The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Palearctic; in Britain and Ireland 12,000 breeding pairs; 100 winter.
Regional Distribution
Cornwall: formerly bred by moorland streams in east Cornwall, but regular breeding
ceased 1910; a pair nested in 1989 (possibly also 1988) on east side of Bodmin Moor. Passage migrant throughout Cornwall (but few in spring); gatherings of up to 20 from late July/early August evenings on major estuary complexes. 10-20 birds winter at scattered sites, but only the Lynher/Tamar complex holds five plus wintering birds (thus Nationally significant). Isles of Scilly: scattered individuals on passage, sometimes more than 15 birds.
Habitat & Ecology
Typically solitary, favouring freshwater streams and lake edges; also brackish streams at head of tidal creeks. Passage birds frequent on coastal rocks and beaches.
Threats
None significant.
Conservation
The main sites are SSSI.
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.