Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Abundance: Very Uncommon; at least 24 records in 8 Regional counties, 5 in Kentucky and 3 in Tennessee (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during spring (2 records) and fall (22 records); photograph (see link below).

Regional 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).

21 August 1993 (1) Mason Grissom Rd., Warren County, Tennessee (Susan N. McWhirter).

19 August 1999 (1—juvenile) Twin Lakes, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo).

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).

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).

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).

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

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

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

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/Roseanna M. Denton/ Roseanna M. Denton).

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 [all 3 records]).

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

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

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

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

Regional Extreme Dates:

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

    Fall: 3 August 1987 (Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 1993)–24 October 2007 (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: 

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited