Feeding on Foam

After a long hike down the Fishermen's trail, I made it out to the False Hook. This is usually an excellent location for uncommon species, but this day it was unusually quiet. There was nothing there but a group of eight Sanderlings feeding in the surf. I decided to make the best of the situation, and got down on the ground to shoot the Sanderlings. After awhile these little birds became incredibly acclimated with my presence, and nearly surrounded me, often coming within a few feet of my lens. Because of that, this is a nearly uncropped image. Sanderlings are common in many coastal areas, and can usually be found chasing the receding waves. A Peregrine Falcon zoomed in and broke the silence later on, and I'll post photos of that soon.

Sandy Hook - Gateway National Park
Middletown, New Jersey

January 12, 2010