Flocking together

  

Part of a large flock of shorebirds in Bodega Harbor this morning (21 January 2025) -- mostly Sanderling (Calidris alba) and Dunlin (Calidris alpina), with some Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) mixed in.

Trio

  

I didn't have a lot of time, but as I was leaving work tonight there was nice light on the shorebirds in Bodega Harbor.  I'm always a fan of pictures that make it easy to compare species, so here's one with three species of sandpipers.  Can you find all three?

Most of them are Sanderlings (Calidris alba) -- there are a dozen of them, the palest of the three species.

On the right side of the photo, in the foreground and background, there are two Dunlin (Calidris alpina) -- they're a little bit larger, with a little bit longer bill, and much browner coloration.  

And the last one?  In the foreground the 4th bird from the left is a Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) -- the smallest of the three species, darker than Sanderlings but lighter than the Dunlin.

In motion

 

 

Sanderlings (Calidris alba) and surf, 21 March 2022

 

[You can click on the image for a larger version.]

In the late afternoon

  

Roosting Sanderlings (Calidris alba) above, and a Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) below, sheltering behind a small mound of sand. Both photographs from 25 December 2021.

 

 

Surrounded by light

  

Sanderlings (Calidris alba) feeding on the beach in reflected light from the bluffs at Point Reyes.  

The blue and gold light surrounding the Sanderlings was quite something.  I couldn't decide which photo I liked best, so here's a series:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evasive maneuvers

  

 
A tight flock of shorebirds over the waves...

...often means a falcon is nearby.

 

 

Salmon Creek Beach, 21 September 2021

Sunset snack

 

 

Young Sanderling (Calidris alba) with a Mole Crab (Emerita analoga), 16 September 2021

Sand and surf

  

 Sanderlings (Calidris alba) over the surf zone at Salmon Creek Beach, 1 March 2021

Holiday flight

We went for a beautiful morning walk at Limantour Beach today (27 November 2020).  Nice light and wonderful flocks of shorebirds (especially Sanderling and Dunlin).  I couldn't choose just one picture, so here are several.  Enjoy!  [You can click on them for larger versions.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeding together

Another quick shot from the shore of Bodega Harbor (on 14 October 2020) — this time of a mixed flock of shorebirds.  How many different species can you find in the photo below?  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

 

 

 

I've circled four species of sandpipers below:

 

 

 

From left to right —

In red:  Sanderling (Calidris alba)

In yellow:  Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

In green:  Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)

In blue:  Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

Perspective

I don't know about you, but recently I'm finding that it helps to take some deep breaths and to remember to keep things in perspective.

In that vein, tonight I'm sharing four images of the same flock of Sanderlings (Calidris alba).  Choose your favorite perspective!

[You can click on the images for larger versions.]

 

 

 

 

Restless and resting

 

Mixed shorebird flock, primarily Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Sanderling (Calidris alba), flying over Bodega Harbor on 3 March 2020.

Marbled Godwits (Limosa fedoa) resting in Bodega Harbor at sunset, 3 March 2020.

Landing pattern

 

A flock of Sanderlings (Calidris alba) coming in for a landing (with a few Marbled Godwits in the background).  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]  Bodega Harbor, 31 January 2020.

 

Winter light

 

Sanderling (Calidris alba), Salmon Creek Beach, 28 December 2019

 

Digging for crabs

Last night I mentioned that we encountered a River Otter (Lontra canadensis) feeding on Mole Crabs (Emerita analoga).  We spent some time watching the otter and documenting the behavior, so here's a bit of a photo journal:

Padding along in the surf zone:

 

Stopping to dig for crabs.  The otter wasn't messing around.  It would actively dig with its front legs, bulldoze through the sand with its snout, and sometimes it would bury its entire head in the sand! 

 

 

 

 

The otter seemed quite successful capturing prey.  When chewing crabs, the otter often assumed this distinctive position with its nose pointed towards the sky (making it look similar to a sea lion):

 

Sometimes the otter caught female Mole Crabs carrying eggs (note the bright orange color):

 

Between prey captures, the otter would look around:

 

And sometimes shake its wet fur:

 

The otter and Sanderlings seemed to keep an eye on each other:

 

Every time we encounter a River Otter, we learn something new and have more questions about them.  And every time, I'm grateful for a few minutes with such an endearing animal.

 

Resting on the beach

 

Sanderling (Calidris alba), 27 July 2019

 

Above and below the waves

 

Sanderlings (Calidris alba), in flight (above) and feeding (below).

 

Note the rust-colored tones of their breeding plumage.  Photographed on 1 May 2019.  (Happy May Day!)

Year-end reflections

 

Mixed shorebird flock in Bodega Harbor, 29 December 2018 — primarily Sanderlings (Calidris alba), with a few Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and Dunlin (Calidris alpina).  [You can click on the image for a larger version.]

 

Tucked in

 

Sanderling (Calidris alba), Salmon Creek Beach, 28 December 2018

 

Probing for dinner

 

 

Young Sanderlings (Calidris alba) feeding on the outer beach, 6 September 2018.  [You can click on the images for larger versions.]