Best time to see: Oct to mid Apr

Key facts

Small dark wader of rocky coastlines, feeding by turning over stones

Passage migrant and winter visitor to the UK and Essex, breeding in coastal Scandinavia

Recognition

Chestnut and black upperparts, black-and-white face pattern; 22 cm

Characteristic habit of turning over stones and other objects or picking and probing at the surface, looking for invertebrates

Often form small feeding parties with other waders such as dunlin or ringed plover