Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 2-1-13

[Bill Anderson]

Friday (2/1) my friend, his wife, my son, and I went ventured north across the border in search of snowy owls at Boundary Bay near Ladner, BC. We had picked Friday because the weather forecast was for sunshine. You can see from my photos how accurate that turned out to be.

Earlier arrivals told us that the owls were perched on the roofs of buildings at a food processing plant located about a mile's walk west on the levee (dyke in Canadianese ) trail from the 72nd St. entrance and parking lot. The walk gave us opportunies to photograph other birds along the way.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM573V_Boundary_Bay_Regional_Park_Dyke_Trail_72nd_St_Entrance


Yellowlegs (lesser? greater?)







Short-eared owl

 

[Bill Anderson]

More birds on our way to the owls.

Female northern harrier




Female hooded merganser.


Last year the snowies perched during the day on driftwood along the levee, which drew many birders and photographers. This year they perched in a more secure, although somewhat less scenic, location.

 

[Bill Anderson]

We counted fourteen at this location at various altitudes.

One atop the largest, highest storage tank.


Another on the roof of a smaller, lower storage tank.


Several were perched still lower on the roof of an office building


Some were near ground level, but seemed unfazed by trucks driving past them. One, barely visible in the right side of the photo, was on the ground.


This one was the most active as something nearby attracted its attention.

 

[Bill Anderson]

On the walk back to the parking lot we saw many raptors including a northern harrier


and a rough-legged hawk.


Before leaving, we attempted to photograph two long-eared owls which were sleeping in a tree just a few feet off the road behind a fence. Close, but yet so far.


While you could practically reach through the fence and touch the owls, it proved nearly impossible to take good photos of them by focusing into the darkness through the fence and tree.


Up next: A visit to the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

 

[fiznatty]

Bill, I think we met yesterday. Were you in the group with the fellow wearing the Wazzu hat (perhaps that was you)? We never did make it down to look for the snowies. Your shot with the undulating roof pattern behind is pretty cool.

I'm about to post my photos from yesterday as well. The long-eareds did come out at the end of the day!

Max

 

[Bill Anderson]

Yes, that was me with the Wazzu hat. Go Cougs! I was dressed exactly as you see me in my avatar. The young Asian man with me was my son Daren.