Delta Naturalists Society

I arrived punctually at 8am, and Noreen and David were parked a few minutes later. After deciding we must be the only birders today, we set off along the trail around Brunswick Point.

Golden-crowned Sparrows were hopping around the soil piles on the farmland edge, and the first of many Song Sparrows made itself visible. 3 Brown Creepers were climbing a poplar trunk, a species I have not often recorded at this spot. A strange call was quickly identified by David as a Virginia Rail and shortly after we heard another call, in reply. However, we could not see it. Several gulls were around the brown and turbid river, and, as usual, we struggled a bit with size and identification (just how much black and white is that on the wingtips?). Five Common Ravens (not that common here normally) were busy in the marsh, Double-crested Cormorants perched on the pilings, and skeins of Trumpeter Swans flew over, honking. We later saw many more swans feeding close to the marsh edge, with just their necks showing. We kept counting more and more as we walked east along the dyke: the final tally was nearly 50.

We watched a Cooper’s Hawk swoop into a tree by the dyke, worrying the small birds nearby. A wintering Rough-legged Hawk flew over the marshes and fields. Colin and Stephanie joined us, so our group was now 5, and a bit further along, Marguerite showed up, making us a nice group of 6. This is why we are called Casual Birders! The weather stayed fine, and the birds kept showing up: a dense flock of Dunlin, Great Blue Heron in the ditch, Northern Harriers hunting marsh and field, Bald Eagles along the tide line, waiting to prey on sick ducks, and a huge raft of Green-winged Teal. Small birds were sheltering in the vegetation: Marsh Wrens in the reeds, Song Sparrows and Spotted Towhees in the bramble bushes.

The rough trail through the dry foreshore area near the farm was productive: a Western Meadowlark showed beautifully and briefly, a flock of Bushtits moved through, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, a single Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Golden-crowned, White-crowned and Fox Sparrows, all caught our attention. Sharp-eyed Noreen spotted a Savannah Sparrow; most have left now for the winter.

The sheltered bay near the farm was full of waterfowl: all the usual dabbler species (Wigeon, Pintail, Mallard) as well as the Teal and Swans seen earlier. The tide was high, and there was no room for shorebirds, although we saw a large flock of Dunlin flying over the water. A Northern Shrike posed high above us on a bare tree, identifiable by its long tail and classic head shape, and on our return walk, we likely saw the same bird in a tall tree back towards the beginning of the dyke.

This was a super walk, with 47 species recorded in unexpectedly good weather; our 48^th species was seen as we drove off down the road: an American Kestrel posed on the wire, and then flew to the ground. Brunswick Point clearly demonstrated today why the foreshore area is designated a provincial Wildlife Management Area, and why Delta farmland, with its bordering ditches, hedgerows, and mature trees, is such an essential wildlife habitat.
Anne Murray

Photos are on Flickr

David’s eBird list is here

Anne’s eBird list is here