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Sanderling


Sanderling
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 311 W: 42 N: 1210] (3817)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Digital ISO 100, Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-22 6:46
Viewed: 444
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This picture was taken at nature reserve next to Nuclear Power Station at Bradwell-on-Sea

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Sanderling (Calidris alba, syn. Crocethia alba or Erolia alba) is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia. It is highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches.
It is somewhat unlike other sandpipers in appearance, which has led to the suggestion that it should be placed into a monotypic genus Crocethia. A more recent review (Thomas et al., 2004) indicates, however, that the sanderling is a fairly typical "stint" or small sandpiper and should be separated from the large knots with its closest relatives in a distinct genus.
This bird is similar in size to a Dunlin, but stouter, with a thick bill. It shows a strong white wingbar in flight, and runs along the sandy beaches it prefers with a characteristic "bicycling" action, stopping frequently to pick small food items. It eats small crabs and other small invertebrates. In spring, birds migrating north from South America consume large numbers of horseshoe crab eggs in the Delaware Bay area.
In spring, the birds arrival on the High Arctic breeding grounds, where they lay 3-4 eggs in a ground scrape. Later in the summer, the face and throat become brick-red. On the nesting grounds, these birds mainly eat insects and some plant material.
The winter bird is very pale, almost white apart from a dark shoulder patch. This is the source of the specific name, alba, which is the Latin for "white". The juvenile bird is spangled black and white, and shows much more contrast than the adult.
Sanderling behavior is distinctive, but visually, if the size is misjudged, a breeding plumage sanderling can be mistaken for some varieties of stint, or a winter plumage sanderling can be mistaken for a Dunlin or Red Knot. It can be told from other small wading birds, given good views, by its lack of a hind toe.
The Sanderling is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Maite, jaycee, goldyrs, Gert-Paassen, Proframe, CeltickRanger, Royaldevon, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1200] (4936)
  • [2008-04-22 7:28]

Hello Pekka
What a cute bird this Sanderling! I like a lot that beak and the color of its plumage. Magnificent shot from a splendid POV and a curious beautiful bg with the wave rolling.
My compliments and best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-04-22 9:17]

Hi Pekka,

This might be the first Sanderling I have seen. A beautiful bird with striking colors. Excellent details of the face, wings and plummage. The setting is magnificent with the shells and waves.

Jane

Hello Pekka,

Great picture from this bird.
Good of sharpness and with beautiful colors.
Much details on the whole picture.

regards Gert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-04-22 12:44]

Hi I am very pushed for time late home so just a note to say a good picture for now,
Well done TFS.
Nick..

Love the small foamed waves in the BG Pekka.
They add wonderfully to the entyre scene.
Beautiful composition with excellent sharpness, clarity and DOF.
Wonderful contrast, details, low viewing/shooting angle, light and color tones.
Very well done. TFS!!!

Best regards, Harry

hello Pekka

beautiful image of the Sanderling on his natural environement,
i love your POV at the level of the bird with the fine framing
and DOF, excellent sharpness and details of the foreground,

TFS

Asbed

Hello Pekka,
I loved how you used f7.1 to blur the roaring waves against the Sanderling!
the subject is in perfect sharpness, good colour and details in the shot also a good fg interest!
well done
best regards
Tony

Hello Pekka,

What a beautiful little bird!
Against the surf and the pebbles, he must have been very difficult to see!
Lovely details of his plummage and his long beak.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Simply put, a superb shot, Pekka.
I love the composition!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1051 W: 1 N: 4170] (14008)
  • [2008-04-23 18:44]

Hello Pekka,
What a fantastic capture with the wave rolling in and this bird looking for food at the surf zone. The image is sharp and has great natural colors. I like all the different shells on the beach. Great work Pekka.
Rick

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