Purple sandpipers on the river Tyne

These purple sandpipers have learned that they can continue feeding when it's high tide on the river Tyne by probing for gammarid shrimps and other small marine invertebrates that lurk in the crevices in the sea wall, beside the coastal path between Tynemouth and North Shields. They seem to have become accustomed to passers-by, so you can watch them at close quarters by just leaning over the railings.