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Drieteenstrandloper


Drieteenstrandloper
Photo Information
Copyright: Reina Heuven (reina) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 263 W: 1 N: 321] (1990)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200 DSLR, AF VR-Nikkor 80-400mm ED
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-20 3:37
Viewed: 459
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Drieteenstrandloper Sanderling

Scientific name: Calidris alba
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Featured Bird Groups
Shore birds and waders

What does it look like?

Description

The Sanderling is a tiny, pale grey wader, seen darting along shorelines. The upper body is grey, with white below. The bill is dark, thick at the base and slightly drooped at the tip. The legs are short and black and lacking a hind toe. The flight is flickering and a prominent white wingbar is obvious. When in breeding plumage, the head, neck and breast is rufous.

Similar species

The Sanderling is slightly larger than the Red-necked Stint, C. ruficollis, with a longer, heavier bill, and smaller than the Curlew Sandpiper, C. ferruginea. In flight the large white wingbar is obvious, as is its way of dashing along the beach in front of the waves.

Where does it live?

Distribution

Sanderlings are found very widely along Australian coastlines and are regular visitors to New Zealand. The species could be considered cosmopolitan, being found along the coastline in many other countries. They breed from north America to north Russia and islands in the Arctic Ocean.

Habitat

Sanderlings are found on open sandy beaches at the edge of the waves, on sandbars and spits. They roost on bare sand in the dunes or behind piles of kelp.

Seasonal movements

This is a migratory species, breeding mostly in Siberia, moving south with different breeding populations moving to different areas. The Sanderlings migrating to Australia and south-east Asia probably breed on New Siberian Island, leaving mid-July to mid-August and juveniles a little later. They fly in large flocks, flying huge distances without stopping. They arrive in Australia from September and leave the Sydney area by early April. Small numbers over-winter here.
What does it do?

Feeding

A Sanderling will feed busily and briskly on the shoreline, jabbing its bill in the sand, snatching at prey, then retreating from the waves - like a clockwork toy. They eat mainly insects and other arthropods and small crustaceans, by day and night. They also eat seeds and buds on their nesting grounds.

Breeding

Sanderlings breed in the high Arctic tundra so the breeding season is short, lasting about eight weeks. They may even lay two clutches in North Canada, one incubated by the male and one by the female. Generally, pairs share incubation, in a shallow nest which is usually unlined and in an exposed position.
Living with us

Living with humans

Threats on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (the migration route to Australia) include economic and social pressures such as wetland destruction and change, pollution and hunting.

Equipment
Camera: NIKON D200
Lens: 80-400 VR NIKON
Exposure Time 1/160
Format: RAW

Postprocessing: Apeture/Photoshop

Question: I use the program apeture for the MAC keep my pictures in order. I noticed now by the post-processing something strange happens with the pixels. Hope someone has a solution.
Reina
boreocypriensis, eng55, Miss_Piggy, keanhoon, MMM, SelenE, Robespierre, mayuresh, Jamesp has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Miss_Piggy: commentsreina 1 05-20 04:35
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Reina, wonderful shot of these cute Calidris alba birds with excellent DOF, POV and framing. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-05-20 4:09]

Hi Reina,
Beautiful capture at sleeping time.Harmonious colors,pose of birds,POV and composition are perfect.
Thanks for posting.

Hallo Reina
You have captured this group of birds in a very cute formation, and each individual bird’s pose is just great and eye-catching to look at. A very interesting tendency and pattern they are standing in. The plumage is displayed well and the positions they are captured in highlights the beautiful formed and shaped feathers from the rear side. I also like the reflection in the water. To me this image has a high cuteness factor. I enjoyed looking at this one. Thanks for sharing this lovely presentation.
Kind regards.
Anna

Great shot. Quite interesting when you managed to get almost all of them with one leg standing. I think lower POV would yield more depth.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 755 W: 0 N: 1515] (6928)
  • [2008-05-20 7:19]

Hello Reina
Nice presentation,Good POV that give a nice of the group.Sharp image and nice composition.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2349 W: 61 N: 3802] (12200)
  • [2008-05-21 0:26]

Hi Reina,
Very nice moment captured, they look so good resting altogether on one foot. I like the reflections, colors,low POV, composition and the background. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Ha Reina,
Tijd geleden he? Leuk om ook weer wat van jou te zien. Ik moet zeggen dat ik deze beter vindt dan de vorige. De schepte ligt er hier mooi in en ik vind de compositie erg goed.
Groet, Ruud

Oh, ja. Ik heb mijn D200 inmiddels ingeruild voor de D300. :-)

Another interesting point of view Reina.They look peaceful at rest.
It is always good to get down to the water level for these birds. Nicely done
Regards
Doug

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-06-01 10:19]

Hello Reina,
Lovely view of the little Sanderlings sleeping on the beach. Fine details and lovely colours. Lovely reflections in the water and a fine composition.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Reina,
An excellent shot!this is very cute image,very nice moment captured.
very well done.
TFS.
Thanks for choosing me your favourite.

hello reina,
very nice and interesting capture, i really like hhe standing pattern of this cute birds, the reflections on water adds to the beauty,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-07-15 22:57]

Hi Reina


The composition, lighting and detail here are all spot on. Great work. Well seen and captured.

James

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