This painting was commissioned, and coincidentally it came up the day before leaving on a photography trip to the gulf coast of Texas.  The timing was perfect, so I added sanderlings to the photo list and was fortunate enough to come across one small group on the second day of the trip.  They were entertaining as usual, and I thoroughly enjoyed following them down the beach as they dodged the incoming waves and chased after receding waters to capture the food left behind.  They eventually stopped to rest and preen themselves, but before long they were on their way again, down the shoreline and on to their future.