Hidden Gems of the Pennines: A Special Story of Dunlin

For the first time, a large-scale survey has revealed that Dunlin — a rare upland wading bird — are breeding across this beautiful landscape, giving nature lovers fresh hope for the future of this special species. 

These tiny birds, no bigger than Starlings, have bright, colourful breeding plumage and a long, extraordinary migration that takes them thousands of miles to West Africa each year before returning to breed. Until now, we had only glimpses of where they nested in the Pennines — but not a clear picture of their distribution.

From May to July 2025, RSPB teams and volunteers set out across remote, wet moorland — often far from paths and hidden deep in the hills — to look for signs of Dunlin. They used a mix of traditional birdwatching techniques along with drones, remote cameras and acoustic recorders to reveal where birds were thriving. 

At the High Helbeck Estate, the team’s excitement grew as cameras captured footage of Dunlin chicks feeding in a bog pool — a sure sign that these delicate birds are raising young in this upland home. 

A big part of this success comes from years of partnership work to restore habitats, including peatland restoration and careful land management. The survey was funded by Natural England and carried out with the help of landowners and volunteers, all working together to improve the landscape for wildlife. 

Dr. Elisabeth Charman, Senior Conservation Officer for the RSPB, says:  “The team surveyed in remote areas, well away from established tracks and on challenging ground. To find Dunlin breeding in new areas was extremely rewarding, and we hope our partnership efforts can contribute to their continued success in the Pennines.” 

Nicolette Blackett-Ord, joint landowner at High Helbeck, adds:  “It has been extremely rewarding to take part in this project. We’ve learnt such a lot about this threatened species’ distribution and habitat needs. To confirm breeding at High Helbeck is particularly special…” 

Kath Milnes, Higher Officer for Natural England in Cumbria, says:  “This fantastic work across the Cumbrian Pennines clearly demonstrates how investing in nature delivers multiple benefits for everyone.” 

Dunlin have declined by at least 20% globally since the early 2000’s and the IUCN Red List now classify the species globally as Near Threatened. In the UK, the species is now Red listed. They have suffered a moderate decline in their UK breeding range, likely due to declines in habitat quality.  However, this new evidence shows that significant patches of healthy upland habitat still support breeding birds. That gives conservationists hope — and something to build on. 

The RSPB has been working for more than 25 years in the North Pennines, and this survey is an important step in understanding where Dunlin still survive and how we can help them thrive.