Upland Sandpiper

Status Rare transient. The first record was a bird collected on Sable Island in 1868 (Gilpin 1882a), and there were only five more reports up to 1957. Since then, one or two and occasionally several have appeared each spring (earliest 3 April, latest 13 June), mostly in May. In summer 1976 a pair spent 15-23 June in courtship display at Canard, Kings County, but did not stay. In the same year one was on Sable Island between 22 and 27 June. Fall migrants have been recorded in like numbers almost every year between 14 July and 19 November (both dates for Sable Island), but generally between late August and mid-September. Most records are from Seal, Sable, Brier and Cape Sable islands.

Remarks About robin-sized or slightly larger (30 cm), it is predominantly buffy brown, evenly marked with dark brown above, and with a white belly. Its head is comparatively small and rounded, suggesting that of a pigeon. Its neck is noticeably slender and its tail is slightly elongated.

It frequents low-lying meadows rather than beaches and mudflats, and is more at home in the prairie regions of the continent than in the east.

Its manner of flight is strikingly similar to that of the more common Spotted Sandpiper and provides a good field mark.