Sanderling (Calidris alba) foraging in golden sunlight on a low spring tide. Sanderling, (Calidris alba), adults in winter plumage feeding along tide line on beach. New feeding grounds are exposed, and the abundant food has already been visited by tens of thousands of Herring gulls , Black backed gulls, Oystercatchers and other birds. They have already gone through the mussel and other molluscs leaving rich leftovers for smaller birds like the Sanderling. A very 'high' spring tide had caused the tide to go out much further than previous recent records of spring tides in about 10 years. The Sanderling has no hind toe - giving it a distinctive running action, rather like a wind up toy, as it darts away from incoming waves on the waters edge.
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Sanderling (Calidris alba) Feeding at low spring tide along sefton coast_GUFP4783RM.tiff
