Isaac and I had planned a drive to this shorebird hot spot in the late summer and fall.  At the last minute Isaac was not able to come but he had arranged for us to meet up with Roger who lives in Salmon Arm and actively birds the area.  The drive is a little over an hour from Kamloops.  Salmon Arm Bay is considered one of the best birding sites in BC and this is particularly true when thousands of shorebirds stop there over the late summer and early fall months.  It is definitely the best shore birding area in the province that is not located along the coast.  Roger knows a way to get out on the mudflats that are exposed in the bay as the water level drops in late summer.  Previously I only only birded the nature trail east of the waterfront, the wharf/pier area, and a small area of mud located in front of a hotel right near the wharf/pier.  We walked through the mud in boots for the better part of 4 hours and the shore birding was great.  Thanks Roger for a great day in Salmon Arm!

I arrived early and so birded the wharf area on my own for 30 minutes or so before meeting Roger near the mudflats.  Always something to see at this great site.

 

Here’s the list from the mudflat/river mouth areas.