The semipalmated Plover is a small bird somewhat resembling a Killdeer. Eating insects, worms and crustaceans, these birds seach for food along beaches and on tidal flats. These photos were made near Beaufort Inlet in late June, 2010.

The Least Tern is the smallest of the terns found along North Carolina’s coast. A migratory bird, the Least Tern spends its winters in Central America and the Carribean. In the spring they return to coastal areas of North America to reproduce. With a population of about 21,500 pairs this little bird isn’t listed as “threatened” or endangered,” though in some of the states where it breeds it is consedered a “threatened” species. They are vunerable to predators and high tides along the U.S. East Coast. Of course human disturbance of nesting areas can also be a problem. Be mindful of restricted areas on local beaches that are marked to protect shorebird nesting areas. A fast and shy little bird, I found these guys quite challenging to photograph. Patience and a slow, low approach seems to work best.

Many of my favorite spots for hiking and photographing have become mud bogs. The rain this winter has been unrelenting. When conditions are like this you can suck it up and it slop along the muddy trails, stay home and daydream of an outdoor adventure, or do what I did, head for the beach. Unless the wind is roaring you can almost always find some kind of subject matter at the beach. Sanderlings, Sea Gulls, Brown Pelicans… something’s probably going to be there to photograph. Our beaches, however, can be a bit challenging. You need to know the area a bit to improve your odds of getting acceptable shots.

One important issues to consider when your goal is to take photos is the direction of the sun. Ideally the sun should be directly behind you for avian photography. If not directly behind you, mostly behind. Finding the right time of day and location can be challenging unless you’re familar with the local beaches. The next issue is knowing where to find the birds. You’re not necessarily going to encounter birds along just any stretch of the beach. The movement of birds… where they congregate… is largely dependent upon feeding opportunities. The birds are going to be where the food is. Knowledge of shoaling, water depths and tide schedules all play a big role in locating birds. By combining local knowledge of the beaches and some solid technique your chance of getting a few good images is greatly enhanced.

A while back I posted about the importance of being willing to get down and dirty to get interesting, compelling images. Sometimes that can lead to a bit of discomfort.  To capture these images of Sanderlings I was laying and sitting in very, very wet sand. My pants and shirt were soaked, the wind was blowing hard and the temperature was dropping quickly. Simply put, it wasn’t particularly comfortable. But the choice really comes down to whether you want to make interesting photos, or stay comfy. Honestly, depending upon my mood and how ambitious I am on a particular day, sometimes comfy wins the battle. But in most cases getting the shot will be worth the effort.

I’ve written about Sanderlings before so I’ll spare you a rewrite of information about the species. These images were taken near sunset, along the Crystal Coast as the birds were feeding and the tide was receding. In the first image the sun is coming over my right shoulder, resulting in more of a slide-lit image. I’m sitting with my elbows resting on my knees to brace the camera. I needed a slightly higher point of view in order to capture the reflection. In the second image I’m closer to eye-level with the bird and the sun is closer to being directly behind me. I also fired a flash to fill shadows and get a catchlight in the eye.

The Eastern Willet is a large migratory shore bird that is a member of the sandpiper family. While Willets will migrate as far south as Central and South America, they breed in salt marshes along the eastern US coast. There is also a Western variety that is slightly larger and has subtle differences in its markings. Willets were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 1900s but have made a nice come-back and are a common site along our beaches.

This bird was photographed along Bogue Banks, Atlantic Beach, NC. Rather than standing above the bird and ending up with a downwardly angled shot I am laying on the beach to get as close to an eye-level perspective as possible. At this location the beach inclined rather quickly so I’m probably a foot or two above the bird despite my prone position. Staying low not only offers a more pleasing perspective when photographing birds, it is less stressful to the animal. You can usually approach closer if you are low or, as in this case, the bird will make a closer approach to you.

Fort Macon State Park is probably best known for its Civil War era earthen mound fort. Used for military purposes not only during the War Between the States but during World War II. The facility also served as a military and civil prison during the late 1800s. The park includes a nice 1.5 mile stretch of undeveloped beach. The beach is popular with fishermen, swimmers and both nature and portrait photographers. It is an excellent location to view a variety of shore birds including gulls, brown pelicans, least sandpipers, sanderlings, and others. The park is home to 302 species of birds. The park’s plant life includes live oak, yaupon, cedar and black locust. While not one of eastern North Carolina’s wildest places, it is certainly a wonderful place to observe nature.

Below are pictured a Great Black-backed Gull and a Sanderling. At about 30″ the Black-backed Gull is the largest of the gulls. The Black-backed Gull winters in the Southeast, spending its summers in the Northeast. A small bird, Sanderlings are frequently seen running along the edges of the Carolina beaches in the winter. These small birds probe the sand with their bills searching for a meal of miniature mullusks, crustateans, worms and insects. Like the Great Black-backed Gull, Sanderlings winter in the Southeast. During the summer months these little birds spend their time on the artic tundra.