Boundary Bay, British Columbia

As the name implies, Boundary Bay is situated near the border of the U.S. ( Washington State) but is confined to the Province of British Columbia. Indeed, as the license plate says ” Beautiful British Columbia”; it is one of my favorite places on Earth. If you can imagine architectural driftwood seeded all along inlets with fog lingering into the morning and majestic mountain ridges bristling in color then you have come to the right place.Â Vancouver is close by. The bay itself has 4 rivers that flow into it and the ocean tides feed a very productive ecosystem. Part brackish ( mixture of salt and freshwater), the mudflats and marshes support a myriad of marine invertebrates which in turn become a food source for fish, mammals and the shorebirds.

It is also a great spot to find wintering and migrating raptor species such as the snowy owl. Wind currents and the overall size of the bay lend itself to be an excellent spot for a bird layover along the Pacific Flyway. The tides swing back and forth and at low tide the sea drains a long distance to reveal a wet sand marsh with small tidal pools as far as the eye can see. Bald eagles are attracted to this as I have counted in the 100’s the many that bask in the days sun for an eventual meal. Mount Baker looms in the distance with its volcanic steam spout capped with snow. The horizon is often filled with shore birds flying in unison maybe as a raptor has launched above. This is a cherished spot to view all these creatures within a beautiful boundary of scenic fauna.