line decor
HOME  |   THE ISLANDS  |    HISTORY  |     WILDLIFE  |   WILDFLOWERS  |   BIRDS  |  ISLE OF HARRIS  |  ISLE OF LEWIS  |  SEASCAPES  |  BEACHES 
line decor
 
Sanderling - Hebridean Birds - Western Isles Birds - Birdlife and Bird Sightings in the Hebrides
Western Isles Birds - Sanderlings - mainly seen in their non breeding plumage - having an almost frosted appearance, silver grey above and mainly white below, with black legs and a short black bill. These lovely little wading birds are just passing through the Western Isles. They actually breed much further north. The Arctic is their breeding area


ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN BY OURSELVES
Feel free to use any images you wish from the website F.O.C.

Hi-Res Images can be supplied for a small
admin charge of £3.00 per image

Email: chris@gcwweb.com

Sanderlings - Western Isles Birds
sanderling traigh mhor - tolsta Western Isles bird sightings
Sanderling on the Traigh Mhor - Tolsta Beach - Sept 2010
(Click Image for Larger Pictures)
Sanderlings outer hebrides birds
 
bird sightings isle of lewis - sanderlings
 
sanderlings scotland
Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand2000

 
Sandlerlings - Mangersta
Ref:Sand2002
Sanderlings - Mangersta Beach
Ref:Sand2003
These little wading birds have a characteristic habit of running along the tide line - like clockwork toys.hese birds are only passing through the Western Isles on their way to The Arctic, where they breed.

This Friday -late afternoon in May they were scurrying around the tide line before settling comfortably on the rocks. These wading birds are very sociable birds often mixing well with others such as the little plovers.

 

With the backdrop of the crashing waves these little waders looked so pretty - flitting about backwards and forwards. These birds can be seen on the sandy beaches of the Western Isles - particularly Luskentyre on Lewis at Tolsta

         
Sanderlings outer hebrides birds
 
Bird Sightings Tolsta - Western Isles
 
Sanderlings outer hebrides birds
Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand2000
 
Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand2000
 
Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand2000
These lovely wading birds were running with the tide at Traigh Mhor - Tolsta - Isle of Lewis.
 
These lovely wading birds were running with the tide at Traigh Mhor - Tolsta - Isle of Lewis.
 
These lovely wading birds were running with the tide at Traigh Mhor - Tolsta - Isle of Lewis.
         
         
Bird Overview - Sanderlings
Family
Sandpipers
Latin name
Calidris alba

Population
Common Similar Species Dunlin
Description
A little larger than a Dunlin with a short straight bill. non breeding or summer plumage when here in the Western Isles - silver grey above - mainly white below - black legs and black bills. In early Autumn in moult - with traces of their chestnut breeding plumage visible. 'in their Arctic breeding ground they will be in full glory with scalloped black - grey and chestnut on the back, chestnut coloured cheeks and a dark breast band above their bright white belly.

Size
20 - 21 cm
Habitat

These birds can be seen on beaches in Scotland and here in The Western Isles - particularly on Luskentyre - in Harris - and also beaches like Mangersta on The Isle of Lewis. THey like beaches and mudflats.

Food
Insects, molluscs, crustaceans.

Voice
Short song - a purring roll.
Breeding
These little wading birds nest on scrape on the ground - June - July - have 4 eggs - incubation is 24-27days.
Misc. Info
Sanderlings are the most widespread of all the shorebirds.
 
Feedback - All comments welcome Chris@GcwWeb.com