With some good birds being seen in Boundary Bay recently I headed out there this afternoon. I could not get out there until later than I would have liked. It was overcast and the tide was just starting to make its way in as I headed west along the tidal flats from 104 St. While the plover flock as active along the water line, I was surprised at the lack of shorebirds in closer to the dyke.
There was this lone Pectoral Sandpiper,
… and a Baird’s Sandpiper with an injured eye. On reaching the pilings the rising tide forced me up on to the dyke.
I decided to stick around a little longer as there were still lots of birds active along the beach. Just west of the pilings,
… the Franklin’s Gull spotted the other day was present again. Continuing west a small group of mixed shorebirds landed close to the dyke. A quick scan of the group showed Pectoral Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper (including the one with the injured eye),
… and the one I had been hoping to see, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. I signalled a few other patient birders further to the east so they could see the Sharp-tailed before it got too dark. Now I will just have to hope for another opportunity with this bird under better conditions.
