David Tipling / Flock of Knot (Calidris canutus) chased by a Peregrine as they arrive to roost at high tide, Cormorants in foreground, Snettisham RSPB Reserve, The Wash, Norfolk, September.

John Chan / Flock of Western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) taking flight from salt marsh, Southern California, USA.

David Woodfall / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) small wader with young in machair. North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Dunlin (Calidris alpina ) North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Purple sandpipers (Calidris maritima) over wintering on the beaches of the Orkney Isles, Scotland, UK, April.

Chris Gomersall / Large flock of Red knot (Calidris canutus) moving at high tide roost, in winter plumage, Snettisham RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, England, UK, September.

John Waters / Large mixed flock of Knot (Calidris canutrus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) in flight at high tide, Steart Marshes WWT Reserve, Somerset, England, UK, December.

Gerrit Vyn / Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) on its Russian breeding grounds. Chukotka, Russia. June.

Graham Eaton,Graham Eaton / Dog chasing and disturbing a flock of Knot (Calidris canutus) on a beach, Hoylake, Wirral

Markus Varesvuo / Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii), adult with summer plumage in flight. Norway. June.

Markus Varesvuo / Little Stint (Calidris minuta), breeding adult sleeping on the shoreline. Norway. June.

Markus Varesvuo / Little Stint (Calidris minuta), breeding adult standing on the shoreline. Norway. June.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Red necked stint {Calidris ruficollis}, breeding plumage, Anadyr, Siberia, Russia

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Red necked stint {Calidris ruficollis}, winter plumage, Samut Sakhon, Thailand

Oscar Dewhurst / Sanderling (Calidris alba) flying over the sea. Durham, UK. March

Oscar Dewhurst / Flock of Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) coming into land on marshy pool whilst on migration. Northumberland, UK. May

Oscar Dewhurst / Red knot (Calidris canutus) in winter plumage standing on seaweed-covered rock. Durham, UK. February.

Oscar Dewhurst / Red knot (Calidris canutus) in winter plumage flying over the sea. Durham, UK. February

Oscar Dewhurst / Sanderling (Calidris alba) in flight over the sea. Durham, UK. November.

Oscar Dewhurst / Sanderling (Calidris alba) running along the shoreline. Durham, UK. November.

Oscar Dewhurst / Sanderling (Calidris alba) running along the sand. Durham, UK. November.

Oscar Dewhurst / Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) and red knot (Calidris canutus) in flight. Durham, UK. October.

Oscar Dewhurst / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) flock in flight over the sea. Durham, UK. October.

Oscar Dewhurst / Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) and red knot (Calidris canutus) in flight. Durham, UK. October.

Oscar Dewhurst / Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and red knot (Calidris canutus) flock in flight with industrial buildingss of Teeside in the background. Durham, UK. October

David Tipling / Knot (Calidris canutus) flock chased by a Peregrine over pits at Snettisham RSPB Reserve on The Wash as they arrive to roost at high tide, Norfolk, England, UK. September

David Tipling / Knot (Calidris canutus) chased by a Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) over mudflats of the Wash at Snettisham RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, England, UK. September.

David Tipling / People watching the spectacular high tide Knot (Calidris canutus) roost on the Wash at Snettisham RSPB Reserve in Norfolk, England, UK, October.

Erlend Haarberg / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) searching for food amongst seaweed. Varanger, Norway. June.

Erlend Haarberg / Little stint (Calidris minuta) amongst seaweed. Varanger, Norway. June.

Fabrice Cahez / Sanderling (Calidris alba) feeding, Morlaix Bay, Brittany, France

Fabrice Cahez / Sanderling (Calidris alba) flock flying, Morlaix Bay, Brittany, France

Fabrice Cahez / Sanderling (Calidris alba) flock flying , Morlaix Bay, Brittany, France

Fabrice Cahez / Sanderling (Calidris alba) flock flying, Morlaix Bay, Brittany, France

Fabrice Cahez / Sanderling (Calidris alba) flock flying ,Morlaix Bay, Brittany, France

David Tipling / Red knot (Calidris canutus) flock taking off from roost. Snettisham, The Wash, Norfolk, England, UK. October.

Oscar Dewhurst / Sanderling (Calidris alba) on shingle beach. Suffolk, UK. August.

Niall Benvie / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) summer plumage, Iceland

Ernie Janes / Knot (Caldris canutus) flock in flight on Titchwell beach, Norfolk, England, UK. November.

Ernie Janes / Knot (Caldris canutus) feeding on seashore Titchwell, Norfolk, England, UK. November.

Mick Jenner / Sanderling (Calidris alba) foraging on the tideline, West Sussex, England, UK, November.

Mike Read / Sanderling (Calidris alba) on a cliff top, Portland Bill, Dorset, England, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) flock flying in to land on a freshwater pool, Pilning Wetland, Somerset, UK, January.

Nick Upton / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) flock flying in to land on a freshwater pool, Pilning Wetland, Somerset, UK, January.

Nick Upton / Dense flock of Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and Dunlin (Calidris alpina) in flight overhead, Severn estuary, Gloucestershire, UK, January.

Chris Shields / Illustration of Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Chris Shields / Illustration of Knot (Calidris canutus)

Nick Upton / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) foraging among roosting Northern lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) in a shallow freshwater lake, Gloucestershire, England, UK, November.