Birding in British Columbia – Page 134 – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Long-tailed & Kinglet

After getting the car serviced this morning, I headed out to Reifel this afternoon. Birds of note from speaking to fellow birders on my arrival were a Shrike, Redhead and Long-tailed Ducks. As the Shrike was in the outside marshes, I decided to try the ponds for the ducks.

I found the female Long-tailed Duck in one of the main inside ponds.

This diving duck is usually seen in the ocean,

… but will occasionally show up on the inside ponds at the sanctuary.

Not having any luck locating the Redhead, I shifted to the trails. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I did start following a group of Kinglets mixed in with some Chickadees. They were busy foraging for insects in the conifers. The challenge trying to photograph Kinglets is their tiny size and the fact they are constantly on the move amongst the branches. Every once in a while though,

… you luck out and get one that pauses ever so briefly out in the open.

Dunlin & Plovers

For Steve:

My brother-in-law spent the last two and a half months with my wife & I while fighting cancer. His last wish was to spend what time he had left with family and friends. He passed away peacefully with us at his side last Saturday afternoon.

On my first walk since his passing, I headed out to Boundary Bay.

There were lots of Dunlin around this afternoon.

They were spread out along the beach as far as I could see.

While some groups were skittish,

… these birds were a little more at ease allowing me to get fairly close.

Mixed in with the Dunlin were numerous Black-bellied Plovers.

Some cooperative shore birds and a much needed relaxing walk along the beach.

Finally A Sharp-tailed Day

Circumstances are still such that time out in the field is really limited these days. On seeing continued reports of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in Boundary Bay, I knew I would have to take advantage of any small opportunities to get out. One such chance was on Friday, but no Sharp-tailed was to be found.

Another small window opened this afternoon and I was back out to Boundary Bay checking the beach west of 104 St. I spoke to a fellow birder who mentioned that one had been seen this morning in the company of a Pectoral Sandpiper. A glimmer of hope that started to fade after three passes along the beach and only locating two Pectorals.

I was heading back to the car on my fourth and final trip along the beach when,

… eureka! The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper had finally returned.

While I have managed a couple of record shots previously,

… I have been waiting a few years for a chance to photograph one along the beach.

This particular bird was being quite cooperative,

… allowing me to tag along while it foraged for food.

The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is a rare Eurasian migrant.

The Boundary Bay area will usually have a couple of sightings each fall, usually juveniles like this one. There have been two birds being seen here over the last two weeks.

It took a brief time-out and rested on a hummock,

… then it was back to working the waterline looking for food again.

Needless to say I was delighted to finally have this chance with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.