Pectoral Sandpipers May 18 Chilliwack

[Gord]

This evening we were coming home from shopping and we drove past the little ponds along Hopedale Road. The one close to the road had a flock of 19 Pectoral Sandpipers! By far the most we've ever had recorded here. Mind you, we only have a half-dozen records for the species. It was interesting to see the size difference. Male Pectoral Sandpipers are quite a bit larger than females.

[Randy]

Great pics Gord! I believe I had some here at Brydon yesterday as well. They were on the other side of the marsh so my pictures are VERY grainy and poor. Can someone confirm that these are pectorals? My shorebird IDing still needs some work



Thanks in advance for the help!!

Randy

[oldfulica]

That very distinct line across the breast is a good field mark for Pecs Randy. The bird in the foreground is a Dowitcher. That pond is a good producing area for you.

[dpeppar]

No pipers at the Hopedale pond this morning....DaveP

[kestrel]

Great shots and find.

[Chris]

Gord nice sighting for the Valley, especially this time of year. Seems to be more seen in the fall. There seemed to be a fallout of this species across BC. With the weather not favouring fallouts, I wonder why there would be a fallout of a certain species across the province.

[Gord]

Dave, too bad! On the way to the morning dance lessons there were six of them running about. Around mid-afternoon there were about the same. They do get in the grass at times. This evening I counted 27 of them!!! Good viewing from the road but there's no where to pull off so have to keep an eye on the traffic. Happily it's a quiet road.

Randy, another way to think of Pectoral Sandpiper is that they look like a giant Least Sandpiper.

Back to this evening, they were quite active chasing each other about and twittering away. The pond is quite small but they seem to be catching and eating things. Pictures below.

Breast pattern as Len pointed out



Quite long necks!





My favourite.



On my travels today I detoured through East Chilliwack and I checked two other ponds. Both also had Pectoral Sandpiper in them (seven and six birds respectively). I can say every pond I checked had them as with the dry weather of late, there is not a lot of ponds left in the fields. Like Chris mentioned, it's not really the kind of weather that one associates with stopping migrating birds. These birds are on their way well north of us for breeding.

[Mary]

Hi Gord, can I ask where you saw them in East Chilliwack? I would love to get out and see them.

[Randy]

Thanks Gord for the tutorial. Now that I've ID'd them, it seems really obvious! Rocky and I went to Iona yesterday and saw lots and they seemed pretty distinctive! (More about our outing later).

Thanks again!

Randy

[dpeppar]

3rd time was the charm....this morning 20th at 8am.



BC bird #255

DaveP

[Wetlander]

Marion & I were in Chwk this morning, so we went out to the puddle on Hopedale Rd. Counted 8 at about 9:30am. Lifer for Marion!

[Gord]

Dave, glad they were there for you. Congrats to Marion!

Mary, the ones in East Chilliwack were at the corner of Upper Prairie and Chilliwack Central Roads in the flooded corn stubble and the other from the Annis Road onramp to the highway (westbound) in the little puddle there.

[Gord]

Randy, missed your comment. You're most welcome. Once you get to know them, they come pretty good which certainly helps with other similar species.