Category: George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Greater Yellowlegs

With all the rain there were not many cars in the lot when I arrived to help out at Reifel this afternoon. It also put a little bit of a damper on birding and photography.

As wandering some of the inside trails was proving uneventful, I did check the outer fields and ponds. Nothing out of the ordinary was noted with just dowitchers and yellowlegs.

The lack of visitors likely contributed to the one highlight of the day. Being fairly quiet a few dowitchers and yellowlegs had made their way right in beside the base of the tower.

Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs

This Greater Yellowlegs was very active catching Stickleback. I have seen them do this before in the ponds at the sanctuary, just never this close.

Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane

On the way out this years surviving Sandhill Crane colt, other than being a little soggy, is doing very well.

Bewick’s + Great Horned

Not having found a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper amongst the Pectoral Sandpipers a few days ago at Boundary Bay, I was looking forward to helping out at Reifel this afternoon as one was spotted there yesterday. So I started my afternoon at the sanctuary by checking the outside ponds. On speaking with other birders who had been checking since the morning, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper had not been relocated and I did not fare any better.

Having struck out there, I started making my way to the east dyke trail where a Great Horned Owl had been sighted earlier.

Bewick's Wren
Bewick’s Wren

Along the way a couple of Bewick’s Wren were flitting back and forth across the trail. One cooperated ever so briefly allowing me to get this photo.

On reaching the northeast corner the Great Horned Owl was roosting in an evergreen adjacent to the trail.

Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl

As they are a favourite of visitors, I had the camera set up allowing them close up views. A second Great Horned Owl flew in while there and landed in a tree along the inside grassy trail. So the owls ended up being the highlight of the day.

Belted Kingfisher

Given the weather there were not many visitors at Reifel this afternoon. It started off with light showers now and again, but progressed to steady rain. This also put a bit of a damper on bird activity. There were some Stilt Sandpiper and a Red-necked Phalarope in the west field.

There were also a couple of Belted Kingfisher active in the sanctuary today. With not much else going on I started watching them to determine which snags they seemed to favour. Once deciding on one along the centre dyke, I found a spot on the opposite side of the slough with some trees for cover. Then it was just a matter of waiting and hoping for the best.

Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher

My patience was rewarded when one of the Belted Kingfisher flew in landing on the branch I had set up on. A little bright spot on this rainy day.