Delta Naturalists Society

Fourteen birders met at Iona Regional Park on a lovely sunny morning. A brilliant male Yellow-headed Blackbird posed in the parking area. Tree, Violet-green, and Barn Swallows were hunting insects over the pond, Marsh Wrens were singing, and Red-winged Blackbirds were active.

Along the path were Song Sparrows, Towhees, Willow Flycatchers, hummingbirds and damselflies.

Bushes along the northwest pond blocked our view of the water but we did glimpse some Gadwall.

It was a disappointment to find that the gate to the Inner Ponds was chained shut because of heavy equipment working there.

We continued on the path to the river where we spotted several Swallowtail butterflies, and added Double-crested Cormorant, American Goldfinch, Common Yellowthroat, and Purple Finch. A pair of Purple Martins was going in and out of one of the nest boxes. Green-eyed American Sand Wasps were buzzing around their nest holes.

Colin identified a Spotted Sandpiper landing beside the road. It put on quite a display for us, walking back and forth while bobbing its tail. We followed the road and path to the spit. Cliff Swallows were building nests on the side of a sawdust barge. Along the way were Killdeer, Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows, a coyote, and a Lorquin’s Admiral butterfly. We were buzzed by dragonflies, but they would not settle for photos. We tried to identify the many wild flowers that were in bloom.

We returned to the parking lot by walking along the beach. Caspian Terns and Gulls were resting on the sandbars and herons were hunting on the edge of the water.
Terry Carr

There are photos on flickr

and Roger Meyer has posted photos including a video of the bobbing Spotted Sandpiper.