Having missed on a couple of good birds yesterday, I headed out to Boundary Bay this morning. I made my way straight out to the pilings from 104 St. On approaching I was encouraged to see a group of Yellowlegs foraging in the area. Now it was time for a closer look.
Ruff
It was not too long before I spotted the Ruff on the west side of the pilings.
Ruff
The Ruff is a fairly rare visitor to this area, it has been 4 1/2 years since I last saw and photographed one in the Boundary Bay area.
Ruff
Based on the rather buffy appearance this bird is likely a juvenile. Then they all left after being spooked by something. I waited and eventually the Yellowlegs and a couple of Dowitchers returned, but no Ruff. I will give it another go this afternoon.
A Buff-breasted Sandpiper had been reported in a field along 72 St. A turf farm frequented by shore birds, but not a great spot to try and get photos. So on Tuesday I headed out to Boundary Bay in the hopes it would make an appearance there. I walked from 104 St. to the mansion with no sighting of the Buff-breasted.
Baird’s Sandpiper
There were some Baird’s Sandpiper resting along the beach.
Western Sandpiper
And as the tide came in,
Western Sandpiper
… the Western Sandpiper were looking to roost on anything that would keep them above the rising water. For these photos I am out in the water shooting back into towards shore.
In addition to the Buff-breated Sandpiper continuing in the same location, a Ruff had also been observed yesterday in Boundary Bay. I made my way out there again this afternoon. Scouring the beach all the way to the mansion I was not coming up with anything out of the ordinary. I had ignored some birders signalling me from the dyke to check this area out.
Pectoral Sandpiper with Western Sandpiper
I did turn up some Pectoral Sandpipers,
Pectoral Sandpiper with Western Sandpiper
… sharing a clump of eelgrass with some Western Sandpipers. But, I should have paid attention to my friend Tak who was waiving to me. Turns out they were in contact with some other birders who had the Ruff back at the pilings. By the time I got back there and talked to them it had gone. On top of that I learned a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper had also been sighted in the area today. Guess where I will be tomorrow?!
“The Ruins” is a phrase coined by my cousin when she saw a photo of the old pilings and remnants of what used to be a cannery in Boundary Bay.
The Ruins, pilings of old cannery at Boundary Bay.
To the local birders it is just the pilings between 96 St. and 104 St. which is where I decided to spend some time this afternoon.
Lesser Yellowlegs
Lots of Lesser Yellowlegs around again today.
Lesser Yellowlegs
Once again they were quite cooperative,
Lesser Yellowlegs
… foraging in front and all around me.
Baird’s Sandpiper
A few Baird’s Sandpiper came and went, but I did not have as much luck with them.
Red-necked Phalarope
The pleasant surprise of the afternoon,
Red-necked Phalarope
… was this Red-necked Phalarope. Then the birds scattered a couple of times, but when I looked up I could not see anything.
Peregrine Falcon
It was not until looking over my shoulder I saw the Peregrine Falcon roosting on some driftwood not too far off on the beach. Once it left the birds started returning.
Least Sandpiper
Some Least Sandpiper landed right in front of me,
Least Sandpiper
… and got quite close working their way along the edge of the tidal pool around the pilings.
Least Sandpiper
Being the smallest of the peeps, you cannot complain when they are in this close proximity to you and your camera.
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Not much bigger than the Least, some Semipalmated Sandpiper showed up just as I was leaving. Another good afternoon on the bay considering I stayed in the same spot!
