Birding in British Columbia – Page 101 – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Semipalmated Plovers

Despite the lack of activity of late, I was back out at Boundary Bay a couple of hours before the high tide. The shoreline and tidal pools were quiet once again, but realizing this might be the case, there was a “Plan B”. This involved scanning some of the dryer areas further out for a shore bird that prefers these conditions, the Semipalmated Plover. It was not long before I located a small flock about 200m out from the pilings. As they were the only game in town, so to speak, I took my time approaching. The final 20m of the approach was down on my knees slowly moving the camera on the tripod in front of me. It took a little time, but was worth it as I managed to get fairly close without spooking the birds.

After all that the first photo was not of a plover, but a Western Sandpiper with them.

Then the Semipalmated Plovers started to work their way in front of me.

I tried to position myself in the middle of the group,

… hoping to improve my chances of getting multiple birds going by.

Once in this close,

… you want to keep your movement to a minimum.

At times they would move away, but then come back towards me again.

Then the Western Sandpiper trekked by once more.

Both the Semipalmated Plover and Western Sandpiper are fairly small,

… so being able to get this close certainly helps to get better photos. It was just shy of an hour I spent with these birds. I think that qualifies “Plan B” as a success.

Baird’s & Least Sandpipers

Well, so much for my wishful thinking from yesterday. While the higher tides replenished the tidal pools providing some variety to the habitat, the bay area was still conspicuously quiet on the shore bird front again this afternoon.

Thank goodness for a small group of Baird’s Sandpipers,

… or I might have been skunked on today’s walk.

There were only three of them,

… and the odd man out was this Least Sandpiper tagging along with them.

They flew in together to the area of the pilings.

The Baird’s Sandpipers allowed me to get quite close while they foraged.

Baird's Sandpiper & Least Sandpiper — Baird’s Sandpiper & Least Sandpiper

Then as the tide came in the group got back together on this piece of wood.

While they were trying to avoid the rising water levels, it did provide a couple of shots showing the difference in size between the larger Baird’s Sandpiper and our smallest peep the Least Sandpiper.

Pipit & Heron

This afternoons visit to Boundary Bay for the rising tide was similar to my last. Very minimal shore bird activity or presence at all. Unusual for this area (between 104 St. and the mansion) given the time of year. But not all was lost,

… this American Pipit stayed in one spot for a time allowing me to get quite close. A little out of the ordinary for these birds, usually they are constantly on the move.

Also relaxed and unconcerned with my presence was this Great Blue Heron doing a little stretching. Some of the shore birds I did see were Baird’s, Pectoral and Least Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plovers.

A number of the tidal pools have dried up as the tide has not been that high of late. Tonight it came up to the dyke. Hopefully this will restore some of these tidal pools making the area more attractive to some of the shore birds.