A few from the West Coast

My wife and I recently spent a week on Vancouver Island. Most of these were taken on Chesterman Beach which is on the West Coast of Vancouver Island just south of Tofino BC.

First a couple of western sandpiper pics. These birds use this area as a feeding stop on the way to Alaska. I read that they can double their weight in just a few days of resting stop.



Love the way they move in unison - even on foot.

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Brave (or foolish) crow (near Parksville BC):

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The sandpipers, crows, and the seagulls, as shown in this shot, were all eating small worms on the tidal flats.

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I tried to get some decent oystercatcher shots, but they were pretty elusive. The best I managed was a quick flight shot.

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Hi Rory.

I sure could have used a bit more reach for those oystercatchers. They perched on a rock that was just too far offshore to get a decent shot.

We stayed at a bed and breakfast just north of Parksville on the way over and one in Lantzville on the way back - so we were pretty close to your neck of the woods. Both have eagles nesting close by but I didn't get any great shots. Once the eaglets have fledged, they don't hang around so much. Oh well, It was relaxing trip and the Tofino - Uclulet area is spectacular.

 

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.

I felt lucky to get the sandpipers, because it is the tail end of their migration. This group was the only one I saw and they were only on the beach for about an hour out of six days.