Birding British Columbia’s and Pt. Robert’s Boundary Bay for Arctic Visitors

Birding British Columbia’s and Point Robert’s Boundary Bay for Arctic Visitors

By Jim Meyer

Again my Squamish friends and personal bird guides, Grant and Marcy, wanted to show me a couple more Artic visitors and I was all to willing! We headed to Point Roberts, USA, which is rare in itself since it juts south from the a B.C. Delta across the U.S. border parallel about 10 miles into the Strait of Georgia.

Our first stop was to investigate some birds in a tree several feet away from an Eagle. Grant quickly identified two European Starlings and a Brewers Blackbird as the brave birds. A very satisfying sight to me was about 10 Northern Flickers sitting in an adjacent tree, since I hadn’t seen any in Florida for a long time.

Our next stop was the trailhead to Lilly Point which looks S.E. across Boundary Bay to Birch Bay, Washington. Upon getting out of the car, Marcy heard a Nuthatch. We were walking towards the call when Grant heard a Woodpecker in a Red Cedar- a Hairy Woodpecker (without a doubt for a change). In quick succession, we picked up a Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch, all without moving 20 foot! While walking to the original Nuthatch call area, we saw several Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees. Another great sight for me was a female Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Now it was time to hike the mile trail to Lily Point and search for the target Artic bird. About midway, we saw an interesting combination; a Raven gliding through the woods with two Eagles. Arriving at Lily Point which is about 200 feet above the Boundary Bay waters and after setting up the scope, we quickly identified Common Loons, Harlequin Ducks, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Horned Grebes, and Surf Scoters. After about 10 minutes, our target bird appeared-a striking male Long-tailed Duck (Old Squaw)! It disappeared after a few minutes and in about 15 minutes a pair of Long-tailed Ducks appeared for closer viewing. Unfortunately, it was still too far for my 20X Cannon video to capture.

Our next stop was the Marina area of Point Roberts. We picked up a Hooded Merganser, and a Western Meadowlark sitting on a post singing, just like at Viera. Arriving at the waters edge, we picked up a Black Oystercatcher, soon to be joined by four others which flew by us with their ear piercing “wheep, wheep, wheep” going all the way to landing. Many more species were just off the beach-Common Mergansers, Gadwalls, and three cormorant species: Brandt’s, Pelagic, and the Double-crested.

With our target bird in the log book, we drove out of the USA back to B.C.’s Centenial Park again on Boundary Bay. Walking down the trail we observed a Marsh Wren and a Song Sparrow. Once we got up to a view point, we could see Brants, both dark and light-bellied, landing in front of us. Through the scope we could see Black-bellied Plovers, Green-winged Teal, and another lifer, the Eurasian Wigeon. We also had a Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, and more Eagles.

Our next stop was a nearby city park where Great Horned Owls nest. Sure enough, the female was in the same snag as last year working away on her hideout. Hearing an unusual call, we decided to walk through the blackberry brambles. We didn’t find it but the next day my guides identified it as a Bewick Wren. We managed to see a large group of Bushtits, a Golden-crowned Sparrow, and a fleeting view for me of a Hutton’s Vireo. The next weekend I was able to get a good look at the Hutton’s Vireo.

Since we had consumed most of the day, it was time to head to 72nd street area of Boundary Bay and look for the other target Artic species. After searching around The Mansion’s power poles, post, and towers, Grant noticed a large bird sitting on a log about a half mile down the mudflats. We barreled down to the log and were letdown to only see a Peregrine! Just then, I looked back towards the Mansion and noticed another large bird on another log. We again barreled down to it and to my amazement it was the Gyrfalcom we were looking for! Marcy warned me that it would fly soon due to three hunters walking towards it. I started videoing it when it decided to go airborne. It flew what appeared to be several feet off the mudflats and up to the Peregrine log which got him airborne also. As you might expect, an airborne “dog fight” commenced with the Peregrine taking several passes at the Gyrfalcon which then took the Peregrine’s log. What an awesome sight it was with the sun setting over Boundary Bay and watching a falcon sparring match!

Now it was time to look for some more owls! While driving to the cattle barn where I had seen a pair of Barn Owls last year. Grant saw something flying over a grassy field. We stopped and jumped out of the truck just in time to see a Short-Eared Owl sweeping over the field. After parking, we were able to see three hunting back and forth over the field. It was now dark and it was time to search the area around the barn for the Barn Owls. To my amazement and British Columbia, good luck of the day, a Barn Owl flew about 30 foot in front of us with something in tow! After searching for about 10 minutes, we saw it again fly over the truck for one final glimpse.

What a day—75 species including 3 Owl species, 2 Artic lifers which have been at the top of my list, plus 3 other lifers. This combined with the Snowy Owls makes me wonder if this is really a ski trip or a birding adventure trip! I’ve said it before, I love “Natural British Columbia”!