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19 August 2012

View from "The Shorebird Spot"

Not a lot of birder-accessible shore here in the East Kootenay.

This one, though small, is more important to the shorebirds than to the birders, muddy shore being such a rare commodity, especially this year with having had so much rain.

And, as you may have guessed, it is part of the sewage treatment facilities of the local city - one of a birder's favorite habitats, at least in this part of the world.

When the water level is just right during migration you can usually see:

Sandpipers:
-Least
-Western
-Semi-palmated
-Baird's
-Spotted
-Pectoral
-Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs

As well as:
-Stilt Sandpiper as a special treat
-Ultra-rare White-rumped Sandpiper

Also,
-the so-far ubiquitous Killdeer
-Semi-palmated Plover some years

And usually somewhere nearby:
a half dozen Red-necked and / or Wilson's Phalarope

I believe the birds appreciate the view, too!

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