Sanderling Racing the Waves at Fort De Soto

Sanderling racing the waves – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikon 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light

I slept in this morning because I knew it was going to be dreary and gray with rain falling in the valley and snow in the high country. I really wasn’t sure what photo I wanted to share today but I had decided that it had to be something I had photographed on a warmer, sunnier day because after three days of staying home due to bad weather I am getting tired of gray days.

So I decided that I wanted to share this photo of a Sanderling racing the waves at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida because I photographed it on a warm, sunny day. Sanderlings used to keep me entertained on the sugar sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida as they scurried around searching for food at the water’s edge and then they would run up the beach as the waves came in. It wasn’t very often that I saw them standing still, they always seemed to be in motion. They also seemed to be quite used to the presence of humans and there were times when I was laying down in the sand or water that they came in so close it was hard to focus on them.

What I like about this photo is how the blur of the Sanderlings legs and the water implies motion while the face and bill of the bird are still sharply in focus.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be better, I really hope so because I need to get back out with the birds and nature.

Life is good.

Mia

This Sanderling was photographed in April of 2009.

Click here to see more of my Sanderling photos plus facts and information about this species.