XS Zwolle, Nederland
(ellenenhansgmail.com)