Boundary Bay Variety

This afternoons walk was to Boundary Bay. The photo opportunities started before I even parked at the foot of 72 St.

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk

A Rough-legged Hawk was in a tree next to the road. This shot was taken out of the car window. After parking I noted it was still there and started walking back that way, but it moved off before I got there.

There were lots of sparrows around at the foot of 72 St. when I started my walk, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

There were even a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets among them.

As I continued east along the dyke I came across a large group of White-crowned Sparrows.

White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

While several of them provided great photo opportunities,

White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

… I did not locate any American Tree Sparrows which I was hoping to see.

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle

As one would expect at this time of the year in the bay area, there was no shortage of Bald Eagles.

Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl

There were also a few Short-eared Owls active over the marsh.

Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl

The owls seemed to be the only thing any of the other photographers out there were interested in. Makes me wonder at times if they aware of the variety of birds that can be seen in this area.

Chickadee, Vireo + Kinglet

A little breezy and overcast, but at least it was not raining. There was also a half decent crowd when I arrived at Reifel to help out this afternoon. There was not anything out of the ordinary reported from the morning,

Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco

… and along the east dyke trail it was mostly regulars like this Dark-eyed Junco.

Gadwall
Gadwall

Hard to walk around Reifel without spending some time with the waterfowl. Today it was this Gadwall.

Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee

Along the inside grassy trail I found a pair of Black-capped Chickadee busy excavating a nesting hole in an old Birch snag. While watching them a beautiful Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler was flitting about overhead, but would not come lower and cooperate for a photo.

Later in the afternoon along this same stretch I notice several Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the trees along the east dyke trail. Once I had made my way over there,

Hutton's Vireo
Hutton’s Vireo

… I was delighted that the first photos I took were of a Hutton’s Vireo.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Next up was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet I originally came over to get. Both these species are usually quite busy and can be challenging to get photos of. They are also quite similar in appearance and this was a good opportunity to see them together for comparison.