totanus

I was recently in Blackpool, despite this I appear to have made a full recovery.

I was excited by blasting north, north - westerlies overnight, with 70mph winds in the Irish Sea. Excitement levels were high for my dawn sea watch, the reality was less impressive, a few Common Scoter and facial exfoliation via sand and sea spray. 

On a lunchtime walk I consoled myself looking at the few waders that were mental enough to be hanging about on the beach. I was struck by a much paler, smaller bird with the Redshank flock: 

I consulted Mr. Graham Appleton, of Wader Tales fame, on the basis that he knows a tiny bit more than me about waders and Redshanks and got the following response: 

Small male 'totanus' in a flock of mainly 'robusta'? Larger birds are from Iceland.

— Graham Appleton (@wadertales.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM

This is exactly what I suspected and at no point simply assumed the bird was a runt Redshank or midget Spotted Redshank. That would be ridiculous. 

In summary, the main flock comprises sub-species Tringa totanus robusta, Icelandic breeding birds wintering in the UK. Whereas the small bird is probably a male sub-species Tringa totanus totanus, which usually breeds in west, and north Europe over to western Siberia; wintering in Africa, India and Indonesia.

 

If anyone has any alternate opinions let me know in the comments, let's get this totanus party started. Otherwise, I am taking this as a first for the UK. 

A class bird: 

Here is a video - because I am multi-media: 

This blog really is the tip of the birding spear. Cutting edge science. Also, I love Redshanks: