This is a Spotted Sandpiper. I spotted this Spotted Sandpiper on a trip to Cowles, New Mexico which is in a mountain valley. The Sandpiper was in the Pecos River at 8,166 feet (2,489 meters). I didn’t know what it was at the time so I emailed an ornithologist who informed me it was a Spotted Sandpiper. I was surprised as I didn’t know at the time, July 6, 2014, that sandpipers were in rivers and streams far away from the ocean. Here’s some information about this bird: “The spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) are a philopatric species meaning they have a tendency to stay in or habitually return to a particular area. Their breeding habitat is near fresh water across most of Canada and the United States. They migrate to the southern United States, the Caribbean, and South America, and are very rare vagrants to western Europe. These are not gregarious birds, and are seldom seen in flocks. Spotted sandpipers are the most widespread species of their kind in North America due to their high breeding rates and their ability to adapt to various environmental pressures… These birds forage on ground or water, picking up food by sight. They may also catch insects in flight. They eat insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates. As they forage, they can be recognized by their constant nodding and teetering.” - Wikipedia #SpottedSandpiper #Sandpiper #Waterfowl #ShoreBird #RiverBird #BirdInMountainRiver #Birds #Birding #BirdingPhotography (at Cowles, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVEnq2Srsps/?utm_medium=tumblr