Spotted Sandpiper adult foraging on a dry creek bed – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While up in the Wasatch Mountains yesterday I photographed two adult Spotted Sandpipers. The Spotted Sandpipers were foraging on the dry creek bed that has been exposed due to the lack of water. Over the past couple of years the water level has dropped so much that tall grasses now cover the creek bed that used to be under water.
While photographing a Belted Kingfisher perched high on a dead willow across the creek I caught the flash of something dark move from the grasses on the close side of the creek towards one of the foraging adult Spotted Sandpipers in front of me. I realized in a split second that the dark form was an American Mink.
The cover provided by the thick, tall grasses must have hidden the presence of the mink from the sandpiper because in the next second the mink attacked it. The Spotted Sandpiper let out a call I’d never heard before and then went silent. It was about that time that I pointed the mink out to my companion. After the attack, which they did not see, they asked me what had happened.
I watched as the mink dashed across the shallow creek with the sandpiper in its jaws and climbed over a log. The Spotted Sandpiper became the prey of the American Mink, which I don’t think of it a drama, is what I think of it as life.
I don’t know if the Spotted Sandpiper in the photo above is the one that was killed by the mink. The other sandpiper disappeared after the attack.
A little while later I saw two American Minks weaving their way through the tall grasses on the other side of the creek and moments later a third dropped into the creek for a second before it climbed out of the water and disappeared into the tall grasses. I was able to photograph that mink but my exposure was off.
Just last week I saw Spotted Sandpipers mating in this same area and when I shared a photo of the female walking with one wing held high I mentioned that I would be looking for sandpiper chicks in 19 to 22 days. After seeing what I saw yesterday I have to wonder if there will be any Spotted Sandpiper chicks on that section of the creek at all this season.
Life is temporary, fleeting, and above all, good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Spotted Sandpiper photos plus facts and information about this species.
I am using your photos to teach my grandkids. My grandson was able to identify the bald eagle (about 3yrs old) The bald eagle age progression was so useful and held his attention. He is now looking forward to school in the fall to see any changes. Thank you.
The circle of life…vividly captured in your narrative. Thanks Mia.
Remarkable sighting and engaging narrative. Too bad you missed getting crisp images of the mink.
How wonderful to see minks. Living minks. When I see fur jackets (any fur jacket) I often think of the phrase ‘the first owner of this jacket died in it’. I am glad for you and the mink, and sad for the Spotted Sandpiper.
Agree with Gibbs…. and with your sign-off. Life IS good.
That’s a very powerful story, well told.
It is life in the wild. I hope the kingfisher nest will be safe if in the nearby banks.