Best time to see: Oct to Apr

Key facts

Winter visitors from the mountains of Scandinavia

Habitat: coast and estuary, occasionally inland

Uncommon but regular winter visitor

Recognition

Mottled buffy upperparts with pale underside; 16–17 cm

Confiding birds, feeding on seeds along seawalls and shingle, sometimes in small flocks, keeping low on the ground

Flash of white wings as they fly