Trip Report by Thomas Plath; Photos by Selina Wong

Thirteen participants participated on this half-day excursion despite the less than ideal conditions. Heavy mist hampered viewing at White Rock Pier nonetheless almost all of the regular seabirds were observed including great views of Greater Scaup, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe and Common Loon. A feeding Red-throated Loon, constantly diving was not very co-operative and unfortunately an Eared Grebe was too far out for good looks. Black Turnstones were clambering around on the rock jetty and odd individual joined the pigeons feeding on the boardwalk! A female Belted Kingfisher showing a nice rufous breast band, hunted from a perch near the boardwalk.

Thankfully the weather cleared a bit and the group moved to Blackie Spit. The group marveled at the few thousand Dunlin, flying in tight “waves” over the spit tip and then huddling in a tight mass on the sand tip only 30 metres away. While walking to the spit tip two Marbled Godwits were seen roosting along the marsh edge, and several Eurasian Wigeon drakes gave us excellent looks grazing close by. We headed for the marsh area on the way enjoying Purple Finches feeding on cherry and a Merlin zipping by. Shorebirds often roost on the pilings during high tide and today they held a group of Black-bellied Plovers and a Willet, a large rare “prairie breeding” shorebird.