Birdwatchers have reported a rare sighting of a Sanderling in Kashmir's Hokersar Wetland on May 22, 2025, marking the first such observation in 134 years. The Sanderling was spotted by Reyan Sofi, Mufeeq Ahmad Malik, and Mansoor Shayir during an evening birding session.
The sighting is considered significant, adding a new species to the region's bird checklist. The bird was identified by its size difference compared to a Little Stint. This is also the first documented photograph of a Sanderling in Kashmir.
Sanderlings are small sandpipers, measuring 18 to 20 cm in length. They are known for their wave-chasing behavior on beaches as they forage for food. These birds typically breed in the Arctic tundra and winter on coastlines worldwide, excluding Antarctica. The sighting has been submitted to Indian Birds, a Journal of South Asian Ornithology, for verification.