Shorebirds

Black Oystercatcher - Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, BC Can never have to many pictures of these beauties. We were on a Bird Blogger Tour this summer and wanted to make sure our guests got a great view or our resident Oystercatcher. There are 12 species of this very unique shorebird with only two of those species in North America. The American Oystercatcher being the other. These birds will make quick work of the buried razor clams here in Tsawwassen where they breed in the spring and live year round. . Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com 2022
Black Oystercatcher - Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, BC
Curlew Sandpiper - Boundary Bay, BC Another one for the record books. This Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was found by Melissa
Curlew Sandpiper - Boundary Bay, BC
Solitary Sandpiper - Blue Creek, KY True to its name, this Solitary Sandpiper was alone in Blue Creek checking the rocks for critters to eat. He was accompanied by cliff swallows not far away on the bank collecting mud for their nests. The Solitary sandpipers are told from the spotted sandpipers at this time of the year by the very obvious white eye-ring. Side by side, the solitary is slightly larger and no tail wagging. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Solitary Sandpiper - Blue Creek, KY
Whimbrel - Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, BC A long-legged shorebird with a long curvy beak makes this Whimbrel a great photograph. In the past several years, we have had Whimbrel on the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty during the spring, summer and fall months which has been a bit unusual. It is always a treat to see them picking along the shoreline for a snack as they add a little something to the other common birds here like the Pelagic Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers and Harlequin Ducks. These birds can be found on their breeding grounds in the far north of Canada and Alaska. They will winter along the coast from the Canadian border south into South America. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Whimbrel - Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, BC
Black Oystercatcher - Piper's Lagoon, BC An early morning trip to Vancouver Island had us stopping at Piper's Lagoon to add to the eBird list for Nanaimo. Our first discovery were two Black Oystercatchers searching the shoreline in the bay. This stop has many things going for it if you are looking for birds. A secluded bay, a sandy spit leading to a rocky island that overlooks the open ocean. I highly recommend the stop. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Black Oystercatcher - Piper's Lagoon, BC
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
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
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
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
Lesser Yellowlegs - Cranbrook, BC Sylvan Lake, BC is where this Lesser Yellowlegs had stopped for a quick top up before heading south. I always have problems identifying the two species of Yellowlegs with size being the best......but only when they are standing together!. The other things to look at when looking at Greater vs Lesser is that greater have a longer bill in relation to the head which is slightly upturned at the tip. They also look a little daintier. Click on the link for comparison. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Lesser Yellowlegs - Cranbrook, BC
Greater Yellowlegs - Long Beach, BC Migration time for Long Beach in September and this Greater Yellowlegs is no exception. He was the only one on the beach of his kind, but he was keeping pace with several of the other peeps. One thing that is always hard to do with this bird is tell is the difference from its very close cousin the lesser yellowlegs. Some indicators include, size, bill shape and length, primary feather projection past tail. The size is very simple to use when there are mixed flocks of the bird. The Greater is obviously bigger by a half at least. The bill is slightly upturned and at least 1.5 times the length of the head in the larger bird. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Greater Yellowlegs - Long Beach, BC
Western Sandpiper - Richmond Using a sun-bleached log as a roost several Western Sandpipers were catching the last of the sun rays for the day. This is our most common sandpiper during migration and can be told by the long drooping bill and rust on the wings during the non breeding months. During breeding, they have more rust on the head, back and wings and have checking along their sides and flank. These hardy little birds breed along the West Coast of Alaska and spend winter on both Us Coasts and the Northern coast of South America. Michael Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Western Sandpiper - Richmond, 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
If you are familiar with the Black Oystercatcher, you know what this picture would sound like if there were audio. This bird was vocalizing during my encounter with these wonderful shorebirds. The sound is somewhat a nasally squeak followed by a chatter. There is no shortage of sound when these birds feel the need to say something. Picture
Black Oystercatcher - Tsawwassen, BC
Pectoral Sandpiper - Richmond, BC During the hunt for the rare Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Iona Island, the large flock of Pectoral Sandpipers were very close indeed. Most of the birds here look very similar to the
Pectoral Sandpiper - Richmond, BC
​There is nothing cuter than a baby and that goes for an Oystercatcher as well. I was very lucky to happen along a family of oystercathers feeding at low tide. This parent is quite capable of finding a meal and keeping an eye out for junior. Picture
Black Oystercatcher - Tsawwassen, BC
Whimbrel - Tsawwassen, BC This long-billed shorebird has decided to stick it out here in the south-western corner of Canada for the winter. This bird is usually found south of Washington State on the west coast in the off season but has found a suitable home with a couple of Black Oystercatchers on the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Whimbrel - Tsawwassen, BC
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Black Oystercatcher - Crescent Beach, BC
This unexpected Wilson's Snipe was sunning itself after a cold spell here in Vancouver. This photo was taken at the Boundary Bay Airport along one of the wet fields to the north of the airport. These very secretive birds typically are only seen when you flush them from cover as you have come too close so I was quite lucky to get these shots. The North American Snipe has, in the last 15 years, been split from its cousin in Europe, the Common Snipe. Other North American relatives are the Woodcock and both Dowitcher species. Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata Boundary Bay Airport Delta BC British Columbia Canada grass camouflage brown green beak blogger com shorebird bird outdoor animal landscape
Wilson's Snipe - Delta
Solitary Sandpiper - Sweetwater Wetlands, AZ Solitary sandpiper picking through the stream at the front entrance to Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson in Dec. This guy made the rare bird list while I was visiting as he was a little out of his range at the time. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Solitary Sandpiper - Sweetwater Wetlands, AZ