Yes getting close to a gull at the beach is SOMETIMES easy, but so is a shorebird if you do it correctly.

FOCAL LENGTH is the hardest part of shorebirds at the beach.

study their movements and lay down ahead of them with the angle you desire ;)

a shorebird will dart and dash from the waves, but on a slack or outgoing tide their are not too many waves ;)

low tide is ALWAYS the best though and they are FEEDING LIKE CRAZY!