Delta Naturalists Society

Casual Birding Outing # 102

Ten participants (Roger, Terry, Lorna, Hans, Anne, John & Kay, Rick & Marg and me) enjoyed another glorious morning of birding in “Paradise around the Bay”. Our first stop was the Tsawwassen Ferry Port in search of the Surf Bird and Ruddy Turnstone. The two birds were spotted and photoed yesterday, but we were blanked this morning. They are probably with the resident Black Turnstones which we did not see either. However, we did see the three Whimbrels, a Caspian Tern, several Black Oystercatchers who entertained us with their playful interactions, Harlequin Ducks, Common Loons still in breeding plumage, Killdeer and a mixture of Gulls which a select few of us (meaning them) were able to identify (e.g. Mew, Ring-billed, California, Glaucous-winged).

We drove to Elgin Heritage Park in South Surrey where we met Rick and Marg. The “regulars” were seen around the marina, that is; Cedar Waxwings, House Finches and lots of brilliant American Goldfinches, and the Belted Kingfisher (Male). An adult Bald Eagle posed all morning on the top of a sailboat mast. Rufous Hummingbirds were hanging around the beautifully coloured plants (again, Anne and Roger repeated the plant names, but I forget). Willow Flycatchers were calling and we got good looks at a family. Marg and Rick saw a Yellowlegs, but surprisingly we did not see any Shorebirds in the Nicomekl River today (last visit here we had Long-billed Curlews and Marbled Godwits).  Not many Red-winged Blackbirds around and a few LBJ’s gave us a challenge to identify. We heard the honk of a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

We continued on to Blackie Spit, where some young people with SNAP (?) were gathering plants from the Spit, perhaps removing invasive species. Anne, John & Kay and I had to leave but Roger and the rest of the group wandered around the park and reported seeing:  2 Greater Yellowlegs, Purple Martins harassing an American Kestrel, Bushtits…whole family, 1 Ring-billed Gull and a ……. [Ed. I had to delete the next bit of birding elaboration as it was causing confusion among Tom’s many followers. ]

Tom Bearss

Check out Rick’s photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/crossfyre/DNCBElginHeritageParkJuly282010