Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

Somewhat of a rarity with 1 - 3 pairs breeding in the UK and only 13,000 winter visitors. The purple sandpiper comes from as far as the island of Svalbard, home to many an arctic creature including the infamous hunter, the polar bear. During the harsh winter months the purple sandpiper bids Adjø to Svalbard and says det er lenge siden sist vi møttes!, Norwegian for “long time no see”, to the East Kent Coast. The 2,000 mile trip over the North Sea exhausts the little bird, that weighs no more than two bunches of roses. 

There is a pinkish purple hue to its grey and white plumage, hence the name.  They tend to feed amongst washed up seaweed on the invertebrates within. By poking their beak into the seaweed. 

Due to their low numbers, seeing multiple purple sandpipers together may not occur too often, but if it does you have witnessed, a timestep of purple sandpipers.

They don’t scare easily and are quite approachable, as they live amongst polar bears, so probably don’t see you as a threat. However, as with all wild wintering waders remain Bird Wise and keep your distance.