George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary – Page 71

Duck, Gull, Sandpipers & Plovers

Not having been there in several days I headed out to Reifel this afternoon. It was fairly quiet for a Sunday as far as people go. It was also relatively quiet on the birding front as well. New arrivals are still showing up,

… but the Gadwall due tend to be a little later with their broods.

On the shore bird front there were a number of Yellowlegs present.

Today most of those present,

… were Lesser Yellowlegs.

One bird I would not expect to find on the inner ponds,

… was this Bonaparte’s Gull.

Around here you would normally find them in open water and along the shore line.

There were four Red-necked Phalaropes,

… but they were not coming very close to the dyke.

After Reifel I headed down to Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen for the high tide. A Pacific Golden Plover had been seen there earlier in the week.

It had been seen frequenting the area with some Semipalmated Plovers,

… and Killdeer. While I managed some shots of the Semipalmated Plovers and Killdeer, there was no sign of the Golden Plover.

Heron, Woodpecker & Hornets

Managed a couple of walks today, but not much to show for it. This morning started off with a Great Blue Heron.

It was roosting in a conifer with its feathers all ruffled up.

This juvenile Downy Woodpecker was the only other photo from the morning. On the shore bird front I did see some Western & Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin, Killdeer, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs and Dowitchers. None, however, were in decent locations for pictures.

Being such a nice day, I headed out again for a short walk early this evening. Still looking for song birds with the late day sun, it was pretty quiet again with no takers wanting to pose for the camera.

This White-faced Hornet nest was the only photo from this evening.

Grebe, Gulls & Tern

This mornings walk was at Reifel. A Sora had been seen there yesterday, but no luck locating it today. It was quiet on the shore bird front, but of note was one Wilson’s Phalarope. Apparently it had been in close by the tower, but when I located it, it was too far off for photos. One other interesting find that was a little more cooperative,

… was this Pied-billed Grebe juvenile.

Unfortunately when I managed to capture it with a fish it was in a lousy spot for light.

Later this afternoon I went out to Boundary Bay for the high tide. Not much luck there either with not much being brought in close enough by the rising tide. But there were some gulls that provided convenient fly-bys.

This California Gull,

… and a Ring-billed Gull.

And a nice finish to the afternoon was this Caspian Tern.