Nine DNCBers met at the Tsawwassen ferry causeway on a windy morning – David, Noreen, Glen, Pat, Jonathan, Lorraine, Mike B1, Lorna and Terry. The rough water meant that the birds were far away. There were large shorebird murmurations between the causeway and the port. The black armpits showed that many were Black-bellied Plovers. The smaller ones were probably Dunlin. There were a few herons, cormorants, loons, Horned Grebes, Mallards, gulls and crows. An adult and juvenile Black Oystercatcher were feeding along the shoreline.
Nine more DNCBers joined us at Reifel – Angela, Mike B2, Roger 2, Lidia, Dottie, Bob, Bryan DeB, John and Marion. Although we did not see the uncommon birds that were seen recently (American Avocet, Wilson’s Phalarope, Tropical Kingbird and Northern Waterthrush) we had a very productive morning, and David’s ebird checklist contained 36 species. In the house pond were Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dowitchers and Shovelers. Many duck species have returned to the other ponds. Near the viewing tower, a real highlight was a good look at a Virginia Rail with what appeared to be a caterpillar. There were hundreds of Snow Geese on the shore rising from time to time as raptors flew over them.
Several of us stopped in Ladner before and/or after Reifel to look for two uncommon birds. An Acorn Woodpecker and several California Scrub-Jays have been frequenting Ladner Harbour Park and Chisholm Street. The woodpecker gave us good views while taking acorns to a dead tree on the corner of Chisholm and Georgia Streets.
Terry Carr
Photos on Flickr
Delta Naturalists Society 
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