Phalaropes are shorebirds that have adapted to swimming. They have lobes on their toes, similar to grebes. Although often reported to spin in spirals, most of the ones I see don't spin. Instead they seem to rotate back and forth. Evidently this action creates small eddies which bring zooplankton to the surface.
This is a juvenile acquiring some first-basic (plain gray) plumage. Unlike the similar Red Phalarope, the Red-necked molts during migration. Phalaropes are famous for sex role reversal. Females have a brighter breeding plumage than males and are often polyandrous. The males incubate and care for the young.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter)