Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Abundance: Very Uncommon (at least 23 records in 7 counties, 5 in Kentucky and 2 in Tennessee).

Status: Transient during spring (2 records) and fall (21 records); photograph (see link below).

High Count: 42 (16 October 2008; Adair County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

Information on Records: 

5 October 1983 (1) Casey Creek area, Green River Lake, Adair County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]).

3 August 1987 (1) Green Valley Pond between mile markers 283 and 284 on the south side of I-40, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 1993).

19 August 1999 (1--juvenile) Twin Lakes, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

2 May 2000 (1--alternate) Twin Lakes, Pulaski County, Kentucy (Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2000c).

27 August 2000 (1) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

7 September 2002 (1) Creelsboro, Russell County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton, Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Busroe 2003a).

8 October 2002 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2003a).

17 September 2003 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

17 August 2004 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2005a).

8 September 2004 (1) Boiling Pond, Pete Felton Rd., White County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Casteel 2005a).

7 May 2005 (1) Hickory Valley Rd., White County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Douglas A. Downs, Joseph Mast; Casteel 2005c), a Spring Bird Count record.

29 August 2005 (1) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006a).

23 September 2005 (1) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006a).

9 August 2006 (1--juvenile) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

27 August 2006 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

4/6 September 2006 (2/4) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

12/14/16/18 October 2006 (1--juvenile) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

25 August/7 September/ 27 September/9 October 2007 (1--worn adult/6--juveniles/1--juvenile/3) Green River, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton et al./Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data/Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data/ Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

31 August/6 September/11 September/18 October 2007 (3--juveniles/1--juvenile/2--juveniles/1--age unspecified) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data [all 3 records]).

19 October 2007 (1) Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren County, Kentucky (Tom Durbin unpubl. data).

24 October 2007 (3) Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

22 August/4 September 2008 (1--juvenile/2) Casey Creek/Green River, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

16 October 2008 (42) Casey Creek, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring:  2 May 2000 (1; Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2000c)-7 May 2005 (1; White County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman, Douglas A. Downs, Joseph E. Mast).

    Fall: 3 August 1987 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 1993)-24 October 2007 (3; Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Habitat: Extensive mudflats preferred but this shorebird can sometimes be found around small farm ponds with fairly open perimeters.

Remarks: 

Counties with Observations (boldfaced):

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying the data in the table above, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited