Here you go. Notes are from last year. Good luck.

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
tweeters "at" dartfrogmedia "dot" com
www.SongbirdPhoto.com


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DIRECTIONS TO THE BOUNDARY BAY SNOWY OWLS

Take I-5 all the way to Canada. You will be using the Blaine/Peace
Arch border crossing, which means you pretty much just go straight on
the main highway.

At the border, I-5 becomes 99. Follow it several miles north (5-10
minutes) and take Exit 20/Ladner Trunk Rd.

At the light at the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Ladner Trunk
Rd. This may also be called Rt. 10.

72nd St. is several miles down. You'll see the street numbers
indicating you're closing in on it, and there's a traffic light at
the intersection. Turn left onto 72nd st. There's also a sign for the
Boundary Bay Airport.

Go to the end of 72nd street. There is ample parking there. No permit
or fee required.

The dike trail is just a few yards past the parking lot. Turn right
on the trail. The Snowies are in groups along the left side of the
trail, starting almost immediately.

In other words, just two traffic turns from the border, and almost no
walking at all. You will see Snowies within 40-50 feet of the trail.
1-200 yards further on the right is a fenced-in power station where I
saw Short-eared Owls perching and flying at very close range.
Everywhere you will see some Northern Harriers and an occasional
Eagle. In the area are also Snow Geese and Tundra or Trumpeter Swans.

You may also want to visit the Riefel Wildlife Sanctuary while you're
there. Just 20 minutes or less from the Snowies. Enter by 4 pm and
pay $5 per adult. I skipped it because it was nearly 4 pm when I got
there. To get to Riefel, continue west on Ladner Trunk Rd. as far as
you can go, then follow it as it curves to the left and becomes what
I think is called "River Rd" or something similar. There are signs to
the sanctuary. At some point a small sign will direct you to turn
right and pass over a narrow wooden bridge. I stood on that bridge at
4:30 p.m. and looked down upon exquisitely lit Widgeons and Mallards
-- not normally birds you'd think of as extraordinary, but in the
low, reflected light and from the vantage of the bridge, they made
incredible photo subjects.

Riefel is said to have lots of shore birds and currently has Sandhill
Cranes. The sanctuary encourages feeding the birds (a dubious
practice) so many will come quite close to you.

At 03:06 PM 11/10/2012, Teri J Pieper wrote:
>Could someone send me the directions to the area at Boundary Bay
>where Snowy Owls are seen?