Dunlin breeding success recorded in Cumbrian uplands
First coordinated survey across the Cumbrian North Pennines records breeding birds at multiple sites, offering fresh evidence for upland recovery work
Fresh hope in the uplands
A pioneering survey led by the RSPB has confirmed that Dunlin are breeding across large areas of suitable habitat in the Cumbrian Pennines, part of the North Pennines National Landscape. The findings offer renewed encouragement for one of England’s rarest upland waders.
Funded by Natural England, the 2025 survey represents the first coordinated effort of its kind across such a wide upland landscape in northern England. For conservationists, it provides long-awaited clarity about where Dunlin are surviving - and what conditions they require to thrive.
A declining upland breeder
Dunlin, Calidris alpina, are small, starling-sized waders, instantly recognisable in breeding plumage by their rich chestnut upperparts and bold black belly patch. Although familiar to many birders as wintering and passage flocks on estuaries, England’s upland breeding birds form a much rarer and more fragile population.
Globally, Dunlin have declined by at least 20% since the early 2000s and are now classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. In the UK, the species is Red-listed, with a moderate contraction in its breeding range, thought to be linked to declines in habitat quality.
Fourteen sites surveyed
Between May and July 2025, RSPB surveyors - supported by committed volunteers including members of Cumbria Bird Club - visited 14 locations across the Cumbrian North Pennines. Around 30 individual Dunlin were recorded at eight of these sites, demonstrating that the species remains present across significant areas of high-quality upland habitat.
The work focused on remote, wet upland landscapes, including the High Helbeck Estate, where peatland restoration has been underway for several years, led by the North Pennines National Landscape team in partnership with landowners and conservation bodies.
Breeding confirmed at High Helbeck
At High Helbeck, RSPB staff surveyed areas where Dunlin were expected to occur and confirmed breeding birds, including remote camera footage of chicks feeding in a bog pool. For those involved, the discovery was particularly significant given the long-term habitat restoration carried out on the estate.
High Helbeck was previously at the centre of a Green Recovery Challenge Fund project (2020 - 2022), delivered through partnership between the North Pennines National Landscape team, the RSPB, Natural England, the Woodland Trust and landowners Nicolete and Ben Blackett-Ord. Habitat restoration and biodiversity improvements have continued since.
Working in challenging terrain
Survey teams operated in demanding conditions, often well away from established tracks and across difficult ground. A combination of traditional field survey techniques and newer technologies - including remote cameras, acoustic recording devices and drones - was used to assess both bird presence and habitat condition.
Dunlin breeding in the North Pennines undertake an extraordinary migration, travelling thousands of miles to winter in West Africa. Understanding precisely where they breed, and the condition of the peatland and bog habitats they depend on, is considered essential to securing their long-term future.
Investment in peatland restoration
Natural England, which funded the survey, highlighted the wider benefits of peatland restoration and re-wetting. Such work improves habitat for waders like Dunlin while also delivering gains for carbon storage, water quality and wider biodiversity.
The RSPB identifies the North Pennines as one of its Priority Landscapes, focusing resources and conservation effort in areas where landscape-scale change can deliver meaningful results. The organisation is also marking more than 25 years of wader conservation work in the region, acknowledging the role of volunteers, local farmers, advisers and partner organisations.
Building a clearer picture
Until now, the absence of a coordinated large-scale survey across the Cumbrian North Pennines left significant gaps in knowledge about Dunlin distribution. The RSPB hopes the new findings will encourage more records from upland areas, helping build a clearer understanding of the species’ status and guiding future conservation action.
For a bird that breeds quietly on remote blanket bog and moorland, confirmation that Dunlin are still holding on - and successfully raising young - in parts of the Pennines represents a quietly significant conservation success.
February 2026
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