A pair of Sanderlings, that go by the endearing Maltese name 'Pispisella Bajda', were recently spotted at Salina Nature Reserve, with a talented photographer managing to capture some stunning stills of them.

These small, stout wader birds are characterised by their thick bills and black legs, foraging mainly on small invertebrates by probing into soft mud. In their non-breeding winter plumage, Sanderlings appear almost white, with a pale grey back and a distinctive dark shoulder patch, as seen in the photos shared by BirdLife Malta.

As spring approaches, their breeding plumage transforms quite significantly, with their face and throat turning a striking brick-red and the back feathers becoming reddish with black centers. These birds are Arctic breeders and long-distance migrants, traveling between 3,000 and 10,000 km from their breeding grounds to their wintering sites in Southern Europe and Africa.

Most adult Sanderlings leave the Arctic in July and early August, with juveniles following in late August and September. In Malta, they are considered scarce spring and autumn migrants, with sightings mostly occurring in May. Occasionally, they are spotted during autumn, particularly between August and September. While usually found along rocky coasts, this rare wader can also be seen in locations like Ghadira and Salina Nature Reserves, making this recent sighting a special one.

Have you ever spotted a Sanderling in Malta?