This afternoon’s goal was to focus on song birds. While I did see Orange-crowned, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers, they were sticking to the tree tops and not cooperating for photos. So it was time to change gears and get something closer to the ground.
Updated 2016-08-31
Chipping Sparrow
While I initially thought this was a Lincoln’s Sparrow, thanks to Liron’s comment, it is actually a young Chipping Sparrow.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Here it appears to have caught itself a large ant.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
The Chipping Sparrow was busy scooting around foraging on the side of the trail. While constantly on the move, I did manage to keep up and get a couple of shots.
There have been recent sightings of Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Iona recently, but that is not my preferred spot for photographing shorebirds. So when one was reported yesterday at Boundary Bay, I made my out there this afternoon a couple of hours before the high tide. On starting my walk west along the tidal flats from 104 St. I noticed some activity right away fairly close to the dyke.
Semipalmated Plover
Along with Western and Least Sandpipers were some Semipalmated Plovers.
Semipalmated Plover
I am used to seeing these little plovers further out on the flats,
Semipalmated Plover
… but was certainly not complaining as they were being quite cooperative. While watching the Semipalmated Plovers,
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
… the main goal for the day was spotted a little further to the west.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was moving around a fair bit,
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
… but did not seem to mind myself and another birder/photographer tagging along. It has been a few years since I have had a chance like this with a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and it provided plenty of great photo ops.
Sanderling
Odd birds out this afternoon,
Sanderling
… was a small group of Sanderling. Not usually a spot I would expect to see them. All this was happening between 104 St. and the pilings, so I did not have to go very far to have a great afternoon photographing these shorebirds.
