Least Sandpiper – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Semi, Least, Baird’s + Pecs

The sun was shining and I headed out to Boundary Bay a couple of hours before the high tide. While heading west from 104 St. I walked right up on a small group of peeps.

There was one Semipalmated Sandpiper,

… with a few Least Sandpiper.

While the Semipalmated Sandpiper took time out to rest,

… the Least Sandpiper kept busy.

On reaching the area of the pilings,

… there were some Baird’s Sandpiper,

… along with Pectoral Sandpiper.

Initially the Baird’s Sandpiper were out further in the tidal pools.

The Pectoral Sandpiper were sticking to high water mark foraging for food,

… and also taking time out to rest. With the higher number of Pectoral Sandpipers around I checked them all for a possible Sharp-tailed, but could not find one. A pleasant variety of species cooperating for photos this afternoon.

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.

Yellowlegs & Least

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.

It was still busing foraging for food,

… 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.

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.

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.