Sanderling ... for every itch there is a scratch :)

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Caught this guy scratching his itch. I usually don't opt for a close eye, but in this case I think it works. Thanks to John Chardine for explaining a bit about the curved bill. In my last Sanderling post he mentioned:

"The bending of the bill is called rhynchokinesis. Many if not all shorebirds are able to do this and it's seen in other birds too."

Afraid to add more sharpening to the eye, but I feel that it may need it.

Shooting Info:
Nikon D800 | 500 f/4 +1.4x
1/800" | f/9 | ISO 320
On my belly with my DIY frisbeepod

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Awesome pose Miguel, I like the sharpness as is! Well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Miguel, lovely low angle, and any behaviour is worth capturing. I feel you have the sharpening sorted on the sanderling, and I do like the shells visible along the beach BG.

[Julie Brown]

Hi Miguel. Love the low angle, color and feather detail. This is a very cute pose, and the closed eye works for me.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Miguel I like the summer plumage and the setting, the pose is great as is the low angle.

[Frank Schauf]

Great scene and setting you have here.

[Karl Egressy]

Lovely image, Miguel. Love the beak showing that it is in fact pliable and not rigid.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent shot.
Great low angle, love the pose, nice details and really like the shells.
Well done.

[Satish Ranadive]

Beautiful image with nice pose,great low angle,nice details and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Gabriela Plesea]

This image is a bit of an eye opener for me...birds almost always close their eyes when preening, but in this case it makes this cute little bird even more appealing to the viewer.( I wonder how many times I discarded a shot because my subject had its eyes closed...) I must say the whole picture has a dream-like feel to it, and the softness of the background brings the subject out so well. A beautiful image with great detail and very well composed-I thoroughly enjoyed viewing this!

Kind regards,