Least Sandpiper – Page 6 – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Accipiter, Sandpipers & Gull

Headed out to Boundary Bay a littler earlier this afternoon. I wanted to get there before the tide started to come in. The hope being to get some sandpipers out on the sand. On starting out west along the dyke from 104 St. there was not much around. There was one Peregrine Falcon around which could be problematic. Then on reaching 96 St. there was another bird of prey,

… this Cooper’s Hawk. While watching the accipiter I noticed some shore birds arriving. I made my way down to the beach and located a couple of small groups of mixed birds.

First up were some Least Sandpipers.

I managed a couple of shots while they foraged amongst the sea weed,

… and then standing atop a pile of it.

Next up were the larger Baird’s Sandpiper.

I managed to get fairly close again to these birds.

With this one quite willing to strike a classic pose. I was hoping to find some Pectoral Sandpipers and spend some time with them now they are back in the area. No such luck today so the consolation bird,

… was this immature Ring-billed Gull.

It was busy along the shoreline now that the tide was coming in,

… and provided a few photo opportunities to finish off the afternoon.

Sandpipers & Falcon

Late this afternoon I headed out to Boundary Bay for the high tide. I was a little late as when I arrived the tide was already up to the dyke. Then I was greeted by a group of birders already there who promptly joked how I could turn around and go home as there was nothing there. Not exactly the way you want to start. We chatted briefly and some left to check out other areas.

I decided to stick around and headed west along the dyke. Only a few minutes in to my walk I noticed something brown in amongst the Ring-billed Gulls.

It was a Whimbrel. I had seen one fly by about three weeks ago, but it did not land. This was a good start considering nothing was around earlier. While watching and waiting to see if the Whimbrel would move in to a better spot,

… a Peregrine Falcon swooped in and flushed everything including the gulls. So much for a better shot of the Whimbrel.

Further along the dyke I noticed a few different species of sandpipers around the old pilings. I slowly worked my way down to the beach and set up.

The first to wander in fairly close was a Baird’s Sandpiper.

These were the first Baird’s I have seen this season.

And so far, so good with the birds not being to concerned with my being there.

Next up in this group were some Least Sandpipers.

They have been frequenting the bay for awhile now.

Another first for this season in this mixed group were some Pectoral Sandpipers.

They were also quite cooperative and unconcerned with me.

The bonus birds,

… were three Ruddy Turnstones.

While watching the Turnstones, this Pectoral Sandpiper wandered by in front of me.

Then it was back to the Turnstones,

… for a couple more shots. It was nice being a little closer to them than last week. This was turning into a good afternoon when,

… the Peregrine Falcon made another pass along the dyke flushing everything again.

At least I managed a couple of flight shots. After this I started back as some plovers were starting to land in that area. I met up with a couple of other birders still around and we managed to spot a Godwit amongst the plovers, but it far too distant for any photos. While continuing to scan the beach area I saw the Whimbrel fly by and land back in the area I had just left. Wanting to try for some better shots of it I headed back.

Once again it started off amongst some Ring-billed Gulls,

But soon moved off on its own,

… while foraging along the beach.

It was a little leery of me,

… but did not mind providing I did not push the boundaries. This is something you have to watch and get a feel for with each bird.

While taking these last shots of the Whilbrel I wandered right into to some more Pecs.

The light was fading now and it was time to head back. Considering initial indications were that nothing was around, it turned into a great afternoon and fairly lengthy post.

Godwit, Plovers & Least

First a follow-up on my last post. Thanks to those that e-mailed and spoke to me in person confirming the Red Knot. Nice to finally add that bird to my life photo list.

A fairly rare bird to this area that has been frequenting Boundary Bay for some weeks now has been a Bar-tailed Godwit. I just have not seen it on my last few visits to the bay area. Today on the high tide it was present along with the usual Black-bellied Plovers. The problem being it was roosting on a fairly distant hummock. The birds were a little skittish and kept flushing and then returning to roost again. The tricky part was keeping tabs on the Godwit when they were all on the move to see where it landed.

After one such foray it finally landed in some eelgrass that was a little closer. I moved down to the beach and waited to make sure the Godwit and Plovers had settled. Then slowly moved out towards them.