DNCB Outing No. 2012-3 to Beach Grove and BBRP Parks, Tsa Ferry Port and TFN

Ten birders (Ken & Anne, Johnathan & Lorraine, Roger, Mike, Lorna, Hans, Eleanor and me) spent a cold, miserable morning at Beach Grove Park, Boundary Bay Regional Park (BBRP), Tsa Tsu Shores, Tsawwassen Ferry Port, and on the Tsawwassen First Nations reserve (TFN).  Hi-lites were: Great-horned Owl, Brant Geese, Western Grebes, Black-bellied Plovers, a Rough-legged Hawk , and a very enjoyable Smoko at the Si’em Cafe on the TFN.  Check out Jonathan’s photos on our Picasa site at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding and our DNCB Blog at:  http://dncb.wordpress.com .

Desolate and Dejected Birders. Jonathan Mwenifumbo picture.

From Petra’s at 8:00a.m. we first went to Beach Grove Park to check for the nesting Great Horned Owls.  Roger found one adult roosting in a conifer that was “pruning” according to Lorna (preening?).  We looked in vain for the partner and the nest.  Perhaps it’s a bit early, but hopefully we will have GHO activity for our Feb. 24 joint outing with the Langley and WRS Naturalists’ clubs.  Several Downies and Northern Flickers were drumming in the trees around.  We left the 20+ dog walkers there to check out BBRP at the foot of 12th Ave.  Lots of Golden-crowned and House Sparrows and House Finches at the entrance.  Not much in the close-by marsh, but the flock of 200 Brant Geese was near the Lookout.  A couple of Eurasian Wigeons were spotted among them and the American Wigeons.  We met Big Rick who later saw some banded birds among the Brants.  Next stop was the Heronry at Tsa Tsu Shores.  Only a few Great Blues in the trees, but a dark Red-tailed Hawk stood out on a branch for us.  We checked the feeders on the beach side of the Condos, but saw no hummingbirds (Annas are still at my home feeders).  There were Black Oystercatchers, Surf Scoters, Common Goldeneye Bufflehead, common Loons, Horned Grebes, more Brant Geese and Double-crested Cormorants in the Bay on both sides of the causeway to the Ferry Port.  We saw a couble of Western Grebes, but could not find the Clarke’s Grebe or the Surfbirds.

The rain was spitting off and on and it was quite chilly, so we decided to check out the new Si’em Cafe on the TFN.  The staff was very friendly and the Chili was very tasty and warmed me up nicely.  I think it was Robin who took our mandatory Group Photo.  Ken and Anne wimped out, but the rest of us soldiered  on around the TFN.  In a field near the start of 41B Street, a flock (200+) of Black-bellied Plovers caught our attention.  They were close to us, but we could not pick out any Golden Plovers, although lots of Dunlin were among them.  They were not bothered when Northern Harriers flew over them, but Bald Eagles occasionally raised them into a neat swarm before relanding.  My passengers were getting a bit edgy at the sound of my gas gauge ringing, so we decided to return to Petra’s.  Along 28 Ave. we saw a few Trumpeter Swans and another Red-tailed hawk, but no Gyr Falcon.  Then on 52nd Street, I stopped near a telephone pole, raising the fear in my passengers of being stranded; however, we were treated to a brilliant Rough-legged Hawk posing, then flying for a good photo op.  We got back to Petra’s safe and sound, and I went to Point Bob for gas.  Not a sterling morning of birding, but we saw some nice stuff, and had a helluva good time doing it.

Next Monday, January 30, the DNCB outing will be at Burnby Lake Park.  I will be at Petra’s for departure and car-pooling at 8:00a.m., but others (Russell, Mike) may wish to meet us at the Nature House in the park when we arrive, I suspect just before 9:00a.m.  Again, comments welcome, and let me know if this gibberish annoys you and you want off my List.

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

DNCB Outing No. 2012-2 to Elgin Park and Blackie Spit

Eleven birders (Ken & Anne, Bryan & Janet, Jonathan & Lorraine, Anne M, Lorna, White Rock Al, John Mac and me) enjoyed a chilly but fun Monday morning in South Surrey at Elgin Heritage Park and Blackie Spit. We saw a lot of neat species today including: Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Dowitchers and other wintering Shorebirds, several Varied Thrushes and lots of duck species in beautiful plumage. As nice as the birds were, the hi-lite was “Smoko” and the chicken noodle soup at the Esquire Café followed with one of Lorna’s PB sandwiches. See Jonathan’s entertaining photos (and hopefully Ken’s soon) on our Picasa site at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

We all met at about 8:30 a.m. at the Elgin Park parking lot next to the historic Stewart Farm House. Anne M spotted a Pacific Wren there, one of three Wren species with Bewick’s and Marsh that we saw today. A Red-tailed Hawk looked down on us as we cased a flock of American Wigeon at the marina, finally Ken found a beaut Eurasian Wigeon (one of several seen today). In the Nicomekl River, and close for viewing, were Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Northern Pintail,  Lots of Bald Eagles around scaring up the hundreds of Wigeon and Mallards. House Finches were brilliant red, with other Sparrow (Song, Fox, Golden-crowned) species in the shrubs too. Walking through the Park, White Rock Al described the various tree species, including Sitka Spruce, and we saw a colourful Golden-crowned Kinglet and the Bewick’s Wren. Several Varied Thrush hung around us for good looks. Among the Green-winged Teal in a pond area was a flock of about 20 Dowitchers, likely Long-billed. Jonathan got a neat shot of a Downy Woodpecker eating a just-caught bug. The wandering minstrel Bob Hoskins took our mandatory Group Photo, with his trusty canine Will included in the shot.

Anne M started to whine about cold feet, so we hustled back to the vehicles, and then quickly drove to Ken & Anne’s recommended Esquire Coffee House on Crescent Road at 128^th Street to enjoy our Smoko.   Anne M felt better, so we decided to check out Blackie Spit. Ring-billed Gulls welcomed us in the beach parking lot. We scanned the ducks in the river for the Curlew and Godwits, but no luck there, but did see two more Eurasian Wigeon. We walked to the Rene Savenye area and Jonathan unknowingly photographed a bird in the reeds which turned out to be a Marbled Godwit. The Long-billed Curlew was nearby too. Lorna spotted her destination bird, the Belted Kingfisher, while the rest of us enjoyed the appearances of several Yellowlegs, probably both Greater and Lesser, Killdeer and Dunlin. About 20 Double-crested Cormorants formed an interesting photo op roosting on individual stumps all in a row. A silver male Northern Harrier resting on the ground was also an entertaining sighting. Despite the whining, depolarizing wedding chatter and lack of a Scope Bearer, it was an awesome morning.

I will be at Petra’s next Monday, January 23 around 7:30 a.m. for departure at 8:00 a.m. on an outing “somewhere around the Bay”. As usual, comments welcome, check out our DNCB Blog at: http://dncb.wordpress.com/, and let me know if you want to be removed from my List.

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society 

Bird Box Opening at BBRP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Outlines Our Strategy

 

Eight Delta Nats spent a glorious Thursday morning “opening and cleaning” the 28 bird nesting boxes at Boundary Bay Regional Park. Bird Box Guru Don Farquhar dropped by at 9:30 a.m. at our 12^th Street parking lot meeting place to give us a “revised” map. We split into two groups: Roger, Ken, Alan and Donna did the boxes closest to the parking lot; Terry, Gerhard, Jean and I did the ones at the other side, near the Lookout.

Of course there was continuous boring chatter, but we did see some neat birds too. A beautiful pair of Hooded Mergansers was in the stream right at the park entrance. Lots of Green-winged Teal around and the Brant Geese too. Tall Rick dropped by and gave his spiel to Group One on the different “races” of Brants here. He also saw a Eurasian or Common Teal among the GWT’s. There were lots of Sanderling, Dunlin and Yellowlegs (both Greater and Lesser) foraging along the shore.

 

 

Ken Opens a Box...Two Rats Jumped Out of One!

 

All boxes were opened and cleaned; nests and debris were removed from several boxes. One nest had a complete egg shell on it, but Terry lost it scrambling through the briars. Two rats were in one of Group One’s boxes and a mouse jumped on Terry from one of the boxes he opened. We almost lost petit Jean when she sank into 4 feet of water, but we saved her. Fun stuff, eh? The nests removed were different, but we were not able to identify bird species (Swallows, Sparrows, other?) using the boxes. Generally, the boxes were in good condition; Willi did a great job “repairing” many last Spring. Two boxes were removed for Terry and/or Geof to repair and put back up this Spring. Terry, Donna and Jean have offered to combine the information we collected this morning to create a comprehensive list of the status of each Box, and revise the map with exact location of each box.

Richard Describes Different Brant Races

We retired to Geof and Jean’s home for coffee and cookies. While Geof was spilling coffee all over the counter, I opened and cleaned one of Don’s boxes in the marsh in their back yard. Awesome morning! We will schedule a morning in March(?) to “close” the boxes before the migrants arrive. Roger/Donna and Ken took photos and hopefully they will add them to this report that I will put on our Blog at: Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

DNCB Outing No. 2012-1 to Tsawwassen Ferry and Delta Container Ports and Brunswick Point

I’m baack!!! Happy New Year. Eleven birders (Roger, Hans-Ulf, Lorna, Terry, Ken & Anne, and four Newbies John McFarland, Julie, Bryan & Janet, and me) spent a mild Monday morning at the Tsawwassen Ferry Port, then the Deltaport Container Port, then Brunswick Point. We saw lots of neat stuff; some hi-lites being a Gyrfalcon, three Peregrine Falcons, Western Meadowlarks, both Snowy and Short-eared Owls, lots of diving Ducks and, the coup-de-grace was the return of Lorna’s PB sandwiches. Check out Terry’s excellent photos on our DNCB Picasa site at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

Our three car convoy left Petra’s shortly after 8:00 a.m. First stop was the pull-off on the causeway at the entrance to the toll booths at the Ferry Port. The tide was very high but there were only hundreds of birds in the Bay, not thousands that we saw on our outing there before Christmas. Lots of Mallards and American Wigeon, and the neat “plumaged” ducks seen were Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Surf Scoters, Common Loons, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Scaup, Horned Grebes and a posing Black Oystercatcher. We drove through Tsawwassen First Nations (TFN) reserve and the farmers’ fields toward the Delta Container Port, stopping to check out the many feeding Trumpeter Swans but not seeing any Tundra’s this time. Roger’s car saw the first of three Peregrine Falcons on the TFN property, also Northern Flickers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Sparrows. We parked legally, for a change, at the Deltaport Tug Harbour where lots of the same species we saw faraway at the Ferry Port were up-close-and-personal here. Lorna’s Harbour Seal surfaced for us and a friendly Security Guard took our mandatory Group Photo.

At Brunswick Point, we had our Smoko, and the always-affable Lorna, who returned to the fold following her several week Tai Fung hiatus, regaled us with her signature Peanut Butter Sandwiches.

Savouring Lorna's Peanut Butter Sandwiches

The four Newbies were almost impressed. In the Fraser River, the new species we saw were a few of the resident Canoe Pass Mute Swans (first year birds) begging for food, and a Common Merganser. Lots of Double-crested Cormorants, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks around, one RTH with a very long weird bill (see photos). A couple of dogs were chasing birds in a field near the road at the Brunswick trail entrance, and the birds were a few gorgeous Western Meadowlarks. We walked the dike path toward the Snowy Owl hangout area and we counted seven beauties in the marsh, plus two of Lorna’s “Trumpeter Snowies”. We were also enthralled by the fly-pasts of at least two Short-eared Owls, who on occasion would fly directly into one’s binocular view. I never get tired of seeing an owl’s face flying right at me. Before getting in our vehicles to leave Brunswick, a Rough-legged Hawk landed on a barn, then moved to a Pine Tree, for a photo shoot. Then on the way back to Petra’s we stopped to see what we thought was a Peregrine Falcon on a telephone pole near the Musqueum dumpy place on 34th Street – it was a Gyrfalcon (which I had been searching for in vain all Winter). We saw two more Peregrine Falcons; one on a hydro tower at the new Deltaport Road overpass and another on a fence post near the turn onto 52nd Street. So we saw lots of neat stuff and as usual, the comradery and conversation was very close to being interesting and entertaining.

On Monday evening we had our first 2012 Delta Nats monthly meeting where Terry Carr gave an awesome and riveting photo-presentation on the Birds, Animals and People of Tanzania, where he and Janan spent three weeks last Spring. Next “event” for us is the “Bird Nest Box Opening” at Boundary Bay Regional Park on Thursday, Jan. 12, meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the 12th Street entrance. Volunteers needed to open and clean out our 28 boxes in BBRP. I will be at Petra’s next Monday morning, January 16 for departure at 8:00 a.m. on a DNCB outing “somewhere around the Bay”. There are a few Reports on outings in December which were not circulated (my computer is acting up); check them out on our DNCB Blog at: http://dncb.wordpress.com/. Again, comments encouraged and let me know if you want off my List to receive this drivel.

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

Photos by Terry Carr. Double-click on the photos to enlarge them.
More photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

Red-tailed Hawk with deformed beak

Northern Harrier

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

DNCB Outing #2011-49 Brunswick Point December 19

Tom Tells a Bird Joke

Considering how close it was to Christmas we had a good turnout on a chilly, damp morning. Ken and Anne, Anne Murray, Mike, Alan, Kay, Donna, Tom and Roger met at Petra’s to decide on the morning’s venture. Due to Tom having some lame excuse for having to leave early we decided to stay close to home and go to Brunswick Point which actually turned out to be a good choice! On the way we passed through the TFN lands but little was seen aside from large numbers of Northern Pintail, a few Northern Flickers, Song Sparrows, Bald Eagles and the usual European Starlings. A small number of Trumpeter Swans were found along 33rd. Along the River Road Dike Ken sighted a female Belted Kingfisher and a juvenile Northern Shrike. On the river were a few Horned Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Northern Pintail, Mallards, Mew Gulls, a Red-breasted Merganser and one Long-tailed Duck. Further along the river the first of several Western Grebes were seen. Farther along River Road we stopped for good views of a Rough-legged Hawk preening. The dike trail at Brunswick rewarded us with some excellent birds. From the first benchs we were able to see 9 Snowy Owls with one upended tree stump having 6 perched on it.

Six Fuzzy Snowy Owls Way Out in the Marsh

Anne M sighted a Fox Sparrow and some Purple Finches which she has some uncanny ability to distinguish from House Finches (we are all envious and will double our efforts to develop this skill). Somehow, Kay picked out a Marsh Wren in the jungle of reeds and we were all able to get some good looks at it. A Peregrine Falcoln flew over our heads after scaring up the ducks on the foreshore and many Northern Harriers and three, or four, Short-eared Owls were hunting over the marsh.

Short-eared Owl in the Marsh

Large flocks of Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin were flying over the shore line. Also seen were numbers of Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Mallard. Our numbers dwindled as first to leave was Tom, followed shortly after by Ken and Anne. The hardier members carried on and had a great view of another Peregrine perched in a tree more owls (Snowy and Short-eared) and a group of seven Long-tailed Ducks inside the river mouth. We pondered the question of what these sea ducks were finding to eat in the brackish river water? It was interesting also that their diving was synchronous. We also wondered if the Western Grebes at the mouth of the river were the same ones that in previous years would hang around the Westham Island bridge? Quite a few Bald Eagles and a few Red-tailed hawks had been seen at various points on the trip. Due to impending hypothermia we decided to call it a day and we all felt it had been a fairly rewarding experience.
Lorna, if you read this, you will see what you are missing for those Kung Fu lessons you are taking. Next week, being Boxing Day, and the 27th being the Ladner Christmas Bird Count, we will not be having our regular Casual Birding trip. Watch for Tom’s e-mail regarding the following week’s trip. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year…see you all in January.

DNCB Birds-on-the-Bay Outing in BBRP

About 20 participants enjoyed a cool and overcast (but dry) morning at Boundary Bay Regional Park on the quarterly Delta Nats Casual Birds-on-the-Bay outing. Hi-lites were the Brant Geese, a brilliant Hooded Merganser, some almost-interesting chatter, and a delicious gourmet lunch including home-made scones and cookies made by the Delta Nats Ladies (Thanks Jennifer, Eleanor and Rochelle). Terry’s beautiful photos of this outing are on our DNCB Picasa site at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

We left historic Cammidge House at 9:00 a.m. to walk toward Centennial Beach. The ditch was frozen so no ducks there, and the bushes were quiet too, except for a Red-tailed Hawk, probably one of the BBRP residents. In the unfrozen part of the Beach pond were Mallards, Northern Shovelers and American Wigeon (but no Eurasian seen there today, but a couple seen later in the Bay). The tide was very high so no shoreline was available for Shorebirds to feed on. We saw a couple of small flocks of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers fly past, and higher up were V’s of Snow Geese. A raft of Greater Scaup was quite close to shore, while Surf and White-winged Scoter were further out. A Horned Grebe was diving in front of us. In the “new spit” closer to 12th Avenue, there were large flocks of Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Canada Geese and I guess around a hundred Brant Geese (we did not spot any leg bands). Bald Eagles would occasionally fly by arousing the waterfowl. Northern Harriers flew by too, but they did not faze the ducks. A gorgeous male Hooded Merganser posed for us in the pond by the pump station. From the Lookout we saw a few Sanderlings foraging in the mud. On our walk back through the interior of the Park, we saw lots of Sparrows, mostly Golden-crowned, Song and Fox. Anne’s sub-group saw some Purple Finches. We saw lots of other “regular stuff” (e.g. Towhees, Robins, Juncos, etc.), but were blanked on our/my target birds (e.g. Northern Shrike, Western Meadowlark and even Wrens; Marsh, Bewick’s or Pacific). I was hoping we might see a Warbler too, but didn’t. Our eagle-eye and “suspect birder” Roger spotted a Snowy Owl across the Bay at 72nd Street as well as his uncle skiing on Grouse Mountain 30 miles away. Anyhow, it was a very pleasant morning, with some nice new folk, several of whom wolfed down the Delta Nats Ladies’ goodies as if they had missed the Sally Ann breadline. Roger took the mandatory Group Photo on the CH steps. Check it out, along with previous reports (including last Monday’s which I had difficulty sending) on our DNCB Blog at: http://dncb.wordpress.com/.

Don’t forget the Christmas Bird Counts; Vancouver’s on Dec. 18, our Ladner CBC on Tuesday, Dec. 27 and the White Rock/Surrey CBC on January 2. Next DNCB outing is Monday, December 19 leaving Petra’s at 8:00 a.m. Again, comments welcome, and let me know if you want off this list.

Tom Bearss
President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

DNCB Outing No. 2011-49 to Ferry Port and Reifel

Reifel Rowdies

Six DNCBer’s (Mike, Roger, Hans, Anne M, Terry and me) enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Monday morning of birding at the Tsawwassen Ferry Port and then at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Hi-lites were: sunrise looks at hundreds of waterfowl in the Bay at the Ferry Terminal, two Tundra Swans among a flock of 50+ Trumpeters, feeding the resident and the wild Sandhill Cranes from my hand, and the pizza and beer at the Landing Pub in Ladner. Should be some interesting photos, including the mandatory Group Shot, by Terry and Roger on our Picasa site soon at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

We left Petra’s shortly after 8:00 a.m. and stopped at the pull-off area just before the toll booths at the Tsawwassen Ferry Port. It was high tide and there were a few Western and Horned Grebes along the shore. Large rafts of American Wigeon and Mallards in the Bay with some Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Common Loons and Common Goldeneye cruising with them. Several Black Oystercatchers also flew past and a couple of small swarms of Dunlin were hanging around, occasionally leaving their resting spot on the spit. Bald Eagles constantly raised the ducks and we watched one juvenile dine on a female Bufflehead on a lamp post just above us. Lots of Double-crested Cormorants around too; one entertained us with its 10 minute antics trying to swallow a large Flounder. The drive to Reifel was uneventful, until a Port Security Guard gave me static for stopping in the middle of the road near the Container Port entrance. We were looking, in vain, for the Gyrfalcon that was seen there yesterday. We continued on and stopped by a field of Trumpeter Swans. Among the 40+ birds were two Tundra Swans which we studied ad nauseam, noting the differences and similarities.

At Reifel there were 5 Lesser Scaup in the bit of open water behind the Welcome Centre. Although it seemed quite mild, most ponds at Reifel were frozen so fewer ducks in the reserve. Three resident Black-crowned Night Herons were there and the regular four Sparrow species (Song, Fox, Golden- and White-crowned) were hanging around feeders. The resident male Sandhill Crane ate peanuts from my hand; later on at the Tower, one of four visitor Sandhill Cranes also ate from my hand (unexpected but neat stuff).

Tom Risks Losing a Finger

From the Tower, we could see skiers on Cypress Mountain, but focused more on the thousands of Snow Geese in the marsh and just off shore. A few Cranes gave us a brilliant fly-past as a lone uninterested Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree beside us. In another bit of open water along the west dike, 4 pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks along with a pair of Hooded Mergansers graciously posed in the sun for us. The Black-capped Chickadees were particularly hungry and friendly this morning, eating sunflower seeds from my hand, and off my hat (I love to entertain the photogs). Although we saw lots of other “regular” stuff too, it was not a banner day for neat species, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Since my peanuts were the only sustenance for the morning, Roger, Mike and I decided to lunch at the Landing Pub in Ladner. The beer and “weird name” Pizza were awesome, so the inane conversation did not bother me a bit.

Tonight, Cammidge House was packed as the Delta Nats Society celebrated Christmas (lots of wine and home-made goodies) and then Vancouver Aquarium’s Danny Kent gave a fascinating and engaging presentation on Arctic Marine Life. This Wednesday, December 14, we have our quarterly Birds on the Bay outing at Boundary Bay Regional Park, leaving from Cammidge House at 9:00 a.m. followed with goodies prepared by the Delta Nats Ladies. Don’t forget the Christmas Bird Counts, Vancouver’s on Dec. 18 and our Ladner CBC on Tuesday, December 27. Next scheduled DNCB will be Monday, December 19 leaving Petra’s at 8:00 a.m. It’s 2:00 a.m. and I’m tired of writing this crap. If you feel the same about reading it, let me know and I will take you off the list. Meanwhile, comments encouraged and check out our DNCB Blog (http://dncb.wordpress.com/) for other reports and photos.

Tom Bearss
President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

Photos by Terry Carr. Double-click on the photos to enlarge them.
More photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

Bald Eagle eating female Bufflehead

Tundra swan (yellow on beak) with Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter Swans

Tom feeding Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

Wood Ducks

Black-capped Chickadees

DNCB Outing No. 2011-47 White Rock Pier/Blackie Spit/72nd

Photo by Roger Meyer

Even with a cold morning we had a large turnout at Petra’s. Without our leader, Tom (we had fun coming up with imaginative excuses he may have had for abandoning us…we won’t print Hans’s winner), we decided to drive directly to the White Rock pier hoping to see a variety of sea birds. Those taking part included Kay, Hans, Chuck, Marion, Kathleen, Terry, Peggy, Mike, Roger, and, thankfully, Anne who we needed for identifying the difficult plumaged birds. Arriving at the pier some of us paid for parking although it wasn’t (we find out later) required until 10:00am. No names mentioned. There we met Anne and Ken, who live in Surrey, and proceeded out over the water. Fewer birds than expected were seen but included: Horned and Western Grebes, White-winged and Surf Scoters, Greater Scaup, Buffleheads, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Loons (in the far distance), Double-crested Cormorants, a Pelagic Cormorant, seen from above, swimming under us, various gulls including a relatively uncommon Western. We spent some time working on identifying the various plumages of the juvenile and female Scoters and Scaup.
Having exhausted White Rock we moved on to Blackie Spit where the high tide had forced the water birds to the upper shore line. Here we found large numbers of American Wigeon, with a few Eurasian. Terry found one exhibiting hybrid characteristics of the Eurasian and American. There were lots of Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Mallards, Double-crested Cormorants and three Marbled Godwits and some several Western Grebe. A few Greater Yellowlegs were at the far west end of the waterway to the south. In a Crab Apple tree we sighted a number of what we thought were House Finches but were actually Purple Finches. We spent some time observing and learning from Anne how to separate the two species, something most of us always have difficulty with. A highlight was the sighting of a small group of Evening Grosbeaks feeding on Crab Apples. Terry managed to get photos of them, including a beautiful male, with perfect lighting. What was exciting was that very few Evening Grosbeaks have been seen in recent years where in the past large flocks were common in the winter months on the lower mainland.
At one point, at the spit, Anne drew our attention to the quiet, calm, and relatively unhurried feeling of the trip and we were unable to account for the difference. We’ll have to ponder that one!
Looking out to the north from the parking lot we saw some small groups of Common Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebes, a few more Long-tailed Ducks, a few Common Mergansers flying by, and a few more Common Loons.
At this point, Ken and Anne left us and we decided to head to 72nd since a few of us hadn’t seen the Snowy Owls yet. We had great success there with Hans counting fourteen with one only 20 meters off the trail affording great photo oportunities. Also, on the farm side of the trail two Short-eared Owls were patrolling and occasionaly interacting with the Northern Harriers. Driving back along 72nd we sighted a tree with more than twenty-one Eurasion Collared Doves and many more on the wires above (Double-click on the photo to enlarge it).

Count the Collared Doves - photo by Roger Meyer

A very productive day, and the sun had come out making it a very pleasant experience. Stay tuned for an announcement from Tom regarding plans for next week and a possible change of meeting time at Petra’s.

Photos by Terry Carr. Double-click on the photos to enlarge them.
More photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

Long-tailed Ducks

Marbled Godwits, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail

Evening Grosbeak

Purple Finch

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

DNCB Outing No. 2011-47 to 64th and 72nd Streets on the Dike

Seven Casual Birders (Hans, Roger, Mike, Jonathan & Lorraine, Terry and me; Kay apparently cannot tell time so she missed us and birded alone at Boundary Bay Park) enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Monday morning along the Boundary Bay dike path at 64th and 72nd Streets. It was a banner morning for up-close-and-personal looks at several interesting species including: Snowy and Short-eared Owls, Rough-legged, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Merlin, Western Meadowlarks, Orange-crowned Warbler and several Shorebird and Duck species, including Eurasian Wigeons. Don’t miss checking out Terry’s and Jonathan’s photos which I expect to be posted shortly on our Picasa site: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

We left Petra’s at 8:00 a.m. and stopped on 28th Avenue just before 64th Street to photograph a posing Cooper’s Hawk that Jonathan spotted. Then we turned the corner onto 64th where a flock (~200 birds) of Shorebirds was feeding in a field. We scanned in vain to pick out an American Plover or a different sandpiper among the many Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin. Hans, our introverted Germanic Canadian, categorically identified several rarities, but no one believed him. At the foot of 64th on the dike, we were welcomed by an adult Bald Eagle in the tree. Baldies have certainly returned to the Delta area as we saw many today including one tree on 72nd with 10 roosting in it. While surveying the marsh and the many Northern Harriers, we investigated a crow-like bird perched in a bush beside us, and it was a Merlin. Walking along the path, trying to avoid the fresh horse dung, we saw lots of Sparrows including White- and Golden-crowned, and a neat Orange-crowned Warbler (and perhaps an American Tree Sparrow). At the ponds between the Greenhouse and house, among the Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Coots, Mallards and American Wigeon, there were at least two Eurasian Wigeon and four brilliant Hooded Mergansers. In the distance to the south, beyond the large flocks of Northern Pintail, we saw several “white birds” and the many photographers lined up around them, so, following the obligatory Group Photo, we decided to drive to 72nd.

There were umpteen cars parked at 72nd Street and umpteen more photographers out in the marsh surrounding the beautiful, seemingly tame, Snowy Owls lined up on various logs or posing on the ground. We counted 24 Snowies just around 72nd Street. Ironically, one hunter was hiding behind a stump, and occasionally would stand up and shoot out into the Bay (I assume at something, but not sure what). From the noise, some Ducks would start flying around, but neither the Owls nor the Photographers, many within 30 feet of the hunter, were a bit disturbed. Weird stuff! We saw lots of Shorebirds along the shore too, mostly plovers and huge swarms of acrobatic Dunlin. We moved to the west side of 72nd and in the hydro fenced area, Lorraine spotted another of our target birds, a Short-eared Owl. This bird weaved back and forth over the field in front of us and I’m sure Terry got some glorious shots. A bit further on we watched a couple of Red-tailed Hawks and one turned out to be a Rough-legged Hawk, another of our target birds. Then, while watching the Snowies, a couple of Starlings in a tree turned out to be beautiful Western Meadowlarks. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to watch these rare-to-some-of-us birds as Roger, the self-proclaimed Meadowlark Guru, advised that they were too common and we must move on to enjoy the Robins and Dark-eyed Juncos. We left 72nd to return to Petra’s at noon; Jonathan apparently had to go to work at 1:00 p.m. Hope he wasn’t too tired from carrying the scope for almost 30 seconds. It was another super morning of birding with some almost tolerable folk.

We will meet at Petra’s next Monday, December 4 for departure at 8:00 a.m. (hopefully Kay’s alarm clock works) on an outing somewhere around the Bay. Again, comments welcome, check out our DNCB Blog at http://dncb.wordpress.com/, and let me know if you don’t want to receive this drivel.

Tom Bearss
President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

Photos by Terry Carr

Bald Eagle

Snowy Owls

snowy Owls

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Report on DNCB Outing No. 2011-46 to Brunswick Point and Reifel

Ring-necked Pheasant

On a cold and windy Monday morning, five birders in long-johns (only guys for a change: Roger, Mike, Terry, Jim and me) enjoyed a successful outing to Brunswick Point and then at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Some hi-lites of the many species seen today included: a Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 60,000+ Snow Geese, 100+ Trumpeter Swans and at least eight Snowy Owls. Terry, Roger and Jim all took photos that I expect will be on our Picasa site soon at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dncbirding.

The drive through Tsawwassen First Nations Reserve was uneventful, but we were one of the first five vehicles to cross the new bridge over Deltaport Way which opened this morning. We stopped to watch a flock of 35 Trumpeter Swans feeding in a field near the road into the Musqueum “dumpy place”. A brilliant Ring-necked Pheasant was on the road, along with some Golden- and White-crowned Sparrows. In the Fraser River, between Canoe Pass and the entrance to Brunswick Point, a Horned Grebe was close to shore and 6 Western Grebes a bit further out. We searched the trees at Brunswick Point, in vain, for the Great-horned Owl seen there on Sunday. Lots of Double-crested Cormorants on the posts where we used to see Black-bellied Plovers. Northern Harriers were everywhere, but we could not find a Short-eared Owl (several seen on Sunday). We found our target bird, Snowy Owl, and at least five in total at the Point. We got great views and did not leave the Trail. Surprisingly, they were not disturbed by the several hunters along the shore shooting ducks I guess. We saw no Snow Geese at Brunswick but way more than 60,000 in flocks over Westham Island and in the fields near Reifel. We were enchanted, as always, by the synchronized swarms of Dunlin along the shore and flying by us to land in the fields beside us. A couple of Black-bellied Plovers (which one of us tried, without support, to make an American Golden Plover) were nearby them.

Snowy Owl

Having endured enough of the cold, we decided to check out our Mecca, Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Common Mergansers were in the slough along the entrance road and the resident Sandhill Crane family was at the office. A couple of beautiful Hooded Mergansers were in the pond behind the office. On our walk to find Roger’s target owls (Barred and Great-horned seen on Sunday – we were blanked), we got great looks, as usual, at many beautiful ducks in breeding plumage, for example, Wood Ducks, over 30 Bufflehead (one pair was doing a “mating dance”), 3 female Ring-necked Ducks, one beaut male Canvasback, several Scaup (Greater?), and the more common resident Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall and Mallards. A Wilson’s Snipe flew by for everyone to see except the amateur. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet posed among a flock of Oregon Dark-eyed Juncos just as Terry broke his camera. We climbed the Tower and found three Snowy Owls in the marsh. A Red-tailed Hawk soared nicely right over our heads. We left Reifel at about 1:00 p.m., cold and starving. I do not mean to be sexist, but ladies seem to spot more birds than guys, and I eat a lot better when they’re along. Nonetheless, another super Monday morning.

We will meet next Monday, November 28 at Petra’s for departure at 8:00 a.m. (may change the following week to 8:30 a.m.). Although this is a “Snowy Year”, there is also lots of other neat stuff “around the Bay”. Again, comments welcome, check out our Blog at: http://dncb.wordpress.com/, and let me know if you want off my Contact List.

Tom Bearss
President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

Bufflehead

Hooded Mergansers

Photos by Terry Carr