Lesser Yellowlegs

Yellowlegs + Dowitcher

It was another warm day as I made my way to help out on the trails at Reifel this afternoon. There were not too many people and unfortunately not much in the way of birding activity either with the grassy trails being fairly quiet.

Luckily some Greater Yellowlegs were present in the inner ponds feasting on the small stickleback.

There were also some Long-billed Dowitcher coming into the inner ponds as well.

As it got closer to the end of the day I made my way to the west field. There were no Phalarope or Stilt Sandpiper present this afternoon, but high tide was still over an hour away.

Still had some fun though watching the regulars like this Lesser Yellowlegs coming in for a landing above other feeding Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Odd man out today in the southwest field was this Canada Goose hybrid.

It was fairly quiet on the visitor and birding front at Reifel this afternoon. There was, however, one of the regular shore birds that stood out a little from its counterparts.

The worn adult/breeding plumage on this Lesser Yellowlegs was noticeably different than the rest of the Lesser Yellowlegs (non breeding/juveniles). Always a good learning experience to see varying plumages and have them explained by experienced birders.

Ruddy Turnstone & Others

After some morning errands were completed there was a window of opportunity for me to get out. So I made my way to Boundary Bay for some shore birds. Target bird of the day was Ruddy Turnstone which had been seen the last couple of days. The usual Black-bellied Plovers were at the foot of 104 St., but I continued toward the pilings and just west of them I noticed some activity.