The Sanderling has got to be one of my favourite birds. They can be found all along the Northumberland Coast. Their behaviour makes them easy to identify (and fun to watch), as they love feeding on the edge of the sea, chasing backwards and forwards when each wave comes in, as if they are frightened to get their feet wet. They are quite small (about 20cm long) and have a pure white underside (the top varies from various shades of brown in the summer to pale grey in the winter).

Another characteristic is that they have no hind toes, so all toes point forward (as in the photo below). These were found on the North of the Island, but could turn up anywhere where there's a sandy beach.