Does anybody know from where I can view the three american avocets that are being reported near the mouth of the Serpentine River?

Today (Oct 19) Boundary Bay was fairly quiet, a Swainson's Thrush in the woodlot near 112th was the lone highlight. A male eurasian wigeon was amongst the american wigeons. Few shorebirds around as well, 40+ Black-bellies, 40+ Long-billed Dowitchers, dozen greater yellowlegs, 10+ Dunlin and a few peeps flying by here and there. Maybe it was the peregrine at the foot of 104th that wouldn't let anything settle.

Thanks,
Ilya

Today I was looking for the three American Avocets along the Serpentine River. I walked about 800m from the mouth to find a series of sheltered lagoons and banks, I'm guessing this is where the avocets normally are. This place was overloaded with DUNLIN and waterfowl. I started scoping the birds mostly MALLARDS, WIGEON GREEN-WINGED TEAL and PINTAIL with a single BUFFLEHEAD and GADWALL present in smaller numbers. I couldn't see the avocet so I decided to wait and see what the dropping tide would produce. While watching 3 COMMON LOONS I looked up to see two TUNDRA SWANS flying overhead, nice surprise. A COMMON MERGANSER and a WESTERN GREBE along with many DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were fishing the river, however it soon started to rain very hard so I decided to head back. I finished the day with a BELTED KINGFISHER perched in dead scrubgrowth above a dyke but no avocets.

Thanks,
Ilya

Sunday Dec. 7 I decided to spend the morning at Mud Bay Park to try and see the Avocets. At the mouth of the river were 6 late GREATER YELLOWLEGS and an additional 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. I headed further up the river and started scoping the concentration of waterfowl. Amongst them I saw the first AMERICAN AVOCET I was watching it feed when the other 2 avocets came in to the view. In the middle of a field I was surprised to see a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK sitting on the ground, it then took off and flew out of sight. About half an hour later I scanned the sparse trees to see what the crows were all excited about to see again a light morp ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK most likely the same one perched a top a bare tree. That's it for now.

By the way does anyone know wether the Mountain Bluebird is still at 64th.

Good Birding,
Ilya

Hello all,

Today (Feb 7) got out and saw the AMERICAN AVOCETS. There were two present near the mouth of the Serpentine river. There haven't been reports of all three seen in quite some time so perhaps one of the birds has departed or maybe even died. Also here was a large flock of 9 GREATER YELLOWLEGS who have been quite plentiful this winter. In a total of about 90 minutes I managed to add two more birds to my growing year list.

Furthermore I thought I'd give better directiion for anyone looking for the avocets. A number of people are looking for them in front of the railway bridge at the very mouth of the river. This is the wrong location. The birds seem to frequent the area slightly upstream in between a large grass spit in the river and where the river becomes narrow. In order to access this area one must cross the rail tracks. There is a path that everyone uses leading across the tracks near the parking lot.

Good luck,
Ilya