Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus

The Long-billed Dowitcher is unlikely to be confused with any other species in the UK other than Short-billed, which is similar in all plumages.  It is a snipe-size bird with a long bill and a similar feeding action to snipe.  In summer plumage the underparts are dull red-chestnut with dark barring on the sides of the breast and flanks (short-billed shows more white on lower breast and belly).  The upperparts are darker with feathers edges reddish-chestnut. First-winters are greyish with pale feather edgings and centre to tertials are plain grey (irregularly pale marked in Short-billed). Winter adults are very difficult to distinguish as plumage identical. Identification down to a few structural differences, which are difficult to interpret and distinguish

Short-billed Dowitcher

Breeds northeast Siberia and northwest Alaska and winter in the USA to Central America.  Breeds in high- and low-arctic in gassy and sedgy areas. On migration and in winter prefers shallow muddy water pools with some emergent vegetation.

It is primarily an autumn vagrant to the UK but has been recorded in all moths.

Breeds on high- and low-arctic continental coastal belts, and marginally within subarctic beyond tree limit, arriving as snow melts on lowland marshy ground near a swamp or small lake in the tundra. On migration and in winter, strongly prefers shallow muddy freshwater pools with some grass or other marginal vegetation.

Annual vagrant chiefly in the autumn but has been seen in all months.  (Short-billed Dowitcher much rarer with just four records up to 2013)

There has been one accepted record of a bird at Rutland Water on August 9, 2008.  Another has been seen at both Wanlip Gravel Pits and Rutland Water during February & March 2016 but has yet to be accepted. A bird at Rutland Water on May 4 & 5, 1980 was submitted as a Long-billed but was only accepted as a dowitcher sp.