Sanderling - 1949

Croceithia alba

Autumn and occasional spring passage migrant, especially in Milford Haven. Recorded Skokholm twice.  One in full breeding plumage, Newport, 7 June, 1926 (Bertram Lloyd)

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Sanderling - 1994

Passage migrant. Recorded in all months

Mathew (1894) and Lockley etal.(1949) agreed that the Sanderling was principally an autumn passage migrant but that a few were seen on spring passage. More recent observation has revealed that it is now annual in its occurrence, being seen on the outer coastline, the estuaries and the islands. Flocks of up to 24 occur between 12 March and 11 June and between 25 July and 16 November, with 50 at Broad Haven (north) beach on 30 July 1986. Fewer pass in spring than in autumn.

Despite the apparent suitability of our sandy beaches Sanderlings do not winter, but up to five short-staying birds have occasionally been seen from December to February, usually within the Cleddau Estuary, particularly at the Gann and Angle Bay.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Sanderling - 1980s winter

The BTO winter atlas showed that Sanderlings were present in one estuarine and a few coastal  10km squares during the winters of 1981-82, 1982-82 and 1983-84.

The blue colour in each 10km square represents up to 19 birds.

The distribution coincides largely with sandy shores.

Graham Rees

Sanderling - winter

Calidris alba

One to five birds at a time have been recorded during the winter period, December to March, initially in 1927 and 1929, then in 1961 and 1963, in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991 and in every year from 1994 to 2006. Most records are for single dates but occasionally they have stayed for up to a month and in 1996 up to three were at Fishguard Harbour for six weeks and in 1997 up to three at the Gann for six weeks. Perhaps these were offshoots from the substantial winter population found at Cefn Sidan in neighbouring Carmarthenshire.

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Sanderling - passage

Calidris alba

Autumn passage has been recorded from the 16th July to the end of November. The most favoured localities have been the Teifi Estuary (max. 15 on the 21st August 1987), Nevern Estuary (max. 18 on the 29th July 2005), Angle Bay (max. 25 on the 22nd September 2006) and Frainslake (max. 57 on the 21st July 1996). Transient birds have also been seen at popular bathing beaches, mostly involving one to four birds at a time but 12 were at Broad Haven (North) on the 2nd September 1985 and 50 there on the 30th July 1986.

Spring passage has been recorded from April to the end of June, most passing through during May, hence being a much quicker event than autumn passage and in terms of volume involving about half the number of birds.

The same localities were frequented in spring as in autumn, flock sizes being similar, the maximum recorded being 40 at Frainslake on the 18th May 1996.

Cumulative passage totals 1980 – 2006.

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Sanderling - status

Calidris alba

Passage migrant and winter visitor.

The Sanderling has a circumpolar Arctic tundra breeding distribution, subsequently migrating to shorelines throughout the rest of the world, short of Antarctica. Those seen in North West Europe are from Greenland and Siberia.

The Sanderling was classified by early authorities as an autumn and occasional spring passage migrant to Pembrokeshire. Subsequent observations have confirmed the autumn passage but also shown that there has been an annual spring passage and a few winter occurrences. They have mostly occurred on sandy beaches and flats but have also been seen resting on rocky shores and by coastal pools like those on Skokholm , Skomer and Newgale Marsh and once running about on the dry runways of the disused Dale airfield. They have also been seen passing offshore from Strumble Head, the islands and The Smalls.

Graham Rees.

(Covers records up to and including 2006).

Sanderling - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

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