Status and Occurrence of Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) in British Columbia
by Rick Toochin
Introduction and Distribution
The Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) is a migratory shorebird species that breeds from Finland across arctic Russia to the Chukotka Peninsula (Hayman et al. 1986). This species winters in Ireland, southern Great Britain, southwestern France, Italy, Greece, parts of Turkey, Egypt, across central Africa, southern Iraq, Iran, Yemen, northwestern and northeastern India, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and southern China (O’Brien et al. 2006). In eastern North America, the Spotted Redshank is an accidental vagrant. There are records from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia to New York State (Dunn and Alderfer 2011). There are a few sporadic records from other regions in eastern North America from Ontario to Nebraska (Paulson 2005). The only area in North America that has a pattern of occurrence is in Alaska where the Spotted Redshank is a casually occurring species. Most records occur in either spring or fall migration on the outer western Aleutian Islands, but this species has occurred in the Bering Sea region as well (West 2008). In the rest of Alaska, the Spotted Redshank is an accidentally occurring species (West 2008). Along the west coast south of Alaska, the Spotted Redshank is classified as an accidental vagrant. In British Columbia, there are only a handful of Provincial records (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). In Washington State, the Spotted Redshank was only just recently added to the state list with a record from the Hayton Preserve, Fir Island in Skagit County between November 27-December 1, 2014 (R. Merrill Pers. Comm.). In Oregon, there is only one accepted state record by the Oregon Bird Records Committee (OFO 2012). In California, the Spotted Redshank is an exceptionally rare species with only five accepted state records by the California Bird Records Committee (Hamilton et al. 2007). Of interest, there is at least one accepted record from Alberta and Nevada (Hamilton et al. 2007). The Spotted Redshank has also been recorded as a vagrant in Barbados (Hayman et al. 2007).
Occurrence and Documentation
The Spotted Redshank is an accidental visitor to British Columbia with only six provincial records (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The first record was found and photographed at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary from October 17 – November 11, 1970 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The second record was also found at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary on November 29, 1980 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). It is highly likely that the same bird reappeared the following spring at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary and was seen and photographed from March 1 – May 1, 1981 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The fourth provincial record was found and photographed from October 9-17, 1982, at Serpentine Fen in south Surrey (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). Until recently, all confirmed records of Spotted Redshank were found in the Lower Mainland. There is a good sight record of a Spotted Redshank seen at Chesterman’s Beach near Tofino on August 19, 1992 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). Unfortunately the bird was flushed before it could be confirmed (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.). The most recent record of a Spotted Redshank comes from the Queen Charlotte Islands. A juvenile bird was well observed in the company of eight Greater Yellowlegs on October 12, 2014 (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.). A subsequent search of the area failed to relocate the flock (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.). Likely the same bird reappeared in the same location on April 24-25, 2015, and was photographed (P. Hamel Pers. Comm.). The bird was with a small group of Greater Yellowlegs, and was in mostly basic plumage, but was like a 1st winter bird (P. Hamel Pers. Comm.). It is highly probable, given how rare this species is along the west coast, that this is the same bird found in the fall.
The Spotted Redshank is most often found in migration with either Long-billed Dowitchers or Greater Yellowlegs (Paulson 1993). This species feeds in estuaries, shallow marshes, and shallow ponds (Mlodinow 1999). In the fall, the Spotted Redshank is a very non-descript looking bird that could easily be overlooked (J. Fenneman Pers. Obs.). This is true of birds in winter plumage as well (J. Fenneman Pers. Obs.). In breeding plumage, the Spotted Redshank is hard to miss, and should be easily spotted by anyone looking through shorebird flocks (J. Fenneman pers. obs.).
Given that the Spotted Redshank is a highly migratory species, it is highly likely to be found in the future somewhere in the province. Observers are encouraged to carefully scrutinize flocks of Dowitchers and Yellowlegs for this Eurasian gem.
