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Sanderlings - Western Isles Birds
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Sanderling on the beach at Luskentyre
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(Click Image for Larger Pictures) |
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Sanderling Western Isles
Ref:Sand4000
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Sandlerlings - Luskentyre
Ref:Sand4002 |
Sanderlings - Luskentyre
Ref:Sand4003 |
These little wading birds have a characteristic habit of running along the tide line - like clockwork toys. |
This Friday - late afternoon in November they were scurrying around the tide line, getting fed well!.
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With the backdrop of the crashing waves these little waders looked so pretty - flitting about backwards and forwards.
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand4400
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Sanderling Western Isles
Ref:Sand45000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand6000
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These birds can be seen on the sandy beaches of the Western Isles - particularly Luskentyre |
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This lovely wading bird was running with the tide - Isle of Harris. |
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The reflection of the little sanderling and the waves in the background, made a great setting for this little bird |
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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This lovely wading birds the sanderlings like beaches and mudflats |
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These wading birds are very sociable birds often mixing well with others such as the little plovers. |
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Western Isles bird sightings - the sanderlings have a long straight beak which they use to dig for their food. |
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings does not breed in the UK, but is a winter visitor and passage migrant in spring and autumn. |
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Sanderlings journey to and from their high Arctic breeding grounds. |
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This bird is similar in size to the dunlins - a little larger - but stouter, with a thick bill |
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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This lovely wading bird was running with the tide - Isle of Harris. |
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The sanderling are a little larger than the dunlins. |
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Sanderlings feed on invertebrate prey buried in the sand. |
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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Sanderlings Western Isles
Ref:Sand55000
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These birds are only passing through the Western Isles on their way to The Arctic, where they breed. |
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Sanderlings on scrape on the ground - June - July - have 4 eggs - incubation is 24-27days. |
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Sanderlings are territorial, with the male aggressively defending its territory |
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| Bird Overview - Sanderlings |
Family |
Sandpipers |
Latin name |
Calidris alba |
Population |
Common |
Similar Species |
Dunlin |
Description |
A little larger than a Dunlin with a short straight bill. non breeding or summer plumage when here in the Western Isles - silver grey above - mainly white below - black legs and black bills. In early Autumn in moult - with traces of their chestnut breeding plumage visible. 'in their Arctic breeding ground they will be in full glory with scalloped black - grey and chestnut on the back, chestnut coloured cheeks and a dark breast band above their bright white belly.
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Size |
20 - 21 cm
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Habitat |
These birds can be seen on beaches in Scotland and here in The Western Isles - particularly on Luskentyre - in Harris - and also beaches like Mangersta on The Isle of Lewis. They like beaches and mudflats.
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Food |
Insects, molluscs, crustaceans.
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Voice |
Short song - a purring roll.
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Breeding |
These little wading birds nest on scrape on the ground - June - July - have 4 eggs - incubation is 24-27days. |
Misc. Info |
Sanderlings are the most widespread of all the shorebirds.
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