Delta Naturalists Society

Photo by Terry – Thea, Lynne, Warren, Lori, Hasan, Colin, Louise, Jacquie, Lee, Stephanie, Brian

Twelve DNCBers met at 8am on a very cold but dry morning. An Eagle was vocalizing at the top of a tree, and Northern Harriers cruised by. In the river were American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and Cormorants. We walked through the adventure playground to the small bridge where we saw a lone female Bufflehead diving. Chickadees, Robins, Towhees and Crows were active. A Fox Sparrow was eating blackberries, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet flitted about making it difficult to photograph. There were no ducks or grebes on the pond.

There was some activity in the trees just past the community gardens. Busy Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets would not sit still, but we managed some photographs where even the ruby crown was visible. On the other side of Westminster Highway were Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Juncos. There were large beaver-chewed stumps, but the fallen trees had been removed. A Lincoln’s Sparrow put in a brief appearance. An adult and a juvenile Bald Eagle were having lunch on some upper branches. A flock of American Goldfinches settled briefly in a treetop.

When we crossed the dyke toward the foreshore we could see large numbers of Snow Geese and ducks on the water, and in the air. Eagles and Harriers were patrolling the area. Back on the dyke, we saw a flock of Bushtits on the ground, Purple Finches, a Flicker, a Heron and 5 Redpolls. Near the parking lot a Harrier was buzzing a distant hawk which was wearing a large white YVR wingband numbered J15. We identified it as a Rough-legged Hawk. I reported it to the YVR Wildlife Program, and they should be able to tell us when it was captured, and where it was relocated.
Terry Carr

Photos on Flickr

There are 36 species on Brian’s eBird list.