Baird’s Sandpiper

Western, Baird’s + Least Sandpipers

Braved the heat and headed out to Boundary Bay for the high tide, which turned out to be not very high at all. I walked the tidal flats between 104 Street and the mansion. Much to my dismay there was not much around at all. At the mansion there were a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers. On my way back there was another small group,

… the larger Killdeer got my attention first.

Then the Western Sandpiper. There were also a couple of Least Sandpiper in this group as well. A little further on,

… were two Baird’s Sandpiper foraging amongst the sea weed. Before packing it in,

… another small mixed group of Western and Least Sandpipers landed amongst the pilings. Pretty slim pickings today.

Semipalmated Plover

Headed out to Boundary Bay for the rising tide on what was a beautiful afternoon. While walking west along the beach there was no action close to the dyke in the tidal pools. Once near the pylons I could see some movement further out on the sand. On getting a little closer it turned out to be a small group of Semipalmated Plovers. They were a little wary of me at first,

… but with a little patience they relaxed and moved towards me.

Closer is always better with these tiny plovers.

There were also a couple of Western and Least Sandpipers mixed in with them.

Several of the Semipalmated Plovers were more than cooperative and provided good photo opportunities. While walking back towards the dyke with a couple of other birders,

… a small group of Baird’s Sandpiper flew in and amongst them was a Semiplamated Sandpiper. The other birders had been watching the Black-bellied Plover flock and sighted Red Knot, Hudsonian Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit. A good variety of birds on the bay today.

With shorebirds actively moving through the area I figured it was time to start getting back out to Boundary Bay. The timing was not ideal for my walk this afternoon as the tide was way out and I would be gone well before the high tide. None the less, it was a pleasant walk along the beach checking the shore line and tidal pools. There was not much around,

… but there were a number of Baird’s Sandpipers stretched out along the high water mark. While there were a few flocks of Semipalmated Plovers active further out on the beach, they were fairly skittish and I could not get close to them at all.