The wood sandpiper is a regular passage migrant through the UK on its way between breeding grounds in Scandinavia and wintering areas in Africa.
Wood sandpiper welfare during passage through the UK depends on the availability of suitable refueling wetlands. Loss of traditional stopover sites through drainage affects the birds' ability to replenish fat reserves for migration. Inland wetlands including nature reserve scrapes, flooded meadows, and managed reedbeds provide critical stopover habitat. Disturbance at small passage wetlands causes repeated flushing that depletes energy. The quality of breeding habitat in Scandinavia and wintering habitat in sub-Saharan Africa also affects population welfare outcomes. Maintaining a network of inland wetlands in the UK benefits this and many other passage migrants.