Bird News | Bird Book | Bird Care | Home
State of the Nations' Birds
Dictionary | Encyclopaedia | Search | Visitor Information

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Stable populationFrown

Distribution Britain 1,424 (+1.3%) Ireland 313 (-30.8%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 15,800 Ireland 2,300
European status: 570,000 (3% in Britain and Ireland =5)
British population trend: still declining? (-16% WBS){-14%}
How likely are you to record it? 154 squares (3.4%) Ranked 95 [71=]

Over a century ago this familiar wader, on migration, was a regular breeder in most lowland counties but it had started to withdraw to the uplands as early as 1850 in Dorset. However even 100 years ago they still bred in parts of Sussex and many areas along lowland rivers. In Ireland there has been a steady contraction to the north and west and most are now in Donegal and Connemara — with a cluster in Kerry and a few may still breed in the Wicklow mountains. In Scotland, northern England and Wales, where there are upland streams, the birds are still common but there is some evidence of decline over the last 50 or 60 years. The declines are probably continuing in Ireland and lowland parts of Grampian but the birds have returned to breed in several places in Devon and Cornwall. Apart from these records they remain absent from south and east of a line from the Tees to Bristol. Acidification of the rivers and streams has led to losses of food resources. There may be further losses.

Search for another Species

From The State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead


Bird News | Bird Book | Bird Care | Home
State of the Nations' Birds
Dictionary | Encyclopaedia | Search | Visitor Information | Mail to Bird On!
Sponsored by Jacobi Jayne & Company