Birding in White Rock
Trip Report by Tom Plath
On Jan 31st, 2023, despite the bad road conditions due to the previous night’s snowfall, four participants showed up for a morning of birding in South Surrey. At the base of the White Rock Pier, a dog flushed a couple of Killdeer, and in front of us rafts of shellfish-eating sea ducks were scattered on the water. Great views of Surf and White-winged Scoters were had, the latter being BC’s largest duck. The dark cap, pale cheeks and “stiff tail” of a distant sleeping duck identified it as a female Ruddy Duck. A diligent search of the many Horned Grebes did not turn up any Eared Grebes a usually dependable spot for this species. Good comparisons of Common and Red-throated Loon were obtained and a few Long-tailed Ducks were present, unfortunately further out. At the breakwater a few Black Turnstones were observed in flight seeking a place to roost on the snow covered rocks.
Following our visit to the Pier we drove over to Blackie Spit for a quick visit. The godwits were not present but other shorebirds were: a lone Black-bellied Plover was roosting near Dunlin, and a few Greater Yellowlegs fed along the waters edge. As expected Eurasian Wigeon were present with other dabblers roosting along the shore. Until the next time – Happy Birding.
