UK Wildlife

Sanderling Tropic-Breeding Arctic Sandpiper

The sanderling is a small sandpiper famous for its behaviour of running up and down beaches in front of waves, spending winter on UK sandy beaches after breeding in the high Arctic.

Key Facts

Sanderlings chase waves on sandy beaches catching small invertebrates washed up by surf
Breeds on high Arctic tundra - one of the most northerly breeding waders
UK wintering population around 15,000 on sandy beaches nationwide
Runs faster relative to body size than any other shorebird
Brilliant white in winter with black shoulder patch, brighter than any other winter wader

Welfare Considerations

Sanderling welfare depends on undisturbed sandy beaches with intact invertebrate communities. Dog disturbance on beaches causes sanderlings to waste vital winter energy. Sandy beach habitats face threats from coastal development and sea level rise.

What You Can Do

Keep dogs on leads near sanderling feeding flocks on sandy beaches
Support sandy beach habitat protection and coastal management
Record sanderling through winter coastal surveys and WeBS