Peregrine Falcon

With Sharp-tailed Sandpiper showing up the plan was to get out for a walk to Boundary Bay. I was encouraged by seeing a couple had been sighted in that area today.

As I headed west from 104 St. the tidal pools were quiet with no shorebirds in sight. Then one possible reason became apparent.

This Peregrine Falcon was roosting on a large log washed up along the high water mark. It was surprisingly cooperative for photos and seemed more interested scanning its surrounding than in me. It eventually spotted something and flew off east low along the dyke.

As for shorebirds closer in along the mudflats,

… I only managed to come up with a small group of Dowitchers by the outflow pipe at 88 St.

On the way back I tagged along with the plovers as the tide started to come in, but did not get any real photo opportunities. As for Sharp-tailed, the hunt continues.

Peregrine + Downy

With the sun shining I headed out for a short walk this afternoon. I was checking the Reifel and Alaksen areas for the White-winged Crossbills that have been around. Not having much luck with that,

… this Peregrine Falcon provided a brief diversion.

It obligingly changed its roosting spot providing this photo facing the camera.

Towards the end of my outing, this Downy Woodpecker cooperated for the last shot of the day.

Eurasian Wigeon

It was cool, windy and wet when I made my way to Reifel to help out on the trails this afternoon. Understandably there were not many visitors, but there was a Great Horned Owl to show the hardy few I met along the east dyke trail. The birding highlight of the day,

… was a Eurasian Wigeon in the house pond at the back of the gift shop. While neither my shooting position or weather were ideal, it was still good to see this winter visitor.

In other sanctuary news, the well known raptor snag got blown down this past week. Along the main path to the large covered viewing platform,

… it was a favourite roosting spot for birds of prey and for visitors to see and photograph them.