Western Sandpiper
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Mudflats (very rare vagrant).
Diet: Invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Drooping bill tip.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Western Sandpiper is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Broad-billed Sandpiper · Pools (very rare passage)
- Red-necked Stint · Pools (very rare)
- Semipalmated Sandpiper · Mudflats (vagrant)
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper · Coastal pools (very rare)
- Temminck's Stint · Pools (rare passage)
- Stilt Sandpiper · Shallow pools (vagrant)
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, tested picks, no extra cost to you.
See Western Sandpiper sightings on the map