
Sanderling
The sanderling (Calidris alba) is a small wading bird.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 526 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Sanderling is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
526 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Sanderling
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Sanderling recorded here
Sanderling recorded here
Sanderling recorded here
Sanderling recorded here
Sanderling recorded here
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Birder friendly
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Sanderling
Hosts have recorded the Sanderling at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Calidris alba
Records
526
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Sanderling on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Sanderling in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Sanderling at stays in or beside Addo Elephant National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Sanderling in South Africa?
The Sanderling is most recorded in Western Cape (52% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (26% of records), Eastern Cape (18% of records), based on 526 iNaturalist observations. 5 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Sanderling on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Sanderling?
The Sanderling is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Addo Elephant National Park: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Sanderling?
The sanderling (Calidris alba) is a small wading bird. The name derives from Old English sand-yrðling, "sand-ploughman". The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alba is Latin for "white".

























