Sandpipers & Snipes in Cheshire

23 species matching this filter.

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Cheshire's diverse wetlands, estuaries, and farmland provide vital habitat for 23 species of sandpipers and snipes. The Dee Estuary and Mersey Estuary are particularly important for wading birds, attracting species such as Dunlin, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Black-tailed Godwit in impressive numbers. Inland marshes and river valleys also support breeding Common Snipe and Eurasian Woodcock, while passage migrants like Greenshank and Green Sandpiper can be spotted during spring and autumn.

Little Stint
Little StintSmallest · 13cm
to
Curlew
CurlewLargest · 60cm
Ranges from the Little Stint (13cm) to the Curlew (60cm)8 year-round residents
Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponicaNT

A rare visitor to the Dee Estuary and coastal marshes, mainly on passage from March to October.

Mar–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosaNT

An uncommon resident found year-round, favouring wet grasslands and estuarine habitats, particularly around the Dee Estuary.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucosLC

An uncommon summer breeder from April to October, bobbing along stony river edges and reservoir shorelines.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Snipe

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinagoLC

An uncommon resident breeding on damp moorland and wet grassland. More widespread in winter across lowland marshes and meres.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Curlew

Curlew

Numenius arquataNT

An uncommon year-round resident, breeding on upland pastures in the east and wintering on estuarine mudflats. Numbers are declining.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferrugineaNT

A rare passage wader in late summer and autumn, occasionally appearing at inland pools and muddy scrapes.

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Dunlin

Dunlin

Calidris alpinaLC

Found year-round on the Dee and Mersey estuaries, favouring mudflats and saltmarshes. Numbers peak in winter with visiting flocks from northern breeding grounds.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Eurasian Woodcock

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to damp woodland, most likely encountered during winter months. Secretive and easily overlooked.

Nov–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropusLC

An uncommon but near year-round visitor to muddy pools, ditches and sewage works. Often flushed singly from waterside cover.

Jun–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greenshank

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

A rare visitor from April to October, passing through on migration and favouring shallow pools and reservoir edges.

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Grey Phalarope

Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicariusLC

A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally storm-driven to Cheshire's coast and inland waters in October.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Jack Snipe

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimusLC

A rare but regular winter visitor to boggy margins and wet meadows. Secretive and easily flushed at close range.

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Stint

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally found picking through mud at pools and scrapes from August to October.

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally turning up at Cheshire's freshwater pools and marshes in August and September.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red Knot

Red Knot

Calidris canutusNT

A rare visitor, occasionally seen on the Dee and Mersey estuaries. Most records fall between autumn and spring passage periods.

Feb–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatusLC

A rare September passage migrant, occasionally turning up at pools and meres. One of the county's scarcer wader visitors.

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Redshank

Redshank

Tringa totanusLC

An uncommon resident breeding on wet grassland and saltmarsh. Numbers swell in winter along the Dee and Mersey estuaries.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpresLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to the Dee Estuary and rocky shores, present in winter and early spring.

Sep–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ruff

Ruff

Philomachus pugnaxLC

An uncommon resident of Cheshire's marshes and wet grasslands. Numbers peak on autumn passage at sites like Frodsham.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sanderling

Sanderling

Calidris albaLC

A rare passage migrant in spring and late summer, sometimes stopping at reservoir margins and coastal mudflats.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare visitor to Cheshire's marshes and estuaries, most likely on passage. Elegant dark plumage in summer aids identification.

Feb–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopusLC

A rare visitor mainly on spring and autumn passage, pausing at coastal marshes and meres. Its distinctive call aids detection.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareolaLC

A rare summer visitor from May to September, occasionally found at marshy pools and flooded fields on passage.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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