Abstract

The Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus has a long documented history in Cumbria going back to the late eighteenth century. Following over 20 years without confirmed breeding (1995–2015), Dotterels have been recorded nesting in Cumbria again with five confirmed attempts on five different fells between 2016 and 2023. This coincides with a period of reduced sheep stocking and the slow beginnings of habitat recovery. Here, a quarter of the way through the twenty-first century, we bring the record of Dotterels in Cumbria up to date with recent breeding records and information on nesting dates and ages. We also consider the future of the Dotterel, a species at the very edge of its range in England.