h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just kidding!

There's probably a clam or whatever under the sand.

This is what you usually see if you go looking for shore birds. A grey shape probing the sand, too far away to be identified.

Do many people go looking for shore birds? I see all the seagulls I want to see in the parking lot of a nearby supermarket.

They are often accompanied by Canada Geese, which frequent the shores of local rivers and ponds.

I like this photo. It creates a mood. It also reminds me that I miss the shore.

It wouldn't matter if we went looking for seagulls here, Paul. None to be had. We are far inland, and have rivers, lakes, and ponds. I did see some geese yesterday, though.

Paul, being an archipelago, the UK has lots of coastline and we have a whole range of shore birds.

The oystercatcher is easy to recognise, as it is quite large and black and white. Some of the others are smaller and mainly brown, so recognising them at a distance in poor weather is a challenge.

Imnteresting name.

Yes, we're very lucky to have a coastline that provides habitat for a wide range of birds

This is a Black Tailed Godwit A87933810 but the image is more about the mood indeed

I like how the beak is perfectly reflected in the water, and I like the sparkles round the godwit's legs, and I like the impressionistic soft-focus

England has a lot coastline, as does Massachusetts. Many statesi n the interior of the U.S. have none, though you might count the shores of Great Salt Lake as coastline. Or not.