The Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii is a medium-sized wader that breeds in steppe and semi-steppe areas from the highlands of eastern Turkey to central Asia. After the breeding season it starts a long-distance migration, wintering along the coasts of East Africa, the Indian Ocean and Australasia. A few individuals winter in eastern Mediterranean. Due to its very large and scattered distribution, it is difficult to make an accurate census of its global population, but BirdLife give a rough estimate of 180,000-360,000 birds (Least Concern Species of the IUCN Red List)1.
In the Western Palearctic, two subspecies occur: C. l. columbinus (central Asia Minor, Syria, Caucasus and Iran through western Afghanistan) and C. l. crassirostris (Caspian Sea to lake Zaysan)2.
The species’ first confirmed record in Greece occurred on 23 December 1900 when Mr Merlin Jnr collected an “old female in winter plumage”…. ‘somewhere in Lamia’. He identified it as a Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (or as it was then named – Aegialitis hiaticula) and sent it along with other specimens to W.Schlüter at the Natural History Museum of Halle, Germany. Schlüter noticed that the chestnut-grey chest band was not broken and assumed that it could be an Asiatic plover appearing for the first time in Europe. His assumption was confirmed by Dr Otmar Reiser and the bird was identified as a female Eudromias geoffroyi, now named Charadrius leschenaultii 3. Unfortunately, despite extensive efforts, this specimen remains lost.
Juvenile Greater Sand Plover, Naxos, August 2006 (Chris Vlachos)
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The second record came 54 years later. At the end of the summer of 1954, the American ornithologist George Elder Watson visited Mesolonghi wetlands. On the 30–31 August he observed two Greater Sand Plovers. On 16 September he visited Agia Triada, a village near Sperchios River estuary, a few kilometers from Lamia – the same place where Merlin had collected the first Greater Sand Plover in 1900 – where he saw a flock of six birds and collected one adult male. After a thorough examination he confirmed the identification as Charadrius leschenaultii columbinus, the only subspecies recorded in Greece4. This specimen is held in Yale Peabody Museum in the USA (no. 32524) and this flock of six birds remains the largest group recorded in Greece to date. There are two records of five individuals: at Aposelemis River, Crete in 1990 and at Kleisova lagoon, western Greece in 2009.
Male Greater Sand Plover, Crete, March 2008 (Colin Turvey)
The third and fourth records both came from the island of Kos, in the Dodecanese, in April 1966 and September 1967 by H. Pieper and R. Koch respectively, but with no further information on the number of birds, locations or exact dates5.
The next six records, all from western Greece occurring between 1989 and 1994 are all cited in The Birds of Greece6.
With the increase in the number of birdwatchers, the advance in optics, improved telecommunications (especially the internet) and the establishment of the Hellenic Rarities Committee in 2004, a further 39 records were submitted and approved, bringing the total number of observations to 507. Therefore, the species is no longer considered to be a Greek national rarity and is no longer included in the Checklist of Rare Birds of Greece (https://rarities.ornithologiki.gr/gr/eaop/rare_bird_list.htm).
Summary of Greater Sand Plover occurences in reece 1900-2009
The specific record details are as follows:
01. Sterea Ellada, Fthiotida, Lamia, 23 January 1900, 1 adult female
02. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Mesolonghi, 30-31 August 1954, 2 birds
03. Sterea Ellada, Fthiotida, Agia Triada, 16 September 1954, 6 birds, 1 adult male C.l.columbinus collected
04. Dodecanese, Kos, April 1966
05. Dodecanese, Kos, September 1967
06. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 22-23 June 1989, 1 adult female
07. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Tourlida Lagoon, 2-3 August 1989, 1 adult
08. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 9 August 1990, 1 juvenile
09. Crete, Herakleio, Aposelemis estuary, 4 September 1990, 5 birds
10. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 4 August 1991, 1 juvenile
11. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 26 July 1994, 1 juvenile
12. Sterea Ellada, Attica, Oropos Lagoon, 8 August 1994, 1 adult
13. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 9 August 1994, 1 juvenile
14. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 26 August 1995, 1 juvenile
15. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 7 October 1995, 1 bird
16. Crete, Lasithi, Makrygialos, 23 March 1997, 3 adults
17. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 3 April 1997, 1 adult male
18. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 12 August 1997, 1 bird
19. Cyclades, Naxos, Glyfada Lagoon, 15 August 1997, 1 juvenile
20. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 15 September 1997, 1 bird
21. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 16 January 1998, 1 first winter C.l.columbinus
22. Sterea Ellada, Attica, Oropos Lagoon, 11 June 1998, 1 adult male
23. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 24 August 1998, 1 bird
24. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 9 September 1999, 1 adult female
25. Limnos, Moudros, Keros, 17 August 1999, 1 juvenile
26. Cyclades, Naxos, Potamides Marsh, 16 June 2001, 1 bird
27. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios Prokopios Lagoon, 11 August 2001, 1 adult female
28. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios Prokopios Lagoon, 16 September 2001, 1 first year
29. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 4 September – 3 December 2002, 1 adult male
30. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 25 September – 26 November 2002, 1 adult female
31. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 10 November 2004 and 9 January 2005, 1 adult
32. Crete, Chania, Fragokastello, 16 October 2005, 1 adult
33. Epirus, Arta, Koftra Lagoon, 9 July 2006, 1 juvenile
34. Eptanisa, Corfu, Lefkimmi Saltpans, 15 July 2006, 1 juvenile
35. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios ProkopiosLagoon, 30-31 August 2006, 1 juvenile
36. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 4-5 October 2006, 1 adult
37. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 8 November 2006, 1 adult
38. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 17 December 2006 – 6 September 2007, 2 adults
39. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 29 September 2007, 1 adult
C. l. columbinus
40. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 12-13 November 2007, 1 adult
41. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 1 December 2007 and 13 January 2008, 3 adults C. l. columbinus
42. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 4 January and 3-5 March 2008, 1 adult male C. l. columbinus
43. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 29 February – 1 March 2008, 1 first winter
44. Cyclades, Naxos, Glyfada Lagoon, 17 and 19 August 2008, 1 adult C. l. columbinus
45. Dodecanese, Kos, Tigaki Lagoon, 7 and 12 September and 5 October 2008, 1 adult
46. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 12 September 2008, 1 adult
47. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 2 November – 11 December 2008, 1 adult C. l. columbinus
48. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 28 March 2009, 1 adult
49. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 26 September 2009, 1 adult
50. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 15 November 2009, 5 adults
02. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Mesolonghi, 30-31 August 1954, 2 birds
03. Sterea Ellada, Fthiotida, Agia Triada, 16 September 1954, 6 birds, 1 adult male C.l.columbinus collected
04. Dodecanese, Kos, April 1966
05. Dodecanese, Kos, September 1967
06. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 22-23 June 1989, 1 adult female
07. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Tourlida Lagoon, 2-3 August 1989, 1 adult
08. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 9 August 1990, 1 juvenile
09. Crete, Herakleio, Aposelemis estuary, 4 September 1990, 5 birds
10. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 4 August 1991, 1 juvenile
11. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 26 July 1994, 1 juvenile
12. Sterea Ellada, Attica, Oropos Lagoon, 8 August 1994, 1 adult
13. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 9 August 1994, 1 juvenile
14. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 26 August 1995, 1 juvenile
15. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 7 October 1995, 1 bird
16. Crete, Lasithi, Makrygialos, 23 March 1997, 3 adults
17. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 3 April 1997, 1 adult male
18. Peloponnese, Achaia, Aigio Lagoon, 12 August 1997, 1 bird
19. Cyclades, Naxos, Glyfada Lagoon, 15 August 1997, 1 juvenile
20. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 15 September 1997, 1 bird
21. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 16 January 1998, 1 first winter C.l.columbinus
22. Sterea Ellada, Attica, Oropos Lagoon, 11 June 1998, 1 adult male
23. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Evinos estuary, 24 August 1998, 1 bird
24. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 9 September 1999, 1 adult female
25. Limnos, Moudros, Keros, 17 August 1999, 1 juvenile
26. Cyclades, Naxos, Potamides Marsh, 16 June 2001, 1 bird
27. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios Prokopios Lagoon, 11 August 2001, 1 adult female
28. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios Prokopios Lagoon, 16 September 2001, 1 first year
29. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 4 September – 3 December 2002, 1 adult male
30. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 25 September – 26 November 2002, 1 adult female
31. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 10 November 2004 and 9 January 2005, 1 adult
32. Crete, Chania, Fragokastello, 16 October 2005, 1 adult
33. Epirus, Arta, Koftra Lagoon, 9 July 2006, 1 juvenile
34. Eptanisa, Corfu, Lefkimmi Saltpans, 15 July 2006, 1 juvenile
35. Cyclades, Naxos, Agios ProkopiosLagoon, 30-31 August 2006, 1 juvenile
36. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 4-5 October 2006, 1 adult
37. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 8 November 2006, 1 adult
38. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 17 December 2006 – 6 September 2007, 2 adults
39. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 29 September 2007, 1 adult
C. l. columbinus
40. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 12-13 November 2007, 1 adult
41. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 1 December 2007 and 13 January 2008, 3 adults C. l. columbinus
42. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 4 January and 3-5 March 2008, 1 adult male C. l. columbinus
43. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 29 February – 1 March 2008, 1 first winter
44. Cyclades, Naxos, Glyfada Lagoon, 17 and 19 August 2008, 1 adult C. l. columbinus
45. Dodecanese, Kos, Tigaki Lagoon, 7 and 12 September and 5 October 2008, 1 adult
46. Crete, Chania, Elaphonisi, 12 September 2008, 1 adult
47. Crete, Chania, Viglia, 2 November – 11 December 2008, 1 adult C. l. columbinus
48. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 28 March 2009, 1 adult
49. Cyclades, Naxos, Alyki Lagoon, 26 September 2009, 1 adult
50. Sterea Ellada, Aitoloakarnania, Kleisova Lagoon, 15 November 2009, 5 adults
Greater Sand Plover observations in Greece, 1900-2009
Most of the observations come from the wetlands of southwest Naxos (15), Mesolonghi and Crete (9 each), and from Alyki Lagoon in Aigio (7). The species has not yet been recorded in northern Greece and surprisingly, there are no confirmed records from Lesvos (although there are several unconfirmed reports from Lesvos)8.
August and September are the best months to look for this species, when adults and juveniles occur, presumably birds arriving for the winter for in Crete and Naxos many birds spend the entire winter. There are very few spring records which further supports this species being largely a rare autumn passage migrant and very rare winter visitor (from the breeding population in neighboring Turkey?).
For the safe identification of the species, one should notice the relatively large size, the tall and pale legs and the chest band. Greater Sand Plover appears less energetic than the other plovers and seems more fearless. The most similar species is Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, another Asiatic plover that has not yet been recorded in Greece.
Frequency of records per month
References
1 BirdLife International. 2010. Species factsheet: Charadrius leschenaultii.
2 AERC TAC. 2003b. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, with distributional notes on subspecies - 15th Draft.
3 Reiser, O. 1905. Materialien zu einer Ornis Balcanica. Griechenland und die Griechischen Inseln (Mit Ausnahme von Kreta). Wien.
4 Watson, G.E. 1961. Aegean bird notes including two breeding records new to Europe. Journal of Ornithology 102: 301-307
5 Bauer, W., Helversen, O.V., Hodge, M., & Martens, J. 1969. Catalogus Faunae Graeciae. Pars II. Aves. Thessaloniki.
6 Handrinos, G., & Akriotis, T. 1997. The Birds of Greece. Christopher Helm
7 Hellenic Rarities Committee, 2006: Annual Report – 2005.
Hellenic Rarities Committee, 2007: Annual Report – 2006.
Hellenic Rarities Committee, 2008: Annual Report – 2007.
Hellenic Rarities Committee, 2009: Annual Report – 2008.
Hellenic Rarities Committee, 2010: Annual Report – 2009.
8 Dudley, S. 2009. A birdwatching guide to Lesvos. Arlequin Press.
Acknowledgements
Many people helped me prepare this article. I would like to thank especially for their useful comments Kostas Papacontantinou, George Handrinos and Michalis Dretakis; for photos Chris Vlachos and Colin Turvey; for the map and graphic Aris Manolopoulos; for translation and editing in to English Lefteris Stavrakas and Steve Dudley; and for the lovely sketch Paschalis Dougalis.
Drawing: Paschalis Dougalis