Brydon Sandpiper ID Help Please :)

[Randy]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping for some help with a couple sandpipers that were on Brydon Marsh today. The pictures are terrible due to high zoom and crop. I'm wondering if they could be Western sandpipers? They seemed similar in size to female pectorals or a little smaller than dowitchers and phalaropes. Due to distance it was difficult to judge though:






Otherwise, another fairly productive day with 36 species. The main highlight today was 30+ black swifts soaring overhead in various locations.

Complete list (minus the unID'd piper):

Canada Goose 40
Mallard 30
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1
Killdeer 5
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Black Swift 30
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Western Wood-Pewee 1
Willow Flycatcher 2
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1
Northwestern Crow 8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Violet-green Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 9
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Bewick's Wren 2
Marsh Wren 4
Swainson's Thrush 2
American Robin 3
European Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 3
Common Yellowthroat 5
Spotted Towhee 6
Song Sparrow 6
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 5
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 5
House Finch 10
American Goldfinch 8
House Sparrow 5

[Chris]

Randy, awesome list. Lots of swifts too.

I would lean to Western Sandpiper but I am unsure. It's amazing how fast shorebirds start to migrate south.

[Randy]

I've been thinking more about what these guys could be and thinking that they seemed somewhat larger than western sandpipers. Any thoughts about whether they could be dunlin?

Looking forward to hearing others' opinions.

[Chris]

I believe there is too much white on the breast for Dunlin.

Could be wrong though

[Gord]

Randy, I almost wonder if you have two species there. Looking at the last two photos my first impression was Western Sandpiper on the left and on the right a Least Sandpiper. The breast pattern on the bird on the right sure fits a Least and it seems a bit smaller than its comrade.

The top picture has a Western Sandpiper feel to it. It's hard to say for certain though.

The two most abundant sandpipers at the moment are the peeps (the small fellas including Western, Least, Semipalmated etc). At this time it would likely be Western and Least. It's incredible that the bulk of these birds passed through our area in early May heading north and now are already heading south in early July. Their young will not be far behind as they usually wait a couple-three weeks before following their parents.

[Randy]

Thanks Gord. I wish I had a better picture to post but it seems like everyone agrees that at least one of these is a western sandpiper. It's sad that summer has just started for us and the birds are already leaving!

[kenpossum]

Impressive list Randy Can you tell me where Brydon Marsh is please? Sounds like a bucket list location.

[Randy]

Thanks Ken, I'm glad to give some directions/advice. Hopefully this is useful to others as well. It's taken me a year to figure out a good route.

I've created this map and although it definitely looks amateurish I think it will do the trick:



This area is just off 200th St. on 53rd Ave. Turn west onto 53rd from 200th and the parking lot will be on your left about 2 blocks up. I have circled it in red and coloured it yellow. Ignore the Google Maps 'A' (that's my place).

My usual route is outlined in red and I have added red letters that I will describe here. Starting from the parking lot, the first area you will encounter is the marsh (labelled 'A'). Here you may see a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and Virginia rails are sometimes heard calling and spotted here.

Next I suggest proceeding west along the main path towards the lagoon ('B'). A path goes all the way around. On the lagoon there are a number of waterfowl species in the winter. This is also where the green heron has been spotted. There is a bushtit nest as well about half way down on the southern part of the lagoon on the north side of the path about 7 feet off the ground. Can be quite entertaining to watch. Kingfishers are often fishing on the west end of the lagoon.

I usually then proceed north at the northwest corner of the lagoon and follow along the powerlines and trees. Here there may be some tanagers, grosbeaks, creepers, etc.

Heading back to the main path I proceed west. On your left will be a grove of trees and right will be a substation. You will cross a creek, where I usually turn north towards 'C'. This is a nice path that follows the creek. Here there are often downy woodpeckers, pacific slope flycatchers, both types of chickadees, etc. Once reaching the end I turn south across the main path towards 'D'.

The large tree at the corner of the trees where 'D' is houses the eagles' nest. If you trek through the long grass directly south of 'D' it will take you to a lookout over the Nicomekl River.

Heading back and passing 'E' there are generally lots of marsh wrens and yellowthroats singing. If the water level isn't too high you'll be able to turn south to proceed to 'F', which is a nice bridge crossing the Nicomekl River. The other side has a few treed areas that may have Bewick's wrens, siskins, etc. If you have lots of time you can cross Colebrook road (southeast of my picture) and proceed to High Knoll park, when you may find some warblers up on the hill east of the powerlines.

Once I have adequately checked out this area I head back and usually return along the north side of the lagoon.

I hope this is useful. If you have any other questions please let me know!!

Randy

[kenpossum]

This is fantastic Randy! Thanks so much, and I will put your map and suggestions to very good use. Ken

[Randy]

Glad to hear it Ken. Let me know how it goes!