Delta Naturalists Society

Fifteen DNCBers met at White Rock Pier on a warm, slightly hazy morning – Bob, Dottie, Jacquie, John, Glen, Margaret, Lorna, Lori, Pat, Marion, Marti, Colin, Stephanie, Bryan DeB and Terry.  The large number of winter seabirds seem to be slow returning.  Near the pier there were House Sparrows, Rock Doves, Mallards, Canada Geese, about half a dozen Common Loons, one Horned Grebe, and one Double-crested Cormorant (successfully catching pipefish).  Surf and White-winged Scoters flew over, and could be seen swimming and diving in the distance.  On the breakwater were several gulls, one Black Turnstone and one Western Sandpiper.  The colourful garden on the hillside above the pier had bees, hoverflies and a Song Sparrow.

At Blackie Spit we were joined by Margaretha and Gabriele.  There were Savannah Sparrows, American Pipits, Common Loons, Herons, Killdeer, Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plovers and, in the distance, some small shorebirds and ducks.  We did not see the five Western Meadowlarks that were seen by other birders just before we arrived.

Walking towards the Rene Savenye area, we saw White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, and an Anna’s Hummingbird.  Four Northern Flickers were flying together from tree to tree.  Some of us were entertained by beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, bees and hoverflies.  At the Purple Martin boxes was a lone European Starling.  Walking to the pumphouse, we added Green-winged Teal and House Finch.
Terry Carr

Photos are on Flickr