Post by Chris on Aug 8, 2011 20:24:33 GMT -8
I had planned to go to Boundary Bay today a few days ago. I had never been there during a ‘high’ high tide. I hope to get there a few more times to work on my shorebird skills.
I made a slight detour to Reifel. I like seeing the shorebirds up close to see the difference between them. On my way in I spotted this eagle. I think I caught him in mid blink
Just in from the entrance at Reifel a Black-crowned Night Heron sat in the trees
Dowitcher sleeping in one of the ponds.
On the outer ponds I bumped into Russ Cannings. He told me that there was a possible Wood Sandpiper sighting (with photo) about a week ago at Reifel. No Wood Sandpiper today but plenty of Yellowlegs, Western and Least Sandpipers. The odd Semipalmated Sandpiper was present.
After Reifel I met up with Dave Beeke and his two brothers at Boundary Bay. There had been a Bar-tailed Godwit present that all three of them were keen on seeing. I was hoping for the Godwit and a Red Knot. The tide was coming in and Dave’s brothers were scanning the area west of 96th street and Dave and I scanned around 104th street.
We bumped into Rob Lyske, a Vancouver birder. We scanned the plover flocks. There were probably around 1500-2000 Black-bellied Plovers. Lots of peeps as well. A few Sanderlings and the odd Ruddy Turnstone were also present.
Small sample of the number of Plovers
Just after my attempt at making a Red Knot joke, “I still have not seen a Knot.” Rob picks one out in the scope. New species for me. No Godwit at this point so Dave and I start walking east from 104 and we bumped into Brian Self. First thing we tells us, is he has the Godwit in his scope! We both thought he was joking, but sure enough, he had it in his scope. Another new species for me.
Horrible picture of it. It’s the one in the middle just in front of the plover that it has its black belly
We all thought it would be easy to spot and stand out in the plover flocks but that was not the case.
A few Baird’s Sandpipers landed relatively close to us
We finished off the day by going west of 96th street (the mansion). The tide was going out but there were three Red-necked Phalaropes, more Ruddy Turnstones, peeps and Black-bellied Plovers.
It’s a great experience to look for shorebirds on Boundary Bay. Great day with plenty of shorebirds to look at.
I made a slight detour to Reifel. I like seeing the shorebirds up close to see the difference between them. On my way in I spotted this eagle. I think I caught him in mid blink
Just in from the entrance at Reifel a Black-crowned Night Heron sat in the trees
Dowitcher sleeping in one of the ponds.
On the outer ponds I bumped into Russ Cannings. He told me that there was a possible Wood Sandpiper sighting (with photo) about a week ago at Reifel. No Wood Sandpiper today but plenty of Yellowlegs, Western and Least Sandpipers. The odd Semipalmated Sandpiper was present.
After Reifel I met up with Dave Beeke and his two brothers at Boundary Bay. There had been a Bar-tailed Godwit present that all three of them were keen on seeing. I was hoping for the Godwit and a Red Knot. The tide was coming in and Dave’s brothers were scanning the area west of 96th street and Dave and I scanned around 104th street.
We bumped into Rob Lyske, a Vancouver birder. We scanned the plover flocks. There were probably around 1500-2000 Black-bellied Plovers. Lots of peeps as well. A few Sanderlings and the odd Ruddy Turnstone were also present.
Small sample of the number of Plovers
Just after my attempt at making a Red Knot joke, “I still have not seen a Knot.” Rob picks one out in the scope. New species for me. No Godwit at this point so Dave and I start walking east from 104 and we bumped into Brian Self. First thing we tells us, is he has the Godwit in his scope! We both thought he was joking, but sure enough, he had it in his scope. Another new species for me.
Horrible picture of it. It’s the one in the middle just in front of the plover that it has its black belly
We all thought it would be easy to spot and stand out in the plover flocks but that was not the case.
A few Baird’s Sandpipers landed relatively close to us
We finished off the day by going west of 96th street (the mansion). The tide was going out but there were three Red-necked Phalaropes, more Ruddy Turnstones, peeps and Black-bellied Plovers.
It’s a great experience to look for shorebirds on Boundary Bay. Great day with plenty of shorebirds to look at.
