White-rumped Sandpiper

 

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Three individuals of White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) have been reported recently at Las Salinas saltpans in Fuencaliente. 

The following photographs were taken on Nov 12, when two of the three birds were present.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

At the time of publication of Avifauna de Canarias (Turquesa, 2025), the Spanish Rarities Committee had approved 57 records of 104 birds on the Canary Islands, compared to 51 records of 54 birds in the rest of Spanish territory. 

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Usually, single birds reach the archipelago, but in October 2005 there was an irruption of  around 50 birds simultaneously at different locations on different islands, associated with hurricane Vince. 

The bulk of the records occur between September and November, peaking in October. Among the islands, La Palma holds a proportionately high total of 15 records, not counting the present birds which are probably associated with the recent storm "Bruna".

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

My first sighting of this sleek North American vagrant goes back to October 2010, when I found a single bird at Las Salinas in Fuencaliente. 

Thereafter, my records have been at the irrigation ponds in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane) in October 2012; two birds at Las Salinas in October 2014 and a third simultaneously in Las Martelas; and two birds in October 2017, one at each of the above locations, making a total of 5 records of 7 birds. (See corresponding blog posts for further details).

White.rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Identification of this species poses few problems: key fieldmarks include the extremely long wing tips extending beyond the tail, and the white uppertail-coverts forming a U-shaped white patch, visible in the photo above. At close quarters, the brownish base of the lower mandible can also be seen.