In contrast with spring migration, the southward fall migration of Sanderlings begins early and is protracted. Adults begin arriving in Michigan in early August and most have passed by mid-September. Juveniles appear about a month later. Interestingly, there are no Michigan Christmas Count Records for this species, even though it is often seen as late as the second week of December in places such as Berrien County. As in spring, most Sanderlings are encountered along the Great Lakes shoreline, but there are more inland records in fall than spring.
Flocks can be large where birds buildup over time.
An example is the report of 250 Sanderlings on 21 July 1973 in Berrien County. The Sanderling is a common spring migrant and abundant fall migrant. In spring, a few birds may be present as early as the first week of May, but migration peaks in the last week of May and the first week of June. An exceptionally early bird was seen on 13 April 1986. Numbers vary considerably from year to year Since 1982, the highest seasonal total was 148 in 1998 and the lowest 11 in 1982.