Post by Gord on Aug 25, 2008 22:14:04 GMT -8
I got another chance to complete a trip to the coast.
Beginning at 104th Street, I planned to walk west to see what I could see on the rising tide. The weather was pretty good with some clouds. A preliminary scoping of the mudflats showed good numbers of shorebirds. I could see already that there were many more small sandpipers and larger plovers than last time as well.
Western Sandpipers were the dominant species. I really enjoyed watching them and taking photos. I just found a nice spot and sat still and let them come to me.
Time for a scratch!
Rest time.
The flocks went back and forth all morning. An amazing sight.
There were a lot more Least Sandpipers as well today 'sneaking along' in their hunched posture.
Semipalmated Plovers were not numerous like when I was there on the 6th, but they made up for it by coming by for some photo opportunity.
Also, there were plenty of Ring-billed Gulls around including this young one having a nap.
I was able to see a flock of four Red-necked Phalaropes fly by and briefly land. Couldnt get a picture but got the best views Ive had of this species for a long time. Further out, I saw a large shorebird that turned out to be a Marbled Godwit feeding among the Great Blue Herons. This guy was there for quite a while but too far away for a photo and I had forgotten my digiscoping gear. Also I finally found a Semipalmated Sandpiper. They were not easy to come by today.
Lot long after seeing the godwit I heard a different sound that had a Black Turnstone ring to it. I was not far off as I discovered a Ruddy Turnstone land among a pile of seaweed. A lifer species for me!!! ;D ;D ;D
I found this species to be delightful to observe. To feed, it would approach the seaweed pile and ram into it to uncover what is hiding underneath. It would perform this with appealing gusto and then pick up the exposed insects. I spent a good 10 minutes enjoying this guy. I would run into three others by the end of the morning.
Ramming (turning?) the seaweed. Maybe Ruddy Turnweedpile would be a better name? ;D ;D
A big flock of Black-bellied Plovers were resting. Among them were good numbers of Sanderling, a couple dowitchers and an early Dunlin. You can see his black belly of his breeding plumage. The light coloured ones are the Sanderling.
The dowitcher among the plovers
This Black-bellied Plover has most of his breeding colours still. Beautiful bird.
After enjoying this flock I ran into Ilya, a local birder who was out for the morning as well. Good to meet you finally Ilya! I asked Ilya about Baird's Sandpiper. He had seen some just past the pilings on his way down. I wasnt going to go much further as I wanted to go to a couple other areas before I had to head back home. I was lucky as not much further I ran into one.
I made it back to my car with not much else to report. A Cooper's Hawk was at the parking lot. The crows were after it in lively fashion. Once, the hawk almost turned the tables as it made a surprise grab at one. This only proved to excite/enrage the crows further and consequently the hawk left the area for some peace and quiet.
I think Ill share the last part of my outing in another message and when I get more time. I think I might have uploaded too many photos here anyway.
Beginning at 104th Street, I planned to walk west to see what I could see on the rising tide. The weather was pretty good with some clouds. A preliminary scoping of the mudflats showed good numbers of shorebirds. I could see already that there were many more small sandpipers and larger plovers than last time as well.
Western Sandpipers were the dominant species. I really enjoyed watching them and taking photos. I just found a nice spot and sat still and let them come to me.
Time for a scratch!
Rest time.
The flocks went back and forth all morning. An amazing sight.
There were a lot more Least Sandpipers as well today 'sneaking along' in their hunched posture.
Semipalmated Plovers were not numerous like when I was there on the 6th, but they made up for it by coming by for some photo opportunity.
Also, there were plenty of Ring-billed Gulls around including this young one having a nap.
I was able to see a flock of four Red-necked Phalaropes fly by and briefly land. Couldnt get a picture but got the best views Ive had of this species for a long time. Further out, I saw a large shorebird that turned out to be a Marbled Godwit feeding among the Great Blue Herons. This guy was there for quite a while but too far away for a photo and I had forgotten my digiscoping gear. Also I finally found a Semipalmated Sandpiper. They were not easy to come by today.
Lot long after seeing the godwit I heard a different sound that had a Black Turnstone ring to it. I was not far off as I discovered a Ruddy Turnstone land among a pile of seaweed. A lifer species for me!!! ;D ;D ;D
I found this species to be delightful to observe. To feed, it would approach the seaweed pile and ram into it to uncover what is hiding underneath. It would perform this with appealing gusto and then pick up the exposed insects. I spent a good 10 minutes enjoying this guy. I would run into three others by the end of the morning.
Ramming (turning?) the seaweed. Maybe Ruddy Turnweedpile would be a better name? ;D ;D
A big flock of Black-bellied Plovers were resting. Among them were good numbers of Sanderling, a couple dowitchers and an early Dunlin. You can see his black belly of his breeding plumage. The light coloured ones are the Sanderling.
The dowitcher among the plovers
This Black-bellied Plover has most of his breeding colours still. Beautiful bird.
After enjoying this flock I ran into Ilya, a local birder who was out for the morning as well. Good to meet you finally Ilya! I asked Ilya about Baird's Sandpiper. He had seen some just past the pilings on his way down. I wasnt going to go much further as I wanted to go to a couple other areas before I had to head back home. I was lucky as not much further I ran into one.
I made it back to my car with not much else to report. A Cooper's Hawk was at the parking lot. The crows were after it in lively fashion. Once, the hawk almost turned the tables as it made a surprise grab at one. This only proved to excite/enrage the crows further and consequently the hawk left the area for some peace and quiet.
I think Ill share the last part of my outing in another message and when I get more time. I think I might have uploaded too many photos here anyway.