Spotted Sandpiper at water's edge, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahSpotted Sandpiper at water’s edge – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

After the sun finally broke through the clouds up in the Wasatch Mountains yesterday morning I was happy to have a Spotted Sandpiper in my viewfinder again. I hear these sandpipers quite often while wandering around looking for birds but actually getting nice views of them that are close enough to photograph happens less frequently than I would like so when one flies in and lands at the water’s edge I’ll take the shots.

I really wish the Spotted Sandpiper had spent more time looking towards me as it wandered along the shoreline of the creek and that this frame didn’t have the bright specular highlights on the twig behind the sandpiper’s head but I am glad the sandpiper flew in and landed where I could photograph it.

The Spotted Sandpiper called frequently in the few seconds I had it in my view, called even more rapidly when it took flight, circled around and landed a little further away the second time which made me wonder if it had young in the area but if it did I didn’t see them.

I only had this Spotted Sandpiper in my view for about 24 seconds and I’d say more than half of that was spent flying around so I am glad that I was able to take this photo at all.

I photographed House Wrens yesterday too but I took so many photos of one near or on a Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s favorite perch that haven’t had time to process them yet.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Spotted Sandpiper photos plus facts and information about this species.