Shorebirds

Sanderling - Boundary Bay, BC We have one location where these very light sandpipers will winter here in British Columbia, and that is Boundary Bay. It is named because of the border between the United States and Canada running through its center. Here the birds pay no attention to the line that separates the two countries and will run across the boundary on a regular basis. Sanderlings are very light in the winter and turn mottled brown with black spots to hide in the tundra in the summer while nesting. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Sanderling - Boundary Bay, BC
Wilson's Snipe - Milner, BC We have a great area for the Christmas Bird Count, which includes the area of Milner, BC. This is where Langley has a great many greenhouses. This year our weather was cold and snowy and there were very few places that had open water. The warmer water from the greenhouses flows into the ditches in the area melting snow and ice which allows these West Coast inland shorebirds the ability to feed and stay relatively warm. The Wilson's Snipe is well camouflaged for the grassland life but not so much for greenery. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Wilson's Snipe - Milner, BC
Sanderling - Ocean Shore, WA When you think of those little sandpipers that rush down to the waterline to quickly poke their beaks in the sand, only to rush back up the beach before they get swamped, you are probably thinking of these guys. They have a very light, plain gray look in the winter and can be found on every sandy beach on just about every continent. In the summer they are found north of the arctic circle in the rusty red, checked plumage that keeps them hidden in the ground cover. This photo was taken at the breakwater as you enter Grays Harbor on the Ocean Shores side. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Sanderling - Ocean Shore, WA
Ruff - Boundary Bay, BC These sandpipers aren't much different than our larger sandpipers in the fall but the sure can do a molt well. See pictures of the breeding plumage here. This bird is not a common visitor to our coast on the fall as they are a Eurasian species that winters on the northern coast and winters mostly in Africa. This particular fellow was found on Boundary bay feeding in the shallows. These birds have an interesting mating ritual which is somewhat explained here Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Ruff - Boundary Bay, BC
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, BC We see these sandpipers once or twice a year here in Vancouver on the return migration south. They are typically found on the Eurasian continents and head south to areas like Vietnam and Thailand breeding in the arctic of Russia. In the earlier part of the migration they will show a very rusty head which is a pretty common field marking. This sandpiper was in the house pond at Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta, BC. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, BC
Solitary Sandpiper - Iona Beach Regional Park, BC This sandpiper is one of the smallest of three cousins that use our mudflats in the spring and fall. This is a stop over either on their way into breeding grounds in the mountains, pothole lakes and muskeg of Canada and Alaska or to Mexico, stretching all the way south to Argentina on their wintering grounds. They are quickly identified by the big white eye-ring and the spotted back. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Solitary Sandpiper - Iona Beach Regional Park, BC
Marbled Godwit - Frank Lake, AB The shallows in around Frank Lake were alive with shore birds, including this Marbled Godwit who was picking through the mud for yummy critters to eat. These birds spend the breeding season in the prairies and head south to the shorelines down both sides of North America. and as far south as South America. There are couple of small nesting colonies also on Hudson's Bay and on the western-most section of Alaska. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Marbled Godwit - Frank Lake, AB
Semipalmated Sandpiper - Frank Lake, AB This very plain sandpiper is one of the harder birds to identify when the fall migration is on. I chose this picture because it shows why the bird is named as it is. That is, the semi (partially) palmated (webbed) toes are open and spread so you can see the webbing. This can be a very difficult way to identify this bird while it is wandering around in the water. The other tell tale signs are the slightly curved bill as well as the lack of any rufous on the head and shoulders along with the black legs. This is a great website to look at for the other signs. The other two similar birds are the Western and Least Sandpipers. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Semipalmated Sandpiper - Frank Lake, AB
Black Oystercatcher - Cattle Point, BC On a trip to Vancouver island we stopped by Cattle Point to see what might be cruising the shores on this beautiful day. Along with Harlequin Ducks and Black Turnstones, there was a trio of Black Oystercatchers picking along the rocks. Strictly a Pacific Coast wader, the Black Oystercatcher has a range that stretches from Alaska to the Baja of California, overlapping with the American Oystercatcher in the southern part of its range. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black Oystercatcher - Cattle Point, BC
Hudsonian Whimbrel - Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty, BC There were a small flock of Hudsonian Whimbrels that spent some time on the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty late this fall. When I put together some of the posts I like to put some little bit of information of the bird. During the search for
Hudsonian Whimbrel - Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty, BC
Black Oystercatcher - Passage Island, BC During a boating trip in search of a Wandering Tatler, a very relaxed oystercatcher caught my eye. The contrast of the black on the gray granite was more than I could pass up. These distinctly colored waders are common here on the shores of Vancouver sliding their bill into the muscles and clams like a shucking knife and taking out the good parts. There are 12 different species of Oystercatchers around the world with the Black Oystercatcher being the only one found on the west coast of Canada. This particular bird was on the west side of Passage Island in Howe Sound. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black Oystercatcher - Passage Island, BC
Western Sandpipers - Richmond, BC At the very end of the Iona Jetty 4 kilometers from shore is a location that every year is loaded with shorebirds. It is not very large, but is free from most land predators and a most people as well. The rocks and logs were covered in these Western sandpipers taking in the afternoon sun. I was able to locate myself behind a large log and wait for the flocks to resettle so I would be ale to take a relaxed photo of these
Western Sandpipers - Richmond, BC