We might be in the height of summer but on the migrant waders’ calendar it’s already considered to be autumn (July to September) and these birds are well into their schedule for transit. The key for seeing waders is to spend time looking – finding a comfy place and just wait and scan, wait and scan. Binoculars are a must and a spotting scope will really help you identify the birds. With waders, it really is a case of the early bird catches the worm - get to the muddy places on wetland sites early as often birds drop in at dusk the night before and may roost after feeding before leaving after their breakfast at first light. 

Our nature reserves at Amwell and King’s Meads, in Ware, and Wilstone Reservoir, near Tring, are great places to seek out these short-staying visitors. Bare mud here is the key! At Amwell we actively lower the water level using sluices to create muddy feeding margins, and at Wilstone Reservoir, water is taken to fill the adjacent Grand Union Canal – the reason for which the reservoir was built. 

As you can probably gather, seeing waders is very much a case of pot-luck but that’s what’s exciting too! The more you look, the more you will see. Here we share some of the species which may make an appearance this August:

Common Sandpiper

This species may be seen as it journeys south, from its more northerly and westerly breeding grounds. Common Sandpipers are pale brown above, with a bright white belly but their movement also provides key to their identification – they bob up and down when standing, which is known as 'teetering'. They also have a distinctive, stiff-winged flight, providing sight of their strong, white wingbars.

Green Sandpiper

The Green Sandpiper is larger and longer-legged when compared to the Common Sandpiper and that’s not the only difference between the species, it’s much darker too, being blackish green above and with a white belly and rump. Rather than use its bill to probe the mud for food, this bird prefers to pick at invertebrates from the surface of the water. Like the Common Sandpiper, the Green Sandpiper bobs up and down when standing but when it is disturbed it will fly off in a zig-zag type motion and usually calls as it goes with a loud ‘too-loo-looeet’. Our Lemsford Springs Nature Reserve is a wonderful place to look out for this bird – head to the hide, which overlooks the spring-fed lagoon and watch the bird feasting on the abundant freshwater shrimps there.

Greenshank

The Greenshank is a large and elegant wader that can be seen in the shallows, where it may be seen chasing invertebrates and small fish. Appearance-wise, adults are olive-grey above and silvery-white below, with dark streaking on the breast and they have slightly upturned, grey bills. Their grey-green legs are another identifying feature, from which they get their name!

Redshank

Take your lead from the name here, and look out for the wader with the long, bright red legs! The Redshank is otherwise brownish all over with a paler belly and a straight bill, which is red at the base and black at the tip. When in flight, look out for a white triangular wedge up its back and wide, white wingbars.

Ringed Plover

A small, rather round-looking wader that’s got a distinctive style - sandy-brown above and white below, it has a black chest-band and black bridle markings on its head, an orange bill with a black tip, and orange legs. When it flies, it displays a broad, white wingbar. Like other plovers, the Ringed Plover forages for invertebrates and crustaceans by standing and watching, running forward, pecking, then standing still again. By 'foot-trembling' (tapping its feet fast on the ground to mimic raindrops), it tempts underground prey to the surface.

Dunlin

The Dunlin is another member of the sandpiper family which is occasionally seen. They’re slightly smaller than a Starling and, in autumn, typically appear brown above and white below when viewed from a distance. Some birds may show a black belly patch, which indicates they are adults. Bill length can vary between individuals.

Black-tailed Godwit 

A rare breeding bird in the UK, the Black-tailed Godwit has suffered devastating decline and is on the Red List for Birds (2021), signifying the highest level of conservation concern. Usually part of a small crowd, this sociable bird uses its long bill to probe the mud for invertebrates. A long-legged wader, usually in autumn, they are grey above and white below. In flight, this species displays a black tail, a white rump and broad, white wingbars.

Rarer wader sightings

In addition to the species we’ve already mentioned above, birders will be scanning for rarer waders such as the Curlew Sandpiper or Grey Plover but if there is mud, literally anything could drop out of the sky! 

Tim Hill, the Trust’s Conservation Manager shares one such special memory, saying: 

“Some years ago, I was at King’s Meads and spotted a bunch of waders on the mud and they turned out to be seven Curlew Sandpipers – a notable gathering, all feeding madly with their distinctive sewing machine head-bobbing action. Bellies full, off they went, heading south continuing their journeys to their wintering grounds.”

Do let us know what you spot on our reserves this August via our social media channels or by emailing us at media@hmwt.org