Birding in British Columbia – Page 75 – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Pectoral Sandpiper

After a couple of chores around the house were completed, the wife and cats napping, I snuck out to Boundary Bay. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still being seen yesterday so the hope today was for some closer looks than I got on Friday. It was fairly quiet with not many birds around once I got out to the area of the piling between 96 & 104 St. Just a few Least Sandpipers in addition to a handful of Pectoral Sandpipers.

While they spent some time wondering around foraging for food,

… they spent as much time hunkered down resting. While some more Pectoral and Least Sandpipers showed up, there was no sign of the Buff-breasted before I had to leave.

Semiplamated & Buff-breasted Sandpiper

It was back out to Boundary Bay for the rising tide this afternoon. As I headed west along the beach from 104 St, there was not much around except for a couple of Peregrine Falcons. Not a good omen when you shore birding.

About half way to the pilings one of them landed on the beach for s short spell. On reaching the pilings it was quiet except for a few Least Sandpipers. Continuing west to 96 St. out on the mud flats,

… there were some Semipalmated Plovers. Then I noticed there were several shore birds hunkered down and hiding in the vegetation.

It was a mixed group of Pectoral Sandpiper,

… Semipalmated Sandpiper,

… Western Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper. At this point I decided to focus on the Semipalmated Sandpiper.

The next photo opportunity was back towards the pilings again,

… where the Semipalmated was mixed in with some Least Sandpipers.

Least Sandpiper & Semipalmated Sandpiper

At one point I managed to get a Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper together.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper being fewer in numbers can be challenging to get at times. I was pretty happy with todays results.

Once back up on the dyke the falcons were still keeping the flocks on the move.

Then something quite extraordinary occurred. Six Peregrine Falcons and a Northern Harrier were hunting a lone shore bird singled out of the flock and the victor was the Harrier. Here you can see it on the beach with the prey and four of the falcons still circling. At this point I met up with some fellow birders who had also marvelled at what had just transpired. Then to top the afternoon off,

… we met another group that had just found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It was flushed by one of the Peregrine before I could attempt to get closer. I tried relocating it without success, but still a great end to another wonderful day on the bay.

Western Sandpiper

While it was overcast and the tide was out a ways, I still headed out to Boundary Bay to check the tidal flats. There were lots of peeps scattered about.