Sanderling

Missing back finger near "heel".

Scientific name	Calidris alba
English name	Sanderling
Japanese name	Miyubishigi
Classification	Aves
Classification details	Charadriiformes Scolopacidae
Full length	about 19m
Distribution	Found in coastal areas around the world.

Characteristics

A sandpiper that can be commonly seen on the beach. It was named in Japanese because it looks like three fingers because it has no first toe.

Body size is less than 20 cm, gray from head to back, and white on belly. The beak and feet are black. The tips of the tail feathers and the edges of the wings (from the shoulder to the tail feathers) are also dark brown.

Calls

Make a short, high-pitched voice while walking on the beach. It sounds like "kick" and "chick". When it takes off, it makes a "pew" sound.

Ecology

It is often found on the coast and tidal flats. They roam in groups and forage on the beach. It seems to eat shellfish and small animals on the beach.

Habitat

Miyagi Prefecture Watari Arahama Beach

I photographed a flock foraging on the beach in the morning. I had little sense of vigilance, and when I stood still, it crossed in front of me.

A flock runs toward the beach at the moment when the waves rush and pull away. When the next wave comes, they desperately run away so as not to be swept away. When I took a picture of them running away, it was cute that they were running away with desperate faces.