Waders

Oystercatcher Breeds on the saltmarshes. Present in winter in nationally important no's, up to 5500 on Middleton saltmarsh, Nov. '97. See WeBS data.
Avocet Vagrant. 3 together 17/3/96 on the Lune Estuary. One stayed for three days.
Ringed Plover Present mainly at migration times. Flocks of 40-60 are present most autumns. Max. c100, Oct '95., 117 May '00
Golden Plover Occurs in large no's. during winter periods, peaking at 2000 birds during the 96/97 winter, mainly on the Lune Estuary. (2200 Dec '00)
Grey Plover Flocks of up to 800 have occurred on Middleton high tide roost. (Dec '97). Nationally important site. See WeBS data.
Lapwing Local breeding bird. Flocks of up to 6000 birds roost here in winter, mainly on the Lune Estuary.
Knot This area is an Internationally Important site for Knot. Flocks of up to 56000 birds occur on the Lune Estuary at low tide and Middleton Sands at high tide. See WeBS data.
Sanderling Sanderling are only ever seen in this area on passage, therefore picking the right day is crucial. Up to 300 on the tideline at Middleton Sands in May is possible. A passage flock of 300 counts as Nationally important, but this has never been recorded during a WeBS count.
Little Stint Scarce passage migrant. Can linger for a few days in autumn. At least 7 juveniles with a huge Dunlin flock Sept. '96.  2 different birds seen on the Bowie Pool, Autumn '99.
Curlew Sandpiper Scarce but annual passage migrant, usually in autumn. Best looked for by the car park at Sunderland. Max. 10 Sept. '96.  Counts of up to 9 Autumn '99
Dunlin Present year round. No's in winter can reach 40000 on the Middleton Sands wader roost. Internationally important no's. See WeBS data.
Ruff Scarce passage migrant.  Max. 9 reeves May '94.  Seen on the Bowie Pool Autumn '99.
Jack Snipe Presumably a much under-recorded winter visitor. The area around Baxter's pool seems to be a good bet.
Snipe Elusively present throughout the winter period. Often flushed from the saltmarshes by high tides. Max. 21, Nov '97
Woodcock* There is at least one record from the Juncus beds at Potts Corner during a winter freeze up.
Black-tailed Godwit Scarce summer visitor in very small no's.  Regularly seen on the Bowie Pool, Autumn '99. During early Summer '00 there was a regular gathering of up to 15 birds on the Bowie Pool.(Record numbers)
Bar-tailed Godwit Sometimes present in nationally important no's, i.e. 2000 in Feb. '95. Recent winter counts have been much smaller. See WeBS data.
Whimbrel Prominent spring migrant, out numbering Curlew in early May. Loose flocks of up to 20 seen regularly. Less frequent in autumn.
Curlew Common. Flocks on Middleton wader roost have reached 900 in late summer / early autumn.
Redshank Common resident. Breeds on the saltmarshes. Up to 800 birds present on the Lune Estuary in late summer.
Spotted Redshank Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant.
Greenshank Small no's. seen on passage and occasionally in summer.  Seen regularly on the Bowie Pool Autumn '99. More records Summer '00
Green Sandpiper Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant
Wood Sandpiper* Just one autumn record, 17/9/95.
Common Sandpiper Small no's. occur annually on passage. More common in autumn.
Turnstone Formally common in winter in front of the houses at Sunderland, now declining and seen mainly on passage. A few winter. The highest known count is of c100 birds, 14/8/91, seen by Stefan Stürup a Danish birder then resident in Lancaster. The largest recent counts are 42 during March '98.and 60 in August '98.

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