Some birds of the Tofino shores A photo essay by K. W. Bridgers & N. L. Furumoto 1
2023 © K. W. Bridges & N. L. Furumoto www.kimbridges.com
Cover: Sanderling running on a beach near the town of Tofino, BC, Canada.
All photographs were taken by the authors in September, 2023.
Some birds of the Tofino shores This photo essay serves as a visual log of some avian encounters during our weeklong stay in Tofino. Situated along a coastline teeming with life, the Tofino beaches offered us a front-row seat to birds and behaviors we rarely observe at home. Each set of photograph aims not just to identify the species, but also to encapsulate a few aspects in its daily life—something often overlooked in conventional identification guides. Take a close look; you might spot a bird mid-snack and see a small but significant slice of its natural behavior. The photographs here were taken while working under the two great challenges of bird photography: finding the birds and hanging around long enough to observe (and hopefully record) their behavior. We extend our gratitude to our friends and colleagues, Will and Valerie, who accompanied us on most of our photography excursions. Their patience and appreciation for the meditative pace of bird photography allowed us time to take these images.
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The small town of Tofino is located on the western side of Vancouver Island. A single road, Highway 4, connects this area to the eastern shore of the island. In this document, the term “Tofino” refers to the extensive beach areas that are found to the southeast of the town.
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Adrian Dorst helped us find birds in the field, told us great stories about the Tofino region and wrote a most useful book about the distribution patterns of the local birds. We wouldn’t have seen, or understood, nearly as much without Adrian’s assistance. Thanks, Adrian. 3
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Preface We ventured to Tofino, a gem tucked away on Vancouver Island, to immerse ourselves in the grandeur of nature where temperate rainforests collide dramatically with the untamed Pacific. Here, expansive, flat beaches are framed by towering trees adorned with a layer of moss. These sentinels create an abrupt barrier that extends to the distant mountain ranges. Amidst the crashing waves, jagged rock formations form tiny, isolated islands. The unceasing roll of the breakers brings in the water where it gently flows across the sand. Except when there are storms. The pounding waves have left behind a jumble of massive, weathered tree limbs. These relics of the forest bear silent testimony to the ocean’s might and the reach of its high ferocity.
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We were here during a period of relative calm. The waves were moderate. Morning fog dissipated by mid-morning. There were days with blue skies. Only one day did we have some light rain. Our time on the beach was split between walks at the waterline and around the shallow pools that take shape in the beach’s depressions. Some of these water features are remnant tide pools while others are created by freshwater trickling down from the adjacent forest. The twice-daily tidal flux serves as the heartbeat of the shoreline. This can produce a massive change as the tidal range is about 13 feet (4 meters). The alternate flooding and drying creates a rich habitat for a myriad of sand-dwelling invertebrates. To us, these are cryptic animals who surface to feed at high tide before vanishing seamlessly into the sand as the water retreats. For avian visitors that are able to probe beneath the surface, this sandy expanse becomes a veritable banquet hall. Birds also find ample sustenance in the algae-covered rocks. Waves wash, in tidal rhythms, this algal forest that hosts colonies of barnacles and mussels. Just like the nearby sandy shore, the use of these rocks as a feeding ground is periodically concealed and revealed by the tides.
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A Greater Yellowlegs looks at the photographer. 8
Index
Sanderling
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Marbled Godwit
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Killdeer
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Greater Yerllowlegs
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Black Oystercatcher
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American Crow
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Turkey Vulture
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Sanderling
Calidris alba Pallas, 1764
Sanderlings were the first of the shoreline birds we photographed. We spotted a flock far down the beach right at the edge of the waterline. The sand holds a lot small animals and is a rich feeding ground for these birds. At first, the birds were too far away to get good photos. Approaching slowly, the birds sensed an intrusion and ran, as a group, farther down the beach. Sometimes, an attempt to get closer resulted in the flock flying, again in unison. Seeing the birds flying together, almost in perfect synchrony, is a surprising event. The flock heads one way and then quickly turns in another direction. This behavior must foil predators who try to catch a single bird. For us “non-predators,” it’s a visual treat.
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The beauty of these birds is enhanced when you see them flying.
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Eventually, the birds land after making a few turns as they fly up and down the beach. Fortunately, they usually landed near where they started. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to keep up with them.
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The flock seemed to behave in unison when the birds were not feeding. The birds ran fast when it was time to move.
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The sanderlings probe the sand, looking for worms and crustaceans. These were very active birds. They move up and down the beach as the waves come ashore.
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It was a surprise to encounter a few sanderlings in a pond away from the shoreline. Here, they were hunting both in the water and among the rocks at the side of the pond.
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Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa Linnaeus, 1758
Adrian spotted a few of these birds when we were quite a distance away. They are quite large and stand on long legs. The primary characteristic is the very long, upturned bill. We approached a group of four birds cautiously. Soon, they were taking a brief bath in a shallow pond a bit back from the shoreline. Each bird splashed in the water then stretched its wings to shake off any residual water. Creeping closer, we didn’t seem to bother this small flock. They began poking into sand looking for food as they slowly walked along.
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Bathing was a quick dip and shake. This produced some splashing. It was followed by preening and stretching. The clean birds were then ready to move on.
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A lot of bird activity was centered around decaying marine vegetation. The Marbled Godwit can probe deeply with its long bill.
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Adrian suggested that we move to the shoreward side of the birds for better photo lighting. Once we were repositioned, the Marbled Godwits started walking right toward us. They seemed quite unafraid as they passed closely by us. This provided a surprisingly good opportunity to take close-up photos, something most of the other shore birds didn’t allow. We got a glimpse of one bird finding a small animal in the sand. This tiny morsel of food disappeared quickly.
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Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758
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We found a single Killdeer in a shallow ponds that was well away from the shoreline. It walked in the water and along the sand and mud at the pond’s edge. None of this bird’s attempts to capture food appeared to be successful. We were, perhaps, a little too close to it and broke its attention on finding a meal.
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The contrasting bands of black and white on the Killdeer’s breast make this an attractive bird.
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Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca JF Gmelin, 1789
This Greater Yellowlegs was the only one we saw. We watched this individual work the shallow pond that is a bit inland from the shoreline. The bird seemed to be unconcerned about our presence.
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This Greater Yellowlegs was able to capture at least three small fish in just a few minutes. Each fish was positioned just right before swallowing. This sometimes required a bit of bill shaking. This bird didn’t seem to be in a rush to swallow its catch. Getting the small fish properly oriented appeared to be the central concern.
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Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani Audubon, 1838
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We found flocks of Black Oystercatchers in several locations. Most of the places were rock outcrops in the ocean. Photographing the birds in these places was a challenge as they were at the limit of the telephoto lens. There were a few sighting closer to the shore but here the birds were quick to leave as we got close.
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The striking contrast of the reddish bill with the black-brown body make this species a visual treat. The bird’s eye stands out, too. The combination of red rim, yellow interior and black pupil seem to constantly stare at you, even when seen at a distance.
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Capturing photos of these birds in flight was nearly impossible. Mostly, we saw the birds flying away as they retreated from us. In the short glimpses we got, we saw that the color of the wings mirrors that of the bird’s body when it is standing.
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The bold colors of the bird’s bill and eye can keep you from noticing that the legs and feet are pink. That “misdirection” is unfortunate as the genus name, Haematopus, refers to this characteristic (Wikipedia: haima αἳμα = “blood”; pous πούς = “foot”).
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Black Oystercatchers feed in the intertidal mussel and barnicle zone that forms on the rocky outcrops. The bird’s long bill lets it probe deeply through the algal mat in search of small animals. Even at a great distance we were able to spot a few birds capturing a bit of food.
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American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, 1822
Some people will be surprised that we’re calling these birds the “American Crow.” For a long time, the crows in this area were known as the “Northwestern Crow” (Corvus caurinus). In 2020, the American Ornithological Union, the body that oversees bird namekeeping, decided that the available evidence justified absorbing the Northwester Crow into the American Crow. Such decisions are never easy nor without controversy.
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Finding a large flock of Amercan Crows on the beach was a complete surprise. Nonetheless, these birds seemed quite at home as they either probed the sand for critters or poked in the algae convering the nearby rocks. These omnivorous birds got very messy as sand clung to their bill and feathers. The light rain wasn’t enough to wash them clean.
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Probing in the sand resulted in long trails of holes. It was hard to see if this activity was very successful, although sometimes it did look like an individual had found something edible. What was very obvious was the amount of probing a small group of birds had done. The sand had rows and rows of small pellets as a result of the feeding activity.
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These are gregarious birds. Many of the solitary individuals seemed unafraid when they were approached.
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The rain didn’t appear to interrupt the foraging activities of the crows. The birds’ feathers were wet and discheveled; water beaded on their back. They kept looking for food, often finding it by probing into the matrixt of both living and dead algae. Taking photos in the rain wasn’t very pleasant as there was the worry of water damage to the equipment. In the end, we and our equipment survived.
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Several individuals found small animals while we watched. Eating just a few of these morsels is likely to result in a good meal, sufficient for a morning hunt. It wasn’t just small animals that were the crow’s target. Pieces of algae, removed after a barrage of pecking, appeared to be another source of desirable food. All of this feeding activity, especially the variety in the way the birds found food, gives us a new perspective on this species.
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Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura Linnaeus, 1758 One Turkey Vulture flew overhead. It wasn’t there long. This is likely an unusual sighting. This bird seemed to be looking at us as it circled. Flight appeared to be effortless perhaps due to onshore winds being directed upwards as they encounter the abrupt forest adjacent to the beach.
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