November 16, 2012

Where sanderlings gather . . .

Sanderlings (Calidris alba)
According to Wikipedia; 

"The Sanderling is a small plump sandpiper, 18–20 cm in length. Its weight ranges from 40-100 g. The winter bird is very pale, almost white apart from a dark shoulder patch. The juvenile bird is spangled black and white, and shows much more contrast than the adult. It can be told from other small wading birds, given good views, by its lack of a hind toe."




They gather, they run, they probe for food, and then suddenly they're in flight . . .




Just as suddenly, they've landed. This pattern continues dozens of times as they move down the beach.








"The sun, descending the altar of the year, pauses ritually on the steps of the summer months. The great sun overflows; the year burns on. All these autumn weeks I have watched the great disk going south along the horizon of moorlands beyond the marsh. The turn of the sun's wheel, always the imperative, bright sun."

                                                                   ~ Henry Beston
                                                                        'The Outermost House'



6 comments:

  1. your photos are wonderful...

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  2. Thank you so much for commenting. It's fun to hear that you appreciate my photos.

    I believe I found your blog . . . I left a comment about your daughter's dental experience. Best of luck to you . . .

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  3. Thanks for posting these photos. Beautiful. We used to fish regularly off the coast of Bodega. Such wonderful memories. We loved it! Thought about moving there. But then Alaska called. Our fishing boat is still doing her job, but now off Alaskan waters.

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  4. Thanks so much for your generous comment! My cousin (Lauri) moved to Alaska 30 or so years ago. She and her love (Greg)live in their log cabin on the Kenai peninsula and also have a cabin on an island in Kachemak Bay. When my son was 7 years-old we visited my cousin for 10 days beginning with the summer solstice. AK is magical and your images bring out her beauty.

    We don't fish but we do kayak. It's always been my dream to live by the sea . . . I have to pinch myself everyday ; ) Please keep in touch. I am so enjoying your blog!

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  5. These photos are gorgeous! It's amazing how nature works, how they just know what to do and it's all so seamless and beautiful. I'd love to see this in person.

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    1. Thank you Nikki! Come on out for a visit, we'll go for a beach hike!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!