Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima

Fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor

Recorded in nearly all months, although numbers reach a definite peak in April. 54 were counted on the 20^th April, 1997 and 65 on the 7^th April, 2006. Returning birds are recorded in July onwards, and peak in August. (2003 saw 35+ on the 5^th August). Numbers slowly dwindle through September and October into single figures.