Delta Naturalists Society

With a rising tide and a 12 foot High for 09:12 at Crescent Beach, the group gathered before 8 AM to catch the shorebirds moving inshore.  There were lots of Western Sandpipers closer in and Black-bellied Plovers a bit farther out with some Sanderling along the tide edge.  Without a scope the identification of the peeps would have been challenging, but we had the advantage of the DNS Kowa scope, and Richmond Brian had also brought his scope.

Ten of us (Thea, Noreen & David, Brian & Louise, Glen, Marion, Lynne & Warren) headed west, taking advantage of any openings in the vegetation on the beach side and checking the ditch side trees for passerines.  Ladner Bryan D joined us briefly and Margaretha arrived as we were puzzling over sparrows in the bushes.  There were lots of ducks on the water edge, including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Green-winged Teal.  A few Mallards flew overhead, but in general these birds were far too distant for the scope to check individual identities.

The Great Blue Herons were scattered along the water’s edge, and numerous gulls were present, including the Glaucous-winged and Ring-billed.  A few Caspian Terns announced their passing.  The passerines kept the photogs busy and amongst the birds identified were Lincoln’s, Savannah, Song, and immature White-crowned Sparrows, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Yellow Warbler that was busy dipping in the ditch water and having a wash.  The wet, fluffed up bird was confusing us and, after much deliberation and photo-sharing with bird queen Melissa Hafting, was determined a first-year Yellow Warbler.

We encountered Roger Foxall and friends, and they indicated that the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was present near the pilings, so we picked up the pace.  Many American Pipits and Savannah Sparrows were in the bushes and along the foreshore.  East of the pilings we encountered a group of Pectoral Sandpipers and one (or were there two?) Buff-breasted Sandpiper(s), but these were moving and not all got a good look.

By now the tide had turned and shore birds were moving farther out.  Scanning along the shoreline, a small to medium dumpy bird with a lot of black was identified by David as a Black Turnstone even though there were no rocks evident.  We continued to 96th Street before turning back as most of the birds had moved out beyond our range.

One should not neglect the birds of prey.  Two Northern Harriers were seen, and the last was a very colourful juvenile that chased down perhaps a Pipit and settled in the field on top of its catch, wondering what to do next we presumed.  A couple of Merlin and an American Kestrel were also seen, as were 3 Common Ravens and some crows.

In spite of some smoke in the air, the shorebirds were still doing their murmurations and entertaining us as the tides gradually retreated and we headed back to 104th, calling it a day about 11:30.  The eBird tally for the day was a surprising 38 species, with thanks to Kevin L. for pointing out the Red Knot.
David Hoar

Photos on Flickr

David’s ebird list