Sanderlings

I find that I have a backlog of photos to share. Time to catch up!

Sanderlings are passing through on their way from breeding grounds in the high Arctic to beaches all over the world. The ones we see today at the refuge will winter on coasts from New England to South America. I am not sure if they winter in Asia but they can be found in Europe, Africa and Australia according the guides.

Sanderlings are easy to recognize by their behavior as they run along the edge of the water in groups, dodging the incoming water.

As you can see above, several Sanderlings still have their darker breeding plumage. The early morning sun turned the color to a golden brown in this photo.