I was excited and enchanted by seeing and photographing at least two Spotted Sandpiper chicks yesterday morning near a creek up in the Wasatch Mountains. I was excited because this was the first time that I was able to photograph Spotted Sandpipers chicks that were this young and I was enchanted by how they went about navigating their world so well at such a young age.

Spotted Sandpiper chick, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahSpotted Sandpiper chick – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm with 1.4x TC, natural light

When I spotted the first chick it was so small that it might have fooled other people into believing it was simply a clump of cottonwood fluff being blown around on the ground but it didn’t fool me. I knew what it was immediately and as soon as I could I started to photograph the dainty sandpipers. Pointing the chicls out was a challenge.

The chicks ran around in and out of the shadows searching for food at such a quick pace that it was more than a bit challenging to keep my focus on them and because of their speed I took a few images where the tiny chicks were out of focus. I was especially pleased with this photo because it seemed like a beam of sunshine put a spotlight on the itty-bitty Spotted Sandpiper chick.

I thought I saw a third chick behind some vegetation but I can’t be absolutely sure of that because my view of it was brief and obstructed.

There was an adult nearby keeping an eye on the chicks and I can probably safely say that it was a male because it is usually the male Spotted Sandpipers that incubate and raise the young.

I hope these little balls of fluff are able to mature and return to this same area next year where a view of this shorebird species always delights me and causes my heart to beat a little faster.

Life is good.

Mia

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