Post by Chris on Jul 16, 2012 21:41:12 GMT -8
I haven't been west of our region since January 1st. I thought it would be a great opportunity to check out the shorebird migration. First stop was Blackie Spit. The tide was really out. Curlew, 1 Greater Yellowlegs and four Killdeer were the only shorebirds I saw due to the tide.
Long-billed Curlew
The highlight at Blackie Spit were Purple Martins. I haven't got great looks at them in the past but they were cooperative today.
Martin boxes
I tried to get a few flight shots but the lighting wasn't great.
A few landed in a tree close by and I walked to the side that had better lighting.
They were grabbing things off of the tree. This one grabbed a leaf.
and took off
Headed over to the ferry terminal. I was hoping for Black Turnstones but didn't luck out. Lots of herons, a few Pelagic Cormorants, Caspian Terns flew overhead.
Spotted five Whimbrel. One is hiding to the right of the second one from the left.
Headed over to Reifel. Not many songbirds but lots of shorebirds.
But first, the mother Mallard had four young babies with her. Quite young for this time of year.
Back to shorebirds. Lots of Western Sandpipers. I would say close to 300 feeding on the outer ponds. Good number of Greater Yellowlegs as well. Did manage to spot at least one Lesser Yellowlegs.
Among the Long-billed Dowitchers was a Wilson's Phalarope.
Was going to end my day walking the Boundary Bay Dyke. However, the tide was still quite a ways out, I got a pretty bad sun burn, and waiting over at least an hour would make it worse, so I headed home.
Long-billed Curlew
The highlight at Blackie Spit were Purple Martins. I haven't got great looks at them in the past but they were cooperative today.
Martin boxes
I tried to get a few flight shots but the lighting wasn't great.
A few landed in a tree close by and I walked to the side that had better lighting.
They were grabbing things off of the tree. This one grabbed a leaf.
and took off
Headed over to the ferry terminal. I was hoping for Black Turnstones but didn't luck out. Lots of herons, a few Pelagic Cormorants, Caspian Terns flew overhead.
Spotted five Whimbrel. One is hiding to the right of the second one from the left.
Headed over to Reifel. Not many songbirds but lots of shorebirds.
But first, the mother Mallard had four young babies with her. Quite young for this time of year.
Back to shorebirds. Lots of Western Sandpipers. I would say close to 300 feeding on the outer ponds. Good number of Greater Yellowlegs as well. Did manage to spot at least one Lesser Yellowlegs.
Among the Long-billed Dowitchers was a Wilson's Phalarope.
Was going to end my day walking the Boundary Bay Dyke. However, the tide was still quite a ways out, I got a pretty bad sun burn, and waiting over at least an hour would make it worse, so I headed home.
