Post by Gord on Aug 21, 2023 17:51:19 GMT -8
The boys and I headed out this morning for a bit of Boundary Bay and surrounds birding. We made it to the 104th parking lot with limited traffic hassle and to less smoke than what we left at home. It's always a bit of an adjustment going from Fraser Valley birds mode but it's a nice change. The tide was coming in but it didn't seem to be a too high of one. We headed west as we usually like to do.
We kept an eye on both sides of the dyke as there was lots of action in the hedgerow as well including Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers and a bit of a surprise Virginia Rail that called out several times.
Some nice ones to find out on the flats was a lone Red Knot with the Black-bellied Plovers. Later, we spotted a Red-necked Phalarope that feed in a similar frantic manner to when they're swimming and spinning. Three Black Turnstone were lifers for Benny. Not long after that we spotted 10 somethings coming in on the wing at a distance. We thought Whimbrel at first based on size and flight pattern. We lost sight of them, then found them on the flats with the plovers. Marbled Godwits! We had barely taken them in when we heard a call behind us. I couldn't place it but it felt familiar somehow. We heard it a few times but couldn't see what it was. Finally we spotted it flying past and dots were connected; Upland Sandpiper! It went down quickly and landed near a field of sunflowers. We went to catch up lamenting it might be tough to find in the grass. But there it was coming down the edge of the tractor trail. Jamie saw it in the scope briefly but it disappeared before Benny could see it. These are tough to see and it must have really moved eastwards from where we saw it as luckily we heard it call when it flew up closer to the pilings. It landed at the edge of the dyke for a few minutes but it was not happy in that habitat. It flew back into the field across from the pilings and we lost it there. We remembered the godwits and they seemed to have flown or at least out of scope range when we checked for them. A very birdy walk.
Black Turnstones are quite striking in flight
_0230443 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Young Brown-headed Cowbird
_0230450 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
My best shots of the Upland Sandpiper
_0230501 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0230508 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0230512 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We decided to check out Tsawwassen ferry jetty next. I think we saw as many Ring-billed Gulls as we might in a year in the Fraser Valley.
Amazing how different things can be just a couple hours away. To find one in the Fraser Valley, Harrison Lake is the best best. Later in the fall and spring migration we'll get a few more in the fields WHEN it rains and gets them wter.
_0230517 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Surf Scoter were in decent numbers and also a couple Horned Grebes were here too. Black Oystercatchers are always a treat. We saw over 20. Jamie spotted a Whimbrel as well.
_0230523 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A peaceful scene of a young oystercatcher sleeping
_0230543 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We had a bit of time left and figured to finish our day at Brunswick Point. It's been ages since I was there last. A little quieter here but a nice walk all the same. A couple families of Bushtits were fun to watch. There were a few Marsh Wrens which is something we've not been seeing much of out in the Fraser Valley. Among the swallows were a couple Bank Swallows. We saw one at Boundary Bay as well which Benny spotted first. Nice to have young eyes.
Upstream was a Mute Swan
Female Bushtits with their yellow eyes
_0230552 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0230613 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
One of the Bank Swallows
_0230606 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A nice day indeed!
We kept an eye on both sides of the dyke as there was lots of action in the hedgerow as well including Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers and a bit of a surprise Virginia Rail that called out several times.
Some nice ones to find out on the flats was a lone Red Knot with the Black-bellied Plovers. Later, we spotted a Red-necked Phalarope that feed in a similar frantic manner to when they're swimming and spinning. Three Black Turnstone were lifers for Benny. Not long after that we spotted 10 somethings coming in on the wing at a distance. We thought Whimbrel at first based on size and flight pattern. We lost sight of them, then found them on the flats with the plovers. Marbled Godwits! We had barely taken them in when we heard a call behind us. I couldn't place it but it felt familiar somehow. We heard it a few times but couldn't see what it was. Finally we spotted it flying past and dots were connected; Upland Sandpiper! It went down quickly and landed near a field of sunflowers. We went to catch up lamenting it might be tough to find in the grass. But there it was coming down the edge of the tractor trail. Jamie saw it in the scope briefly but it disappeared before Benny could see it. These are tough to see and it must have really moved eastwards from where we saw it as luckily we heard it call when it flew up closer to the pilings. It landed at the edge of the dyke for a few minutes but it was not happy in that habitat. It flew back into the field across from the pilings and we lost it there. We remembered the godwits and they seemed to have flown or at least out of scope range when we checked for them. A very birdy walk.
Black Turnstones are quite striking in flight
_0230443 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrYoung Brown-headed Cowbird
_0230450 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrMy best shots of the Upland Sandpiper
_0230501 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0230508 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0230512 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe decided to check out Tsawwassen ferry jetty next. I think we saw as many Ring-billed Gulls as we might in a year in the Fraser Valley.
Amazing how different things can be just a couple hours away. To find one in the Fraser Valley, Harrison Lake is the best best. Later in the fall and spring migration we'll get a few more in the fields WHEN it rains and gets them wter._0230517 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrSurf Scoter were in decent numbers and also a couple Horned Grebes were here too. Black Oystercatchers are always a treat. We saw over 20. Jamie spotted a Whimbrel as well.
_0230523 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA peaceful scene of a young oystercatcher sleeping
_0230543 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe had a bit of time left and figured to finish our day at Brunswick Point. It's been ages since I was there last. A little quieter here but a nice walk all the same. A couple families of Bushtits were fun to watch. There were a few Marsh Wrens which is something we've not been seeing much of out in the Fraser Valley. Among the swallows were a couple Bank Swallows. We saw one at Boundary Bay as well which Benny spotted first. Nice to have young eyes.
Upstream was a Mute SwanFemale Bushtits with their yellow eyes
_0230552 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0230613 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrOne of the Bank Swallows
_0230606 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA nice day indeed!