Sandpipers & Snipes in Essex

25 species matching this filter.

All birds in EssexView family page

Essex is a superb county for observing sandpipers and snipes, with 24 recorded species from this diverse wading bird family. The county's extensive coastal marshes, estuarine mudflats, and inland wetlands — particularly along the Thames Estuary, Blackwater Estuary, and at reserves such as Abberton Reservoir — provide vital feeding and roosting grounds for species including Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, and Common Snipe. Whether during the busy autumn migration or through the winter months, Essex offers outstanding opportunities to encounter these characterful shorebirds.

Little Stint
Little StintSmallest · 13cm
to
Curlew
CurlewLargest · 60cm
Ranges from the Little Stint (13cm) to the Curlew (60cm)14 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 25 species

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponicaNT

An uncommon but regular wader on Essex estuaries and mudflats year-round. The Thames and Blackwater estuaries are key sites.

Year-round

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

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosaNT

Present year-round on Essex estuaries, with large flocks gathering on the Thames and Blackwater. Numbers peak in winter.

Year-round

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

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucosLC

An uncommon visitor found bobbing along reservoir edges and river banks, most frequently seen on passage in spring and autumn.

Apr–Jan

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

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinagoLC

An uncommon resident of wet grasslands and marshes, most easily found in winter when birds probe soft mud at sites like Rainham Marshes.

Jul–May

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

Curlew

Numenius arquataNT

Present year-round on Essex estuaries and marshes, with its evocative call a hallmark of the coast. Breeding numbers have declined sharply.

Year-round

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

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferrugineaNT

An uncommon autumn passage migrant from July to October, favouring coastal scrapes and muddy pool edges.

Jul–Oct

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

Dunlin

Calidris alpinaLC

A common wader found year-round on Essex estuaries and mudflats, forming large winter flocks along the coast.

Year-round

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

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A rare winter visitor to Essex woodlands and damp fields, most likely encountered during cold spells from November to March.

Nov–Mar

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 regular wader found at freshwater pools, ditches, and marshes, present most months except May.

Jun–Apr

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

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

Uncommon but present year-round, favouring estuarine mudflats and coastal pools, with numbers peaking on autumn passage.

Year-round

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

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimusLC

A rare and secretive non-breeding visitor to marshy areas and wet ditches, present from late autumn to early spring.

Nov–Apr

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

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare visitor to Essex coastal scrapes and mudflats, mainly seen on autumn passage from August to October.

Aug–Jan

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

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare Nearctic wader appearing briefly in July and September at freshwater marshes and coastal scrapes.

Jul–Sep

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

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritimaLC

A rare winter visitor to rocky coastal structures and groynes. Essex offers limited suitable habitat, so sightings are infrequent.

Nov–Jan

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

Red Knot

Calidris canutusNT

Uncommon on Essex estuaries, with flocks gathering on mudflats in winter; largely absent during midsummer months.

Aug–May

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

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally spotted spinning on pools at coastal reserves in October. A delicate and highly sought-after wader.

Oct

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

Redshank

Tringa totanusLC

A common resident of Essex's saltmarshes and estuaries, its piping calls are a familiar sound along the coast year-round.

Year-round

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

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpresLC

An uncommon year-round presence along rocky foreshores and sea walls, flipping stones and seaweed to find invertebrates on the Essex coast.

Year-round

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

Ruff

Philomachus pugnaxLC

An uncommon visitor to Essex marshes and flooded fields, seen in small numbers on passage and through winter at key wetland sites.

Jul–May

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

Sanderling

Calidris albaLC

A rare but year-round presence, occasionally seen on sandy shores and estuarine flats along the Essex coast.

Year-round

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

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare but regular visitor to Essex estuaries, present most of the year. Often seen wading elegantly in channels alongside common redshanks.

Jan–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckiiLC

A rare passage migrant, briefly visiting Essex scrapes and reservoir margins in May and again in August.

May–Aug

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

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopusLC

An uncommon visitor to Essex estuaries and coastal marshes, most regularly noted on passage in spring and autumn.

Apr–Oct

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