One of my first birding stops in the morning was Bradford Beach in Milwaukee. You never know what will be there. 8 Sanderlings were present across the whole shore of the beach. Walkers on the beach not even knowingly flush the feeding birds around which is very typical. The Sanderlings usually when flushed just fly out over the water a few 100 feet and return to a different area on the beach for more feeding. While running up and down the beach they are feeding on small crustaceans, amphipods, etc. Sanderlings like following waves in and out along the beach as that is where they find their fresh food. It was an overcast morning, low winds, mild temps. Images were taken on September 20, 2018.
The Sanderling feeding with something in the bill…
Sanderling
Binomial name: Calidris alba
Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies
Size: 8” long, 17” wing span
Weight: 2.1 Oz.
Note: An arctic breeder, a long distance migrator, winters in South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia
Finding something small to eat…
Something in the bill…
Something in the bill…
Two of the Sanderlings moving along the beach together…
The Sanderling follows the wave in, the quickly runs to see what has been brought in…
Wave recedes back out, the Sanderling has something in his bill but continually looks for more food…
A pair…
The Sanderlings run in all directions with waves coming and going looking for things to eat…
The big bite!
Moving along in search of something to eat…
The Sanderling probes into the sand, I think the bill filters out the sand and what remains is the food…
Something in the bill…
Probing…
Running along the receding wave…
Looking around after some wave action for things to eat…
Looking…
Getting something small…
Something in the bill…
On the run…
Outstanding photos! Seeing some sanderlings here today!