Temminck´s Stint

Temminck´s Stint (Calidris temminckii)

I discovered this solitary Temminck´s Stint (Calidris temminckii) in an irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) this morning, Sep 27. This is only my second record of the species on La Palma, the previous one dating from May 2022, also of a single bird.

Temminck´s Stint (Calidris temminckii)

This shorebird breeds in the Arctic and subarctic, often near or amongst low vegetation, from Scotland (very rare) and Norway continuously to far-eastern Siberia. It is considered an uncommon migrant to western Europe, usually ocurring singly or in small numbers. (Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere, Helm, 2009)

Temminck´s Stint (Calidris temminckii)

 

On the Canary Islands the species is classed as a vagrant, although no longer treated as a rarity by the Spanish Rarities Committee. All records on the islands have been of solitary individuals, except one of two birds registered on Lanzarote in 2004. The species has been recorded on all islands, except La Graciosa and El Hierro (Avifauna de Canarias, Turquesa, 2025).

Light conditions were very poor for photography this morning, resulting in rather drab images. Hopefully, I will be able to get better shots during the next few days.

Prior to this interesting sighting, on Sep 25, a solitary Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) was observed at the saltpans in Fuencaliente, and was still present this afternoon, Sep 27 (see eBird).