Symphony in the sky
Sanderlings are common migrants and wintering birds in Massachusetts, where they inhabit coastal beaches and intertidal areas, ranging from mudflats to sandy beaches. They are commonly seen running along the shoreline between waves to feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. In April, many migratory shorebirds like Sanderlings, Sandpipers, and Dunlins stop on Massachusetts beaches on their way to the breeding grounds far north in the Arctic.
I found a flock of Sanderlings on the beach during their early spring migration. They were busing feeding along the water's edge and would choose to fly out once in a while. Their synchronized flight almost looked like a beautiful symphony in the sky. I photographed this formation as they were banking against the golden, early morning sky.
Why this photo works
The sky, beautifully lit up by the rising sun, created a lovely backdrop for this photo. Shooting into the light rendered the flock of flying birds a silhouette, creating a simple abstract image. The banking pose of all the birds makes it a very dynamic photo.
Awards
🏆 Kingbirder - A pair or greater competition - Superlative winner
🏆 Share the view 2021 - TOP 250
Technical Details
Similar Photos
Teamwork
When sanderlings sense some kind of danger, they take off and fly in a tight formation that maneuvers erratically over the ocean. They often fly at 30-40 mph, turning on a dime as a group. One has to wonder how do they do that?
Sanderlings in slow motions
I used a slow shutter speed to exaggerate the synchronous flight of sanderlings.
