Pectoral Sandpiper at 8,000 feet

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Yesterday I took advantage of outstanding warms temps (up to mid 80's in Canon City and lower Arkansas River area) to go up to the Wet Mountain Valley. At 8,000 feet in elevation, the temps were in the low 70's in the afternoon. I saw this Pectoral Sandpiper in Lake DeWeese, an irrigation rservoir near Westcliffe.

I found this Pectoral Sandpiper feeding in water that at times was up to it's belly. Though this species is noted to feed in dense vegetation, there is none near the water. This bird was wise to feed away from the shore since several ATV's drove, illegally, along the shoreline twice while I was there though I don't know if this was the reason this sandpiper was in such relatively deep water. Note the reddish base to the bird's bill which is clearly shown in the top pic (for a closer view just double-click on the pic). Most websites and field guides note a yellowish, greenish or brownish base to the bill. I did one website, GreenNature.com, noted a reddish or even orangeish base. SeEttaPhoto above is of one of the mountains in the Sangre de Christo range that flanks the Wet Mountain Valley on it's west side.

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