Delta Naturalists Society

Seven DNCBers met on the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway at 8am – David, Noreen, Chris, Jim, Joe, Pat, Terry. The tide was high, and there was a very cold wind. There were fewer birds than usual – Black Oystercatchers, Surf Scoters, Common Goldeneye, Mallards, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Brant and a Common Loon. A stop on River Road found 3 Trumpeter Swans on the other side of the river – but no ducks.

Fifteen DNCBers then met at Reifel Bird Sanctuary: Chris, Jim, Joe, Pat, Rick, Angela, Dottie & Bob, Jacquie, Kirsten, Lidia, Lori, Lindly, Glen, Terry. Bright sunshine showed brilliant colours on hummingbirds and ducks by the entrance. Two Black-crowned Night-Herons were in their usual spot.

In the first ponds were Mallards, American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Common Mergansers, Cormorants and Herons. The walk along the east and north dyke trails found Chickadees, Sparrows, Robins, Blackbirds, Towhees, Kinglets, Flickers, Eagles and Hooded Mergansers – but no owls. From the Ewen Slough Blind we saw more Green-winged Teal and another male Common Merganser.

The pond at the end of the Main Trail added Gadwall. Other ponds later added Bufflehead, Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks and a Coot. Strangely, we saw only one Wood Duck, and no shorebirds. Across the marshes on the shore were Trumpeter Swans and Northern Harriers cruising by. A Red-tailed Hawk moved from tree to tree.

Just before we were ready to return to the parking lot, we were told that a Great Horned Owl was sitting on a branch on the Centre Dyke Trail near the viewing tower. Some of us headed back there, only to find that it had flown towards the NE corner, so we headed there again. Sure enough, when we were back on the East Dyke Trail, Dottie spotted it in a deciduous tree, giving us good views. Back at the parking lot, we finished the day with three Sandhill Cranes.
Terry Carr

Photos are on flickr

Terry’s eBird lists:
Ferry Jetty 14 species
Reifel 36 species