Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)Where and when to see it in the UK
Status not yet classified · reporting peaks August · Sandpipers and Allies · BOU category A
Peak months
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (grid squares, place names from OS Open Names). Northern Ireland place names: OSNI Open Data, OGL v3.0. County and country boundaries: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0. Coastline: Natural Earth. Bird records from the data partners listed here.
Common Sandpiper has been recorded in 2,094 of the 2,971 10 km squares covering UK land (70%) in records to 2026. Its strongest squares are in England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting peaks in August.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, LC)
View on the IUCN Red List- Very high
- 26% or more of visits
- High
- 10% to 26%
- Moderate
- 4% to 10%
- Low
- under 4%
- Surveyed, not recorded
- at least 20 qualifying visits, no record
- Insufficient records
- too few visits to say
- Lighter fill
- Few visits, lower confidence
- Small dot
- Occasional: a single record, or out of season
Relative to this species' best squares (how classes are calculated)
Seasonality
| Month | Relative to peak | Share of visits | Typical class |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4% | <1% | Low |
| February | 3% | <1% | Low |
| March | 3% | <1% | Low |
| April | 37% | 5% | Low |
| May | 51% | 6% | Very high |
| June | 28% | 3% | Very high |
| July | 81% | 10% | Very high |
| August | 100% | 12% | Very high |
| September | 60% | 7% | Moderate |
| October | 9% | 1% | Low |
| November | 5% | <1% | Low |
| December | 5% | <1% | Low |
Squares with the highest reporting rate in August
| Square | Where | Share of visits | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| HU40 | Shetland Islands, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| J05 | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| J28 | Antrim and Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| J33 | Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| NB56 | Na h-Eileanan Siar, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NC46 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NF87 | Na h-Eileanan Siar, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NG60 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NH83 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NJ02 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |