Delta Naturalists Society

more photos at our DNCB Flickr site

Part 1:  Sightings with Tom (by Tom Bearss)
Ferry Terminal:  Scaup (probably Greater), one Brant, rafts of thousands of ducks, mostly Mallard, Northern Pintail and American Wigeon (at least one Eurasian),

Bufflehead, both Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, both Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Green-winged Teal, a swarm of over 3000 Dunlin,

all three Scoter species on the south side of causeway (Surf, White-winged and less common Black), Red-breasted Mergansers,

Horned Grebes, Gadwall.  Several Bald Eagles arousing the waterfowl.

I did not see any Harlequin Ducks or Black Oystercatchers or Black Turnstones.  No Shovelers.  GBH’s.

Brunswick: two cold Killdeer, Mute Swans, lots (~100) Trumpeter Swans including a neat family of 5 parading,

many Black-bellied Plovers (posing on pylons, no Golden’s),

swarms of Dunlin and probably Western Sandpipers too.  A flock of Long-billed Dowitchers flew by.

Raptors included Red-tailed Hawks (one eating a frozen Red-necked Pheasant), Northern Harriers,

Peregrine Falcons, and two target birds Short-eared Owls and Rough-legged Hawk.  Many waterfowl too, including a Common Merganser.

Lots of Song, Fox, White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows.

Dan Tyson showed me a Lincoln’s and Savannah Sparrows.  We were blanked on Lapland Longspurs and American Pipits.  Blanked on Swamp Sparrow, Rock Wren and Rails too.  House Finches, American Goldfinches, Spotted Towhees, lots of Northern Flickers, European Starlings, Robins, Chickadees, Juncos, Eurasian Collared Doves.

Also saw Western Meadowlarks.  Large flocks (V’s) of Snow Geese flying overhead.  Northern Shrike.

Liz also photographed a Cooper’s Hawk, an Otter swimming in the sea ice.

While the group was enjoying beer and lunch, Tom was at Star Wars movie (Rogue One), with Sandra and son Scott, in “moving” seats with 3D glasses.  Super day and super outing.

Part 2:  Post Tom Sightings by Roger Meyer

Too bad you couldn’t have made the lunch.  We decided on Speeds and had to arrange 6 tables to accommodate all of us… even Rose joined us.  Good food and quick service.  As for the remainder of the trip:  we went as far as the platform with the flag in front of the farm house.  The only new bird was a good look at a Northern Shrike.

We also saw more swans (lots more), more flights of Dunlin flocks roused by a Peregrine,

and the high-light was being overflown by a sinister looking drone… we couldn’t see where the controller was though!

The walk back was uneventful with the exception of more owl gymnastics and an opportunity for a fairly close up shot (mine was blurry).  We didn’t see Danny and failed to find the Savannah and Lincoln’s  Sparrows… no sign of the Rough-legged either.  Everyone enjoyed the outing, and the birds we saw were pretty good.

Next Tuesday, January 10th, we will Leave Petra’s at 7:30 for an outing to Iona Regional Park & Sewage Lagoons, meeting at Iona washroom parking lot around 8:15 am.