Delta Naturalists Society

Eight of us arrived at Reifel just after the gates opened.  Noreen and I were the only ones at the Ferry Causeway at 8AM where spitting rain was coming to an end but winds out of the SE were brisk.  There were 17 species, including Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, Horned Grebe, and hundreds of European Starlings.

We arrived at Reifel about 09:10, and after a brief chat-fest with Chris & Jim McN, Richmond Brian & Louise, we met with new members Christine McGilvray and Douglas Chase from Richmond.  We decided to start as it was after 9:15, and shortly Colin & Stephanie and Warren & Lynne joined us as we were looking at the Black-crowned Night-Heron.

At the House Pond a vocal male Belted Kingfisher made certain he was counted along with the usual ducks but it was not until our return that a Sandhill Crane was seen here.  At the display shed we took two group photos so the photographer could be slipped in.  We headed to the West dyke and noted two pair of Hooded Mergansers in the slough along the trail.  Shortly after heading down to the south dyke trail Louise spotted what looked like a Saw-whet Owl dodge into a thick clump of Crab Apple.  It disappeared, and she was left wondering what it was but, there are very few other options for a blunt-headed smallish fast-flyer.

A large River Otter, favouring one foot, crossed in front of us, and a Kingfisher was perched over the pond.  This was also a male, and probably the same one seen at the Home Pond.  As we reached the West Dyke a raptor could be seen hovering, and wing patterns indicated it was a Rough-legged Hawk.  Three or 4 Northern Harriers were also patrolling the outer edges of the marsh, and Song Sparrows and Marsh Wrens could be heard.

A second Rough-legged Hawk appeared, and 15 Swans (probably Trumpeter) could be seen along the bay.  A Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, two Pied-billed Grebes, American Coot and two Ring-necked Ducks were in the slough by the Barn Swallow house.

The west marsh had its usual Shovelers and Green-winged Teal, with a singleton Long-billed Dowitcher that flew shortly after being spotted.  As we transited the West Dyke we heard Marsh Wrens and a Virginia Rail amongst the Song Sparrows.  Red-winged Blackbirds and a few LBB, several identified as Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Purple Finch.  Sharp-eyed Colin spotted a quick flying Merlin scooting along the dyke edge.

From the tower we transited the North Dyke route to look for small birds, and soon encountered the obligatory flock of Black-capped Chickadee with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet mixed in.  At the East Dyke corned there were Cedar Waxwings, Pine Siskin and both types of Kinglets with Fox and Song Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, a Downy Woodpecker, and the Merlin App picked up a White-throated Sparrow twice before a close pass overhead of a Cormorant Helicopter sent all birds scattering.

Wood Ducks were in the slough along here, and at one point Brian and I were certain we heard a Steller’s Jay calling, but we could only see Robins and a Varied Thrush in the area.  A tally of the species seen (and the Virginia Rail only heard) gave us 55 species at Reifel.  We were fairly confident the White-throated Sparrow was present as it has been seen fairly regularly, so it will have to wait for another day.

The rain started about noon, and the group departed, although Noreen and I went to look where Louise was fairly certain she had seen the Saw-Whet Owl.  No luck, but we did see a mature Sandhill Crane at the far side lawn of the house.
David Hoar

Photographs will be added to flickr

eBird lists:

Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Jetty, Metro
Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
3-Nov-2021 8:04 AM – 8:35 AM
Protocol: Stationary
16 species (+1 other taxa)
American Wigeon 16
Mallard 1
Northern Pintail 54
Greater/Lesser Scaup 3
Surf Scoter 12
White-winged Scoter 80
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Horned Grebe 5
Black Oystercatcher 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Pelagic Cormorant 4
Double-crested Cormorant 29
Great Blue Heron 1
American Crow 1
European Starling 501
Song Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S97123540

Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Metro Vancouver,
British Columbia, CA
3-Nov-2021 9:15 AM – 12:41 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.49 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Possible Saw-Whet fly
past noted by Louise and Great Horned Owl fly
past at the gate (David &Noreen) were not
included. A White-throated Sparrow and
Steller’s Jay were heard and id’d by the
Merlin App but could not be confirmed in
recordings.
55 species
Snow Goose 42
Canada Goose 4
Trumpeter Swan 15
Wood Duck 5
Northern Shoveler 45
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 12
Mallard 68
Northern Pintail 14
Green-winged Teal 16
Ring-necked Duck 2
Hooded Merganser 5
Common Merganser 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 18
Anna’s Hummingbird 3
Virginia Rail 1 Heard only
American Coot 6
Sandhill Crane 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 10
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 9
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Northern Harrier 3
Bald Eagle 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Merlin 1
Black-capped Chickadee 17
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 2
Bewick’s Wren 1
European Starling 4
Varied Thrush 2
American Robin 6
Cedar Waxwing 12
House Sparrow 6
House Finch 2
Purple Finch 1
Pine Siskin 45
Fox Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco 9
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 7
Spotted Towhee 10
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S97123556