It was a cold, sunny morning for the Wednesday Brunswick Point outing. There were 16 of us – Lorna, Richard, Lidia, Brian, Louise, Gabriele, Margaretha, Glen, Janet, Marion, Warren, Lynne, Colin, Stephanie, Bryan and Terry.
Just before the parking area there was an American Kestrel on a wire. By the time we got out of the car for a closer look, it had moved to the roof of “Superman’s” house where Roger had seen it the day before. The security guards on the film set would not let us get close to the house, so the photo is not as good as Roger’s.
We parked at the end of River Road and scanned the river for birds. Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers were diving. Across the river were groups of Trumpeter Swans. Farther along we saw Double-crested Cormorants in the water and on the pilings. The views along the river were stunning with blue sky and snow-capped mountains. Many bushes were loaded with pussy willows. Northern Harriers and Bald Eagles were patrolling the area. A hawk sitting on a distant stump was identified as a Rough-legged Hawk, with its white breast and dark eye line.
Along the way were Song Sparrows, Juncos, Towhees, Flickers, Starlings, Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Chickadees, Herons and House Finches. We tried to locate a Ring-necked Pheasant and Killdeer that were calling. We finally saw them near the farmhouse, where the pheasant was chased off by a Harrier. Thousands of Dunlin entertained us by flying in formation, landing for awhile and flying again.
As we reached the foreshore path near the farmhouse, a Northern Shrike put on a show – perching on a stump, dropping to the ground, and returning to the stump several times. We saw it again later on our return walk as it moved from one tall bare branch to the next.
Along the shore were Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon and Mallards. We looked in vain for the Great Horned Owl that was seen by the Tuesday group. At the farmyard, we tried to identify the large bare trees with corkscrew branches. Roger followed up with the owner who said that they are cottonwoods.
As we returned to the cars, Northern Harriers flew back and forth across the path, and the Dunlin flocks continued their spectacular murmurations. A pair of Bufflehead were now in the river.
Five of us drove to the Great Blue Heron nesting site above the ferry causeway. It is early in the season so only a few nests were occupied. The nests will be more difficult to see when the leaves come out. The heronry moved here from Point Roberts in 2005, and over 300 pairs now nest here.
Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Delta Naturalists Society 
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