Delta Naturalists Society

Noreen and I started at the Ferry Causeway about 07:45, and although we did not see the Brown Pelicans, we saw 12 species including the noisy Black Oystercatchers and Caspian Terns.  About 08:45 we headed to Alaksen to meet up with the rest.

A group of 10 intrepid birders (**see below) gathered at the Alaksen parking lot about 09:15, and started with a loop around the front lawns of the CWS buildings where Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Warbling Vireo and three Willow Flycatchers were seen amongst many of our common garden variety American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Starlings.

There were more Yellow-rumped Warblers and a pair of Orange Crowned Warblers seen as we crossed the dyke and took the East dyke trail loop.  A Kingfisher announced its presence and moved along to a piling where we were able to get a good view.  Eight Sandpipers were on the mud flats as the tide was out, and we speculated on their identification and size until a pair of Greater Yellowlegs joined them, and, with the help of photos, they were determined to be Pectoral Sandpipers.

A Red-breasted Nuthatch was heard in the evergreens, and Lidia spotted a small raptor which was directly above and hard to ID from the view available.  It went from Merlin to Peregrine, but Noreen captured a photo as it briefly glanced at those below, and without a moustache it was pegged as a Merlin.

Small groups of Yellow Warblers and Chickadees were encountered, and as we returned on the central trail about 11:00, a mixed group dominated by Black-capped Chickadees was encountered and yielded Yellow, Yellow-rumped, and a single Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Warbling Vireo, a Hutton’s Vireo which was only identified retrospectively by an audio recording and photo.

Two Downy woodpeckers caught our attention and near the end of the trail a bird was photographed that still remains a mystery. The focus is not great, but it might be identified by someone, and a composite of two separate images will be in my Flickr album.

The weather was beautiful and a smattering of fall migrants kept us challenged accumulating the 33 species listed below.

** The group included Jack Mac, Jim K, Chris McV, Warren & Lynne, Lidia, Pam M, Noreen & David, and Janet H.
David Hoar

Photos are on flickr

Alaksen National Wildlife Area, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Sep 1, 2021 9:08 AM - 11:31 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.57 kilometer(s)
33 species

Canada Goose  33
Mallard  4
Anna's Hummingbird  1
Killdeer  5     Heard
Pectoral Sandpiper  8
Greater Yellowlegs  2
Great Blue Heron  2
Bald Eagle  1
Belted Kingfisher  2
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  1
Merlin  1
Willow Flycatcher  3
Hutton's Vireo  1     Recorded in area also
Warbling Vireo  3
American Crow  1
Black-capped Chickadee  13
Purple Martin  12
Barn Swallow  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Bewick's Wren  1     Heard
European Starling  8
American Robin  7
Cedar Waxwing  2
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  1
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  4
Orange-crowned Warbler  2
Common Yellowthroat  3
Yellow Warbler  7
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Black-throated Gray Warbler  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S94100114

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Jetty, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Sep 1, 2021 7:47 AM - 8:36 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.77 kilometer(s)
12 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  85
Harlequin Duck  3
Surf Scoter  2
Black Oystercatcher  6
Ring-billed Gull  27
Glaucous-winged Gull  7
gull sp.  120
Caspian Tern  3
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  11
American Crow  2
European Starling  32
Savannah Sparrow  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S94100128