Delta Naturalists Society

After battling heavy traffic on another gorgeous morning, 13 DNCBers met at Burnaby Lake – David, Noreen, Lidia, Lori, Pat, Chris, Dottie, Bob, Nick, Lorna, Roger, Mike, and Terry.

On Piper Spit were Wood Ducks, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Canada Geese, American Coots and Long-billed Dowitchers.  David identified at least one Short-billed Dowitcher by studying its tertial feathers.  In the lily pads with some dowitchers we were excited to see two Wilson’s Snipe.  Five more shorebirds flew in, but the bright sunlight made identification difficult.  David and Noreen identified them as Pectoral Sandpipers with their streaked breasts.

Along the boardwalk were also Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows,  White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, and a very large Red-eared Slider Turtle.

Walking to the dam and back, we saw Anna’s Hummingbirds, Northern Flickers, Robins, Juncos, House Finches, Purple Finches, Starlings, Towhees, Fox Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and several flocks of American Goldfinches.  High in a distant dead tree was a woodpecker.  From photos, Melissa identified it as a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Chris got a photo of a White-throated Sparrow.  Some heard a Virginia Rail calling.  Just before the dam were three Northern Shovelers.

At the dam we did not see the Dippers that we often see there.  There was a heron stalking the area.  Above the dam were groups of swirling whirligig beetles and a school of fish – possibly carp.  We also saw several Douglas Squirrels and one Eastern Gray Squirrel.  Lorna found a lovely red Common Garter Snake curled up in the sunshine.
Terry Carr

Photos are on flickr

David’s ebird list

Chris’s ebird list