Spotted Sandpipers are now seldom seen in Britain but Victorian stuffed specimens set to go under hammer

                                                               

The Spotted Sandpipers are thought to be the birds third and fourth from left

 

GIVEN that the species is seldom seen in Britain, it is curious that  Spotted Sandpiper  is among the wading species included (Lot 30) in a specialist taxidermy sale to be held at 10.30 am on November 11  

At what location and on what date were they detected before they met their demise - presumably by gun or trap? 

The catalogue note states: 

A late-Victorian cased display of Sandpipers, circa 1880-1900, by C.H. Gowland, Naturalist, "Tadorna,", Barnston, Wirral, a high-quality display of eight various full-mount adult Sandpipers.

Species to include Purple, Spotted, Common, Wood, and Curlew-, all mounted upon soil and grass covered groundwork, set against a watercolour painted backdrop, enclosed within a typical period pine framed three-glass display case, 82cm by 19.5cm by 33cm, data labels visible within the groundwork.

Taxidermist's full paper trade label to verso.

According to Tennants auction house of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, the hammer is expected to fall at between £180 and £280.