Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)Where and when to see it in the UK
Status not yet classified · reporting peaks September to November · Sandpipers and Allies · BOU category AF
Peak months
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (grid squares, place names from OS Open Names). Northern Ireland place names: OSNI Open Data, OGL v3.0. County and country boundaries: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0. Coastline: Natural Earth. Bird records from the data partners listed here.
Turnstone has been recorded in 1,119 of the 2,971 10 km squares covering UK land (38%) in records to 2026. Its strongest squares are in England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting peaks in September to November.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN Red List, NT)
View on the IUCN Red List- Very high
- 35% or more of visits
- High
- 14% to 35%
- Moderate
- 5% to 14%
- Low
- under 5%
- Surveyed, not recorded
- at least 20 qualifying visits, no record
- Insufficient records
- too few visits to say
- Lighter fill
- Few visits, lower confidence
- Small dot
- Occasional: a single record, or out of season
Relative to this species' best squares (how classes are calculated)
Seasonality
| Month | Relative to peak | Share of visits | Typical class |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78% | 7% | Very high |
| February | 66% | 6% | Very high |
| March | 52% | 5% | Very high |
| April | 39% | 4% | Low |
| May | 41% | 4% | Low |
| June | 15% | 1% | Low |
| July | 32% | 3% | Low |
| August | 82% | 8% | Very high |
| September | 95% | 9% | Very high |
| October | 100% | 9% | High |
| November | 85% | 8% | Very high |
| December | 76% | 7% | Very high |
Squares with the highest reporting rate in September
| Square | Where | Share of visits | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| D40 | Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| HY44 | Orkney Islands, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| HY45 | Orkney Islands, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| HY51 | Orkney Islands, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| HY55 | Sea, off Orkney Islands | 100% | Very high |
| J66 | Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland | 100% | Very high |
| NA10 | Na h-Eileanan Siar, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NB54 | Na h-Eileanan Siar, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| NC01 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |
| ND17 | Highland, Scotland | 100% | Very high |