Delta Naturalists Society

The on-time group was awaiting David & Noreen, and wondering where they were at 08:15.  We were delayed by a flat battery and need for a jump start after leaving an overhead light on overnight.  How often do we have to repeat this error!

Colin, Stephanie, Lee, Brian, Louise, and Warren were on the pier, and we joined them to head out into the fog.  It was not too thick, and there were lots of both Surf and White-winged Scoter along and beneath the pier eating shellfish.  Lee mentioned that she had read that a group was going to net and band Scoter along the pier and provided this link.

A few Canada Geese, American Wigeon and gulls were also at the base of the pier.  Brian noted a very thick-billed gull that we agreed was likely a Herring Gull, and another with a red/black gonydeal spot, dark wingtips and a shaggy looking head may have been a Glaucous-winged X Western Hybrid, but it simply would not turn to reveal the eye.  Was it “angry”(light) or dark?  The light eye might indicate a Herring X GWGU hybrid.

There were distant Common Goldeneye to the east and west, and several Common Loons and Horned Grebe.  One walker reported seeing a Gull with a green band on its leg, but we were unable to find it.  As we got farther out, some Black Turnstones were glimpsed on the west jetty but they disappeared and much later flew to the east jetty and peeked out from time to time from behind the rocks. Finally 5 Long-tailed Ducks, our target bird, flew past to the west, then a group of 3 to the east and as we were at the end a pair slowly moved past closer to the rock jetty where most got a good look. A Red-breasted Merganser flew past and a Red-necked Grebe was fishing off the end.

As it was getting late we headed to Blackie Spit arriving about 09:45 to find Gabriel and Margaretha who were wondering where we were.  Gabriel had found the Snow Buntings at the end of the spit, so we immediately headed that way, and en route saw quite a few Eurasian Wigeon, and, distant along the inner shore, a Godwit could be seen preening.  Its long bill made it stand out.  Brian Self and a group of 4-5 were also there, and he had another Godwit centred in his scope which he shared so we were able to add two Marbled Godwit.  A Killdeer walked through the scope field and later we heard one but they were distant.  Just past the bench it became clear that the Snow Bunting were feeding on the outer spit and moving towards us so we lined up and they continued towards us providing photo opportunities of 5 different birds, often seen together in a single field of view. Amongst the Wigeon were both American and a significant number of Eurasian, often in small groups. Mixed in were Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail primarily.

With the target of Snow Buntings photographed we headed to the slough and encountered Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrows, House and Purple Finch, a Fox Sparrow and a mixed flock of Bushtit and Black-capped Chickadee.  A lone Greater Yellowlegs and a few Green-winged Teal were in the inner ditch, but many more could be seen once we got to the outer point.  Large numbers of Dunlin could be seen as murmurations distant.  At the point smaller numbers were shuffling amongst a group of about 150 Black-bellied Plovers on the old pilings.  Some wondered if some of the distant murmurations might be European Starlings as there had been large flocks in the area.

As we looped back past the Winged Elms where some new plantings (Currant, Snowberry, Shore Pine and others) and mulch have been added, a dark coloured Merlin flew past, but did not linger.  Heading out the dyke, we only went about half way to the area where the Purple Finch can often be seen, and we were not disappointed.

As it was approaching 11:45, we called it a day, and headed for the cars, where we took a photo of the remaining group.  Warren had to leave earlier, and I took the photo, so at Blackie we had a total of 10 observers.  In spite of the fog, it was a productive day with 28 species of predominantly marine birds at the White Rock pier, and 31 at Blackie Spit where they were more mixed.
David Hoar

Photos are on flickr

David’s ebird checklists
White Rock Pier
Blackie Spit