The tidal flats at Boundary Bay today were as quiet as my last visit a couple of days ago. I did try for a short while to get some Pipits, but they were not cooperating.
Pectoral Sandpiper
There were a couple of small groups of Pectoral Sandpipers present with a lone Least Sandpiper. The action for the afternoon came courtesy of a Peregrine Falcon. Ever present in this area when the shorebirds are migrating,
Peregrine Falcon
… this Peregrine swooped in low along the beach snagging one of the few Pectoral Sandpipers. On the topic of falcons,
Merlin
… this Merlin was perched in a tree as I arrived back at my car. A nice bonus shot to end the day.
After a couple of weeks of being busy, I managed to get back out to Boundary Bay this afternoon. Arriving about two hours prior to the high tide I made my way west along the beach from 104 St. After several minutes and encountering only a lone Pectoral Sandpiper roosting in the seaweed at the high water mark, I was starting to wonder if much else would be around. Then I did see around a dozen American Pipits working their way along the beach. Then I came across a small group of resting Least Sandpipers, but carried on towards the pilings. While approaching them a Greater Yellowlegs flew in and started foraging for food. I carried on a little further and scanned ahead and could not see anything else on the tidal flats, so I made my way back to the pilings and the Greater Yellowlegs.
Greater Yellowlegs
It was still busing foraging for food,
Greater Yellowlegs
… and provided a couple of good photo opportunities. By this time the tide was coming in fast, even though the high tide was still over an hour away. Not too far off I could see the Least Sandpipers were active and made my way back to them.
Least Sandpiper
Like me they were trying to avoid the rising water levels. After being flushed briefly by a passing Northern Harrier they returned and landed right in front of me. They were more than cooperative allowing me to tag along and photograph in close proximity.
Least Sandpiper
Close is good when photographing these little guys. Being there when they returned and keeping any movement slow and to a minimum probably helped. By now the rising tide was almost to the top of my rubber boots and it was time to head up on to the dyke. Despite there not being much around, I still managed a couple of nice shots.
It was back out to Boundary Bay this afternoon. Timing was better this time as I would be there for the rising tide. While walking west from 104 Street along the beach I encountered some Baird’s Sandpipers again in the same area as last week. Then things started to pick up with lots of the smaller peeps around. On checking the mixed groups closely,
Semipalmated Sandpiper
… there were a few Semipalmated Sandpipers present. Also different from my last visit,
Semipalmated Plover
… the Semipalmated Plovers were a little more cooperative this afternoon. Finishing off this photo session of the little guys,
Least Sandpiper
… was some Least Sandpipers. In addition to these peeps there were several Western Sandpiper present and then on my way back with the tide almost all the way in, a few Pectoral Sandpipers showed up as well.
