shorebirds.......

[Gary Davidson]

I was at Burton again yesterday. This time in my kayak. I paddled the entire shoreline from the south end of the south flats to the boat ramp in the campground. Not that far in a straight line, but 4-5km along the shoreline. There were shorebirds, about 40 of them. But unfortunately, most were in the flock that flushed when the geese flushed at my approach.  

The flock contained mostly calidris sandpipers, likely Least, Semipalmated and/or Baird's, plus 3 dowitchers. Later in the season I'd be comfortable calling them Long-billed Dowitchers. But this early in the migration, Short-billed are possible. Of the half a dozen Central Kootenay records, all have been prior to 21 August. In addition to the flock I had Wilson's Snipe, Red-necked Phalarope and Killdeer. And surprisingly there were 3 Double-crested Cormorants! 

Gary