Sandpipers (Calidris)
A family of small, cute waders with generally shortish legs and medium length bills. Migratory and often forming large flocks. Generally fairly confiding and approachable.
Dunlin at Keyhaven, Hants. April
Curlew Sandpiper - Similar to Dunlin but larger, taller and with a white stripe above the eye and longer bill. They are passage migrants, stopping off on our coasts briefly in spring and autumn.
RSPB Leighton Moss, Lancs. October
Dunlin - The benchmark small wader, against which others are compared when identifying species. They are our most numerous wader and are about the size of a starling. Easily recognised in the breeding season by their black bellies. Can be seen year round and are reasonably confiding, sometimes very. Some breed here, mainly in the north of Scotland.
Winter bird at RSPB Titchwell Marsh - December
On breeding grounds in Unst, Shetland - June
Breeding plumage at Gronant, N.Wales.- July
A winter high tide roost at West Kirby
Knot - A very plain, grey, dumpy wader, in isolation, but renowned for the huge wheeling flocks they form in Winter around our coasts and estuaries. Larger than dunlin. Must be seen at RSPB Snettisham during a winter high tide roost. An amazing spectacle on their arrival, at roost and on departure, due to the sheer numbers and their closeness in formation.
Hoylake, Wirral. January
At roost, then take-off as the tide recedes at RSPB Snettisham. April.
Little Stint - A tiny wader, said to be approximately wagtail size. Small numbers seen on spring and autumn migration. A few linger into winter. Generally seen amongst other small waders. I've yet to have a really good view. Juveniles show a clear white V on their backs.
RSPB Saltholme in Sept
Pectoral Sandpiper - A fairly rare passage migrant. Most frequently seen in late summer/autumn (av. 56 sightings in UK /annum). Can pop up at any wetland. Similar size and bill length to a dunlin but white bellied and paler legged.
Distant shot taken on St.Mary's, Scilly. September.
Purple Sandpiper - A very confiding species. Can be difficult to spot amongst rocks and seaweed at low tide. Quite often accompanied by turnstone. Very rarely seen inland. With us between November and April.
Hilbre Island, Wirral. April
Sanderling - Probably my favourite bird of all. Watching them in their mainly pure white winter plumage, scurrying along the tideline dodging waves, stopping for the odd morsel, is a delight. Quite unmistakable in motion once you've witnessed your first. You can get quite close to them if you're patient. So cute.
In winter plumage - Gronant, Flintshire. January
In breeding plumage - Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey (May) and Gronant, Flintshire (June)
Temminck's Stint - A fairly rare migrant wader. A small number are seen each year, usually individually, on passage and a handful are thought to breed in the UK. Very small and not dissimilar to dunlin. They are smaller though, shorter billed, have dull orange legs and a clean white belly. The bird here was my first and only sighting, to date. Seen at RSPB Saltholme.
