Tag: Red Knot

Birding Highlights Of 2011

As the year comes to a close it is time to reflect on some of my birding highlights of 2011.

An elusive winter visitor that can be challenging to get photos of,

Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl

… this Long-eared Owl provided a few good opportunities.

After a few unsuccessful attempts for this rare visitor to British Columbia,

Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler

… I eventually did manage a few shots of this Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Another addition to my list this year was a Red Knot.

Red Knot
Red Knot

Hardly a great photo, but nice to finally get one and see this shore bird.

Having photos of a juvenile bird,

Bar-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit

… I had a chance to get this adult Bar-tailed Godwit while roosting with some Plovers.

From a birding perspective,

Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper

… I believe this was the only Buff-breasted Sandpiper sighted in Boundary Bay this fall migration.

After a few years of waiting,

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

… I finally managed to get close to a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper down on the beach.

And to finish what has been another great year,

Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

… the bird that got me started with birding and bird photography make a return in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Knot & Turnstones

It was back to shore birds this afternoon, so I headed out to Boundary Bay. On arriving I met some fellow birders, a few I had not seen in some time. On speaking with them the highlights of the the afternoon had been a Red Knot and a couple of Ruddy Turnstones aside from the usual Black-bellied Plovers and some peeps.

The tide was not going to come in much further than it already was. A few of us took a quick stroll west along the dyke as it had not been checked yet. Not finding anything we returned to the group and chatted for a bit. The group was getting ready to leave so I asked if anyone wanted to take one last look before I headed out on the beach, not wanting to flush anything if they were still interested in watching from the dyke with their scopes. This was when a Red Knot was located again out with the Plovers.

The Red Knot is a bird I do not have a photo of yet. Once the group left I headed out on to the beach and the area the Knot had been seen. I got as close as the Plovers would allow without them moving off. Unfortunately it was not very close at all, which is normally the case with these birds. I stayed put down low watching when I noticed some movement a little closer, but still some distance away.

Red Knot
Red Knot
Red Knot
Red Knot

It was similar to what had been pointed out by the group on the dyke. From this distance I could also see some faint orangey/red in the belly area almost to the flanks.

Red Knot
Red Knot
Red Knot
Red Knot

I am hoping this is a Red Knot, but not being certain posted one of the photos to a local bird group for ID.

Red Knot
Red Knot

Hardly great photos (huge crops), but they are record shots of what hopefully will be another addition to my life photo list.

While watching the Plovers I took a couple of shots of some groups as they flew by. On checking one of the photos a little closer,

Ruddy Turnstone & Black-bellied Plover
Ruddy Turnstone & Black-bellied Plover

… I could see two Ruddy Turnstones. In this crop they are the first two birds followed by  three Black-belied Plovers. So while not actively looking for them, I still managed to capture them.