A day in the rain at Mud Bay Park

Once again I found myself waking up to the alarm at an ungodly hour of the morning but it was with great anticipation of the adventure that laid ahead. I was off to meet up with Kim to explore the opposite shoreline to Blackie Spit this very wet morning.

The skies were very dark and the rain roared down bouncing off the asphalt as I drove out to Surrey. Off to the south, the direction I was heading, there were nice bright blues breaks in the clouds, "fingers crossed"..ha..it was just a tease! As I pulled up in front of Kim's home, she was there to greet me on the front porch and a snicker over our luck with the weather. It wasn't stopping us though, we had seen from Blackie Spit on Sunday, loads of birds across the bay and we were determined to see them this day!

With driving directions in hand, off we go. We were well equipped for the rain with coats, boats, umbrellas and good spirits!

Once we reached the trail, we were a bit disappointed to discover that the shoreline was not easily accessible. We walked further hoping to find a way to get closer to the water and found a beaten path that lead us to the water's edge. I was very, very careful as to where I stepped as neither of us wanted a repeat of Sunday's mud "mis"-adventure. We found all the usual characters, gulls, ducks, sandpipers and many Great Blue Herons.  There were also swallows galore swooping across the waters surface to catch the many insects there. Very cool to watch.

Me, still a little mud-shy, decided not to venture quite as far as Kim. Disappointment set in as all the flocks of birds we had observed on this shoreline from Blackie Spit on Sunday, just were not here. I have to say though,I am never disappointed with the beauty and vastness of the ocean so as Kim was busy snapping photos of the herons and sandpipers, I took in the beauty around us and snapped a few shots.

After a couple of hours, Kim and I decided it was time to go. Sunday I had been worried that I had spoiled Kim's day by sinking in the mud and now today Kim was sorry we hadn't seen much after my long drive out.. No worries here, any chance to be near the water is just fine with me.

As we headed back to the car, getting wetter by the as the rain pounded aginst us, a tiny little bird hopped out of the grass onto the trail just infront of us. Like syncronized swimmers, both Kim and I pointed in awe and wondered "what was this?". Quickly pulling our cameras back out of their bags, we began to snap pictures and watch this fascinating little bird as he hopped along in front of us stopping occassionally to see if we were still following him. He was as cute as could be and had no obvious interest in wanting to head towards the shore or fly away from our curiousity.

This little guy may not have been where he should have, but he showed up at the right time and place for Kim and I to have found our little treasure of gold for this outting. With the help of a couple of twitter friends and bird enthusiasts, we were able to identify this to be a Western Sandpiper. Not like the Western "Mud" piper (me) haha! (my last name is Piper)

I have to say that all-in-all, our day was a success and just the beginning of many more birding adventures to come for myself and birding buddy and friend Kim!!

A day at Blackie Spit

This past Sunday did not begin as a regular Sunday for this newly retired lady! Instead of the usual sleeping in until 9 or 10 am, the alarm was set for 7:30 so I could get up, get ready and head to Kim's (@LadyWoodpecker) so we could spend the morning at Blackie Spit to do some shorebird watching.

Kim taking photos along the edge of the mudflats

Blackie Spit is just past the beach area of Crescent Beach in Surrey BC and is one of the best birdwatching areas in Canada with over 200 species recorded. Kim and I were determined to find the specie to make any fellow bird watcher drool.

The morning started off with some threatening looking clouds and a brief down pour but there was nothing that was going to stop us to see what we had come for. We were greated by the usual gulls that one expects to see along the shorelines and of course there were several ducks and Canada Geese.

As Kim and I started our journey along the beach, we spotted something in the water. Thinking it was probably nothing more then a duck, we were almost quick to brush it off but thought better of it just incase. Our instincts paid off. We quickly grabbed our binoculars to discover it was not a duck but what we have decided, after much discussion, to be a Common Murre (non-breeding). Very cool!  My photos are not so good but the one below is the best out of the bunch.

We proceeded along the beach and around into the mudflats where a flock of Greater Yellowlegs were busy feasting on their fresh finds the tide had brought in. The need to get closer was when our fun began as we ventured out into the mud.. As I eagerly slopped along, it was my one fatal step that had the makings of an America's funniest home video!! I started to sink and sink fast! Kim reached out for me as I was losing my balance but I fell onto my butt...the look on her face was priceless!!  At this point our concerns was with our cameras and binoculars and the thought of me keeping clean  became a non-issue. Needless to say, the two of us were laughing so hard I'm sure even the birds were sitting back chuckling at us. I walked out of the mud in my stocking feet with mud up to my waist and a great story to share!!

After a wash off in the salt water and hoping I had not spoiled Kim's day, I parked myself on a bench to collect my very wet and muddy composure and take in the lovely scenery that surrounded us. I have always been fond of the ocean and the calm and relaxing atmosphere as I look out into it's never ending greatness. So as Kim wandered back off to the mud, I took the opportunity to snap some shots of the sights.

Along with capturing the scenery, I also, with the help of my binoculars,  was observing the birdlife that was around us. From Blue Herons across the flats to a flock of Caspain Terns, the many gulls in flight and on the shore  to the Sandpipers that gracefully flew in formation, I was kept in awe of the many beauties we are so fortunate to be able to enjoy.

On our return back along the beach, we stopped to enoy the gulls with one in particular...it wasn't until we got home and downloaded the days worth of memories, did we realize that the rather large clump of seaweed this gull was picking up was not seaweed at all but a tennis ball of all things!!!

The day was a great success and I am looking forward to a return trip only this time with hip waders, a walking stick for balance and a change of clothes!!  Thank you Kim....I had a blast!

For more information on Blackie Spit, go to: http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/BlackieSpit01.html