These are Dunlin birds, part of the sandpiper family. They travel in synchronized flocks that burst into the air like an undulating cloud. This was a flock of several hundred, and they can get to be ten thousand. They are migratory birds, and are only in Birch Bay for part of the year.
Visited Semiahmoo Spit on Blaine Harbor where a large salmon cannery used to be. It is now abandoned leaving this fishing boat (and the building behind it). At one time the cannery was a big operation - until they fished out the salmon. At the time it seemed like they were so plentiful no one thought it could happen. I discovered a small museum there where I was the only visitor and had a personal tour by a volunteer named Brian who explained the history of the cannery and salmon fishing in the area.
