Scientific name:

Calidris alba

About:

A medium sized sandpiper, about 20cm long. In the winter they are silvery grey, almost white with a bright white belly. Sanderlings have a medium-length straight black bill and black legs. Sanderling feed at the edge of the tide, scampering back and forth. Similar to knot, but smaller and paler, with a dark patch on the shoulder and with black, not greenish legs.

How to identify:

<p>Best recognised by their behaviour, scampering about on the beach rather than walking and probing in the mud.</p>

Where:

A common winter visitor to our coasts.

Fantastic facts:

Sanderling only have three toes on each foot: they are missing the hind toe, which makes running easier.