John Gordon/Listening to Birds: Good Birding, Good Friends and Good Laughs.

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Good Birding, Good Friends and Good Laughs.

Sept 9 2013 Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Westham Island, Delta B.C.

Size comparison between Lesser Yellowlegs (foreground) and Greater Yellowlegs (background)
September is one of the best times to see these two species together. Note the comparative size and beak lengths.

It was so good to be out in the fresh air again. The fog was clearing over Boundary Bay and the cool morning air would soon be replaced by the scorching sun and clear blue sky. The first sounds I hear are three American Pipits flying overhead. Out on the mudflats a Semipalmated Sandpiper crouches low as a Northern Harrier flies past on the hunt for a Savannah Sparrow or Townsend's Vole. My camera, still idle is left unattended while I enjoy the scene before my eyes. Sometimes, especially moments like these I just don't feel the need to be photographing, just being in the Here and Now is enough.
I decided to go to Reifel as the tide might push some shorebirds into the holding ponds where over the weekend a Stilt Sandpiper was spotted. I have photographed them before in Churchill, Manitoba and once last Fall at Reifel. Although none was seen this time there was a chance encounter with a Virginia Rail, that some of us in attendance (you know who you are) managed, despite all the fancy gear some not very good pictures. One of our party didn't manage any shots at all as he was busy on his phone BOTH times the secretive bird ventured out from the reed bed. We all had a good laugh at his expense, even he had to chuckle at his timing.
Anyway here is the shot of the rail, albeit not in the best light and not quite in focus. Also a Sandhill Crane that flew overhead against the ONLY cloud in the sky, Murphy's law, Eh!