Shorebirds

Shorebirds, or waders, are a diverse order of birds united by their life at the water's edge. Observers can identify them by their characteristic profiles: long legs for wading, slender bills of varying lengths for probing mud or snatching prey. These birds are found across the UK throughout the year, with populations swelling during migration. They are quintessential birds of the coast, favouring estuaries, mudflats, sandy beaches, and saltmarshes. Many also utilise inland freshwater habitats like reservoirs, flooded fields, and river edges, particularly outside the breeding season. Their presence is a key indicator of healthy wetland ecosystems.