Delta Naturalists Society

Photos by Marion, Jonathan, Terry, Roger & Ken

Twenty-one participants (Anne M, Kirsten, Marion, Hans, Jonathan & Lorraine, Ken & Anne A, Kay, Al S, Donna, Lorna, Mike, Terry, Bryan & Janet, Roger, Gerhard, Sheila, Jackie and Tom) spent another gorgeous Wednesday morning outing at Blackie Spit.  Check out lots of beaut photos (Marion, Jonathan, Terry and Ken) on our DNCB Picasa link.

Seven left Petra’s at 7:30 a.m. and met the group at Blackie Spit parking lot shortly past 8:00 a.m.

Some were dressed for -20˚C weather.  Following intros and one-candle Birthday celebration, we walked toward the spit.  Lots of Shorebirds on the shore but difficult to see facing the sun.  Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers, and Sanderling seen, many in breeding plumage.

Savannah Sparrows posed on logs and bathed in dew, while Common Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, Double-crested Cormorants and Horned Grebes were diving in the Bay.  Caspian Terns entertained feeding one another.  I think we saw three Swallow species; Tree, Barn and Violet-green.

We walked toward the Savenye Park and saw Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpecker and several pair of Purple Martins were nesting in their boxes.  More Shorebirds in the other inlet, including Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs and Western Sandpipers along with Green-winged teal and Gadwall.

Two Whimbrels were along the shore and Yellow-rumped Warblers in the bushes.  A Cooper’s Hawk flew past, then a Peregrine Falcon circled above us along with a bigger raptor, which may have been the female Peregrine.  We walked further around toward the Dunsmuir gardens and saw both Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds; neat comparisons.

Also saw lots (too many) of Brown-headed Cowbirds.  Little birds such as House Finches, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Spotted Towhees were entertaining.  A pair of Mallards had nine baby ducklings.

Also saw Bushtits and their nest, Bewick’s Wren, Common Yellowthroat near the Community gardens.  Some saw two Least Sandpipers in the stream shore and two Killdeer.

Delicious treats at Noon before leaving the parking lot: someone’s biscuits, other stuff I forget and PB Lorna’s PB Birthday sandwich.  Next Wednesday May 8 is Campbell Valley Park, Langley (see GOOGLE map http://goo.gl/maps/cNoSN).  Meet at parking lot at 16th Ave. entrance to Campbell Valley around 8:00 a.m.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Tentative Schedule for DNCB outings…

• 1) May 8 – Campbell Valley;
  2) May 15 – Local, Ladner Parks;
  3) May 22 – Colony Farm;
  4) May 29 – Local, North Forty;
  5) June 5 – BOTB in BBRP;
  6) June 12 – Pitt Lake.