Sanderling

Took a few minutes away from photographing the golfers on the course to walk along the final stretch of the beach, where to my surprise and delight I spotted several sanderlings.

They have returned from their breeding season spent on the coastlines of Scandinavian countries.  I’d (almost) forgotten how dark their plumage is at this time of year compared to the winter months when their feathers turn to paler greys.