Sanderling

SANDERLINGS! The audubon’s page describes them as “like a clockwork toy” and watching them in action? I’m inclined to agree! I didn’t get any good shots of them doing their things. The time of day and reflection on the water led to most of my shots towards the shore being rather meh. But to me, I always think of these guys in a big mob (like the second photo), chasing the waves as it retreats and pecking up whatever little critters they can in the damp sand… and then running up the beach away from the waves as they crash! It’s so fun to watch a little horde of them move roughly in sync. In the time before I cared about bird species names, I called these (and most plovers) “scuttlebirds”.

Top tier bird, one of my favorites, and will spend my time at the beach watching them run if I can!
Wikipedia
Audubon