A6.106 Annex I and migratory species for which no SPAs have been selected

A number of waders pass through the UK on migration to/from breeding grounds in the Arctic or Scandinavia, and more southerly wintering areas. The migration of these species is irregular and often varies in volume considerably between years. Sites used are not always predictable. For the following migratory species it has not been possible to locate internationally significant concentrations that occur on a predictable basis: Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Little Stint Calidris minuta, Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea, and – the least predictable – Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius. Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus winters in the UK and the species is arguably the most poorly known of all regularly occurring British birds in terms of knowledge of population size (10,000–100,000 individuals – Cayford & Waters 1996), and trends (unknown). There are no known concentrations. An EU action plan is under development for the species since it is an Annex II species with an unfavourable conservation status. A major element of this plan will to be to improve knowledge and monitoring of the species.