As usual, in 2024 I regularly kayaked on the lakes near our home in Logan Lake. Mamit Lake is my usual destination, just a 10 minute drive from home. But this year the water level in that lake remained high most of the summer, so relatively few shorebirds were using the lake. By late summer this had changed and there were lots of interesting shorebirds there. In addition, I did several trips to Tunkwa Lake which has a rich array of breeding water birds. Here are some photos from both lakes.
All photos © Alan Burger
June & July
Mid-summer is when one sees the best of breeding birds, especially the many waterfowl and grebes that breed on these lakes.
A pair of Lesser Scaup – one of the more common ducks breeding in our area. Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.
Coot are abundant breeders on Tunkwa Lake. 19 June 2024.
Mallard mom with some newly-hatched ducklings. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
Several pairs of Common Loon breed on both lakes. This one allowed a close approach on Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.
Despite all the boat traffic on Tunkwa Lake, this loon managed to hatch a chick, now safely riding on the parent’s back in a quiet backwater. 19 June 2024.
A pair of Red-necked Grebes. The one on the left has its throat inflated – possibly a display. Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.
I discovered this Red-necked Grebe nest tucked into a reed-bed on Tunkwa Lake, 19 June 2024.
Back near the nest site a month later – two of the three eggs in that nest produced grebelings. These kids were constantly begging to be fed. No wonder the parent looks a bit bedraggled compared to a month ago. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
Both Tunkwa and Mamit Lake support large numbers of migrant shorebirds in late summer and autumn, but there are relatively few shorebird species that breed here. These are the most common …..
Wilson’s Snipe is a common local breeder, but they are usually fairly secretive, foraging in the muddy thickets bordering the lakes. Tunkwa Lake, 13 July 2024.
Spotted Sandpipers are probably the most common of the local breeding shorebirds. I regularly count 30-40 on the shores of Mamit Lake. 13 July 2024.
Killdeer are another common local breeder. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
I was very pleased to come across this Sora rail foraging on an open mudflat. One usually hears them calling from the depths of the lakeside vegetation but seldom see them this clearly. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
Eared Grebes nesting in a shallow pond in Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. This pond was rapidly getting shallower but I did see grebe chicks there later in the summer. 23 July 2024.
Water birds are not the only attraction at these lakes. Kayaking along the lake perimeter gives good views of the raptors and bush birds too.
Bald Eagles breed at both lakes, feeding primarily on fish, which they catch at the surface or find dead along the shore. Adult (left) and immature (right), Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.
Savannah Sparrow is a common grassland species, often seen along the lake edges. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
Willow Flycatchers are the most common flycatchers along the lake edges. Mamit Lake, 9 June 2024.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows breed in burrows dug into the steep sand-banks at Mamit Lake. These are newly-fledged juveniles, sitting near their natal nest. Notice the orange gape at the base of the mouth on the right-hand bird – this is an indicator of a recently-fledged bird. 13 July 2024.
A big flock of Brewer’s Blackbirds lives at Tunkwa Lake. Glossy males on the left and a brown female on the right. 18 July 2024.
A male Brown-headed Cowbird in the grassy verge of Mamit Lake. This species is a brood-parasite. The females lay their eggs in the nests of other species, leaving them to raise the chicks. 9 June 2024.
By late July the first migrant shorebirds start using these lakes and nearby ponds on their southward post-breeding migration.
Solitary Sandpipers show up fairly regularly at ponds and lakes in our area. They do breed in the southern interior of BC, but I have yet to find evidence that they breed on our nearby wetlands. Tunkwa Lake, 18 July 2024.
Long-billed Dowitchers were among the first migrant shorebirds to show up on their southward migration. Tunkwa Provincial Park pond, 23 July 2024.
A closer look at a Long-billed Dowitcher, still in its colourful breeding plumage. Tunkwa pond, 23 July 2024.
August
A tranquil scene at Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
By mid- to late-summer the local breeders have large chicks or have completed breeding, and many interesting species that don’t breed here appear at these lakes.
For the past few summers a pair of Herring Gulls has nested on an island close to the camp site at Tunkwa Lake. I suspect they often mooch food from the campers.
By early August this Herring Gull pair had two large fledglings, just learning to fly. Tunkwa Lake, 8 August 2024.
This juvenile Franklin’s Gull was an unexpected visitor at Tunkwa Lake on 8 August. This species breeds on the Prairies, so this bird probably wandered over from Alberta. It was catching insects in the air as it flew over the lake.
A couple of pairs of Belted Kingfishers breed in burrows in the high sand-banks on Mamit Lake. This is a fledgling. 10 August 2024
Migrant shorebirds heading south are one of the key attractants for birders in these wetlands in August through September.
Two common “peeps” that visit our wetlands in late summer – Least Sandpiper (left) and Semi-palmated Sandpiper (right). They can be difficult to identify, but a close look shows differences in their beaks, plumage and leg-colour. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
Baird’s Sandpiper is a relatively rare migrant in the BC Interior. This long-winged shorebird goes all the way to Patagonia during its non-breeding season. Tunkwa Lake, 8 August 2024.
I always enjoy seeing the elegant Lesser Yellowlegs when they visit our wetlands. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
Pectoral Sandpipers are a regular visitor in late summer and fall. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
Big-beaked birds! Local breeder Wilson’s Snipe on the left and migrant visitor Long-billed Dowitcher on the right. Both species use these long beaks to probe into the mud to find invertebrate prey. Mamit Lake, August 2024.
These Red-necked Phalaropes, part of a flock of seven, were an unexpected sight on Mamit Lake, on 23 August. This species breeds on ponds in the arctic tundra. A few pass through our area on their way to their oceanic wintering grounds.
A closer look at one of the Red-necked Phalaropes. These are shorebirds that are adapted to forage on tiny aquatic animals which they catch while swimming or wading. Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.
A lovely group of Lesser Yellowlegs, Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.
Two Stilt Sandpipers were a surprise at Mamit Lake on 23 August. This species is relatively rare in the BC Interior.
Compare the Lesser Yellowlegs (left) with the Stilt Sandpiper (right). The downward curving beak is a key feature of the Stilt Sandpiper. Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.
The passage of many shorebirds, and the presence of many newly-fledged local birds brings raptors.
Peregrine Falcon, Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.
This juvenile Merlin captured and ate a large dragonfly while I was watching. It later posed for a better photograph (right). Mamit Lake, 23 August 2024.
And mammals are also fun to see at the lakes …..
This Mule Deer found a cool shaded spot in a sand-bank on a warm summer’s day. Mamit Lake, August 2024.
I watched this young Mule Deer leave the lake shore and swim several hundred metres to a large vegetated island. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
This Yellow Pine Chipmunk was infected with a parasitic blowfly. Notice the raw spot on its shoulder where a fly maggot is living. Mamit Lake, 10 August 2024.
A family of five River Otters spent the summer on Mamit Lake – providing entertainment on all my visits to that lake. 10 August 2024.
September – October
White Pelicans are regular visitors to Mamit Lake, although we saw fewer this year than in previous summers.
Early fall migrants – Pectoral Sandpipers with two smaller Least Sandpipers. Mamit Lake, September 2024.
Close view of a Pectoral Sandpiper. Mamit Lake September 2024.
Ospreys are regulars at both lakes all summer and into fall. Mamit Lake,21 September 2024.
Same species – different plumages. Long-billed Dowitchers arrive in early summer in their breeding plumages (left; 28 July) but by early fall they are in their basic winter plumage (right; 21 September). Mamit Lake.
These two River Otters were squabbling over the large fish that one had caught. Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.
A curious River Otter that approached to check me out. Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.
Fall colours at Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.
A Great Blue Heron – Mamit Lake, 12 October 2024.
Two species that I only see at Mamit Lake in fall ……..
In October and into November there were about 100 Common Mergansers on Mamit Lake. They don’t breed here and are on their way to their marine wintering grounds. 12 October 2024.
Western Grebes breed on Shuswap Lake at Salmon Arm, over 100 km away, but in fall we usually see a few on Mamit Lake en route to the sea. Notice how this bird tucks its feet up on its back – presumably to keep them out of the cold water. 12 October 2024.
All photos were taken with a Canon 7D MkII with a Canon 300 mm L lens. In the kayak I keep the camera gear in a waterproof drybag which allows quick access but protects the gear.
To see more photos from Mamit Lake from 2020 to 2023 go to this link and scroll down: Nature in BC
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