Green Sandpipers are reasonably common passage migrants and winter visitors in our area. They breed in northern Asia where, most unusually for a wader (which are almost always ground-nesters), they utilize the old tree nests of other birds in which to lay their eggs. In our area they inhabit a wide range of wetlands, often favouring very small pools and streams and patches of marsh. Thus they are regularly seen in villages and the maps probably underestimate their range due to lack of observer coverage.

They tend to seen singly or in pairs and only rarely in mixed wader flocks. Usually the first sign of their presence is the ringing “tlu eet weet” call when they are flushed. They often tower and fly some distance, revealing the bright white rump and blackish underwings. The underwing colour and the call are the best means of separating them from the similar Wood Sandpiper. Fortunately having sped off noisily, they often return to their original feeding site. As they tend to be scattered in small numbers, it is difficult to get an accurate idea of the numbers present at a site. Green Sandpipers begin arriving in August and have a long departure period which can extend well into June. They are often the first waders to return and there are several July records of what are presumably failed breeders.