Boundary Bay – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Boundary Bay Variety

This afternoons walk was to Boundary Bay. The photo opportunities started before I even parked at the foot of 72 St.

A Rough-legged Hawk was in a tree next to the road. This shot was taken out of the car window. After parking I noted it was still there and started walking back that way, but it moved off before I got there.

There were lots of sparrows around at the foot of 72 St. when I started my walk, but nothing out of the ordinary.

There were even a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets among them.

As I continued east along the dyke I came across a large group of White-crowned Sparrows.

While several of them provided great photo opportunities,

… I did not locate any American Tree Sparrows which I was hoping to see.

As one would expect at this time of the year in the bay area, there was no shortage of Bald Eagles.

There were also a few Short-eared Owls active over the marsh.

The owls seemed to be the only thing any of the other photographers out there were interested in. Makes me wonder at times if they aware of the variety of birds that can be seen in this area.

Peregrine Falcon

With Sharp-tailed Sandpiper showing up the plan was to get out for a walk to Boundary Bay. I was encouraged by seeing a couple had been sighted in that area today.

As I headed west from 104 St. the tidal pools were quiet with no shorebirds in sight. Then one possible reason became apparent.

This Peregrine Falcon was roosting on a large log washed up along the high water mark. It was surprisingly cooperative for photos and seemed more interested scanning its surrounding than in me. It eventually spotted something and flew off east low along the dyke.

As for shorebirds closer in along the mudflats,

… I only managed to come up with a small group of Dowitchers by the outflow pipe at 88 St.

On the way back I tagged along with the plovers as the tide started to come in, but did not get any real photo opportunities. As for Sharp-tailed, the hunt continues.

Semi, Least, Baird’s + Pecs

The sun was shining and I headed out to Boundary Bay a couple of hours before the high tide. While heading west from 104 St. I walked right up on a small group of peeps.

There was one Semipalmated Sandpiper,

… with a few Least Sandpiper.

While the Semipalmated Sandpiper took time out to rest,

… the Least Sandpiper kept busy.

On reaching the area of the pilings,

… there were some Baird’s Sandpiper,

… along with Pectoral Sandpiper.

Initially the Baird’s Sandpiper were out further in the tidal pools.

The Pectoral Sandpiper were sticking to high water mark foraging for food,

… and also taking time out to rest. With the higher number of Pectoral Sandpipers around I checked them all for a possible Sharp-tailed, but could not find one. A pleasant variety of species cooperating for photos this afternoon.