Lapwing:  also known as a teeick in Orkney (and a peewit elsewhere in the country), these are less common than they were, possibly as a result of land drainage, but the breeding population is around 4,000 pairs.  During autumn and winter, flocks of up to 500 birds are not uncommon.  Many birds leave the islands under snow cover. 

Redshank:  the redshank is a medium-sized wading bird, which is well distributed in Orkney's marshland areas, with over 1,500 pairs throughout the islands. It has longish red legs and a long, straight bill. It is grey-brown above and whitish below. In flight, it shows very obvious white rear edges to the wings and a white 'V-shape' up its back.  The winter population has been estimated at 7,000 birds.

Curlew:  also known as a whaup in Orkney, there are around 5,000 breeding pairs, with winter numbers boosted to around 20,000.  The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable with its long down-curved bill, brown upperparts and long legs. Nationwide, there have been worrying breeding declines in many areas largely due to loss of habitat through agricultural intensification.  You can spot curlews all year round in Orkney.

Snipe:  snipe have very long, straight bills that they use for probing deep into wet mud.  They nest quite commonly in Orkney’s wetlands and also on our wetter moors.  There are probably over 3000 pairs nesting in the islands but their numbers are greatly enhanced in autumn when migrants arrive from further north.  Snipe have a very distinctive display flight   They dive through the air with their stiff outer tail feathers angled out from the rest of the tail.  This produces a buzzing noise called ‘drumming’.

Oystercatcher:  this is the commonest wader in Orkney and can be seen almost everywhere except on the moors.  An estimated 12,500 pairs nest in the islands drawing attention to themselves by their very noisy behaviour.  On the shore, as their name suggests, oystercatchers feed on shellfish but inland, they feed largely on earthworms.

Purple sandpiper:  only a winter visitor, Orkney’s population of purple sandpipers has been estimated at 5-6,000.  These spend the winter on rocky seashores feeding on invertebrates.  Uncertainty surrounds their migration routes, however.  It is possible that their breeding grounds are on Baffin Island in Canada.

Turnstone:  another winter visitor, turnstones are rather commoner than the purple sandpipers but are often found with them feeding on rocky shores and often, as their name suggests, flicking over stones to find their food.  Ringing recoveries have shown that at least some of our turnstones come to us from Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic.