Beach wader prints

The damp areas of tidal beaches or mudflats can be great places to look for wader footprints. Usually, it is not possible to identify the footprints to a particular species. However, a few key points can be noted. Firstly, most wader footprints are three-toed, but in some species the fourth short rear toe will also make a mark. Most are symmetrical or near symmetrical (for instance there is a slight asymmetry with small plovers such as Ringed Plover). Many (especially the smaller species) are completely unwebbed. Others have small amounts of webbing (eg Tringa sandpipers, Oystercatcher, godwits and curlews); while others have slightly more extensive webbing eg Avocet. Size charts are available showing the expected range of the length of, for example, the middle toe print, which can assist in narrowing down identification. Otherwise it is fascinating to observe the variation and guestimate which birds made the prints!