Sandpipers & Snipes in Lancashire

24 species matching this filter.

All birds in LancashireView family page

Lancashire's diverse coastal wetlands, estuaries, and moorland habitats make it an outstanding county for observing sandpipers and snipes, with 24 species recorded from this family. The expansive mudflats of Morecambe Bay and the Ribble Estuary attract impressive numbers of waders, including Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, and Curlew, while secretive species such as Jack Snipe and Eurasian Woodcock can be found in the county's damp woodlands and boggy margins.

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

Showing 1–23 of 24 species

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponicaNT

A rare but year-round presence on the Ribble Estuary and Morecambe Bay mudflats. Numbers peak during autumn passage and winter.

Year-round

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

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosaNT

Uncommon but present year-round, favouring wet grasslands and estuarine pools at sites like Martin Mere and the Ribble.

Year-round

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

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucosLC

Breeds along upland streams in the Bowland fells and Pennine fringes, bobbing on riverside rocks from April to October.

Apr–Oct

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

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinagoLC

An uncommon resident of Lancashire's bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Numbers increase in winter with arrivals from the continent.

Year-round

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

Curlew

Numenius arquataNT

Common year-round, breeding on upland moors in the east and wintering in large flocks on the Ribble Estuary and Morecambe Bay.

Year-round

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

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferrugineaNT

A scarce autumn passage migrant from July to October, occasionally turning up on coastal pools and estuarine margins.

Jul–Oct

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

Dunlin

Calidris alpinaLC

An uncommon resident found year-round on estuarine mudflats, especially Morecambe Bay and the Ribble, with winter flocks.

Year-round

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

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A secretive resident of damp woodland, most often seen during roding display flights at dusk over Bowland's woods in spring.

Nov–May

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

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Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropusLC

A rare but regular visitor to Lancashire's freshwater margins, most often seen on autumn passage at pools and reservoir edges.

Mar–Dec

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

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

Present year-round but uncommon, favouring estuarine mudflats at Morecambe Bay and the Ribble, with numbers peaking on autumn passage.

Year-round

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-blown onto Lancashire's coast in September, favouring sheltered pools.

Sep

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

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimusLC

A secretive winter visitor to Lancashire's marshes and boggy fields, often flushing at close range with a weak, fluttering flight.

Oct–Feb

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

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare autumn passage migrant in August and September, picking through muddy margins at coastal pools and estuaries.

Aug–Sep

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

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosLC

A rare Nearctic vagrant recorded on autumn passage in September. Any Lancashire sighting draws keen interest from county birders.

Sep

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

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritimaLC

A rare passage visitor in late autumn, favouring rocky coastal stretches and harbour walls around Morecambe Bay.

Nov–Dec

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

Red Knot

Calidris canutusNT

Rare but recorded year-round, with flocks sometimes gathering on Morecambe Bay's vast mudflats during winter months.

Year-round

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

Redshank

Tringa totanusLC

A year-round resident found in good numbers on the Ribble Estuary and Morecambe Bay saltmarshes, giving its loud piping alarm call.

Year-round

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

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpresLC

An uncommon but regular visitor to rocky shores and jetties, present mostly outside summer, feeding among seaweed-covered stones.

Aug–May

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

Ruff

Philomachus pugnaxLC

An uncommon year-round presence on Lancashire's wetlands and coastal marshes, often seen at sites like Martin Mere and the Ribble Estuary.

Year-round

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

Sanderling

Calidris albaLC

A rare but regular presence on Lancashire's sandy beaches, especially along the Fylde coast. Runs energetically at the tide line.

Year-round

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

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare visitor to Lancashire's estuaries and coastal pools, most likely on the Ribble. Seen in most months except midsummer.

Jul–May

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

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckiiLC

A rare spring passage migrant in May, occasionally stopping at muddy pool edges on coastal marshes and reservoirs.

May

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

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopusLC

A rare breeding visitor, passing through Lancashire's coast from April to September with distinctive seven-note whistling calls.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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Sandpipers & Snipes in Lancashire | Birdfact