Common Murre - Sandheads, BC
During the year we make several bird counts, including the Important Bird Area (IBA) count of the Fraser River Delta. This is the flat lands surrounding the river. This also includes the mouth of the several arms of the Fraser where if flows into the Salish Sea. During the year millions of bait fish like sardines and anchovies school along the edge of the mud banks attracting a large number of sea birds. The count on this day was amazing, I have never seen so many Common Murre as I had seen that day. Completely different from their breeding plumage, the white and black winter combination make it difficult see see these birds from any distance on the open water.