From a couple of weeks ago, this very cooperative Sanderling (aren't they all!) offered some great opportunities just as the sun was setting. I also finished a version without the splaying water drops - but I kinda like them there too (I may be biased though, as I saw it dipping its bill in and out quickly into the oncoming wavelet to create those drops:cool:)
Canon 40D + 100-400L @400mm, aperture priority, evaluative metering, 1/500s., f/7.1, ISO 400, -0.3 EC, handheld lying flat on the cold wet beach, ~85% FF (a wee bit off right and bottom).
I like the water droplets too, as well as the bubbles behind the bird and the faith refection of the bird in the water from the setting sun. Also like the sharpness and the low angle as well.
Beautiful last light, and I particularly like the bird's reflected light in the water bubbles. The angle doesn't bother me -- Sanderlings always look to me a little front-heavy. If you shoot at an angle to the beach, the surf edge will not be horizontal to the image; but that's just my opinion.