Delta Naturalists Society

Ten DNCBers met at Brunswick Point on a cool, calm morning – Grant, Lee, John, Jim, Roger, Mike, Bryan D, Margareta, Lori and Terry.  In the fields at the side of the road were Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers, Mallards, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows.  Lee saw a Tree Sparrow, but it disappeared before the rest of us saw it.  A muskrat was swimming in the ditch through the field.

There were several Bald Eagles flying and sitting on tree tops.  The pilings had the usual collection of Double-crested Cormorants.  Trumpeter Swans were on and beside the river.  Foraging in the fields were Robins, Herons, Killdeer and Least Sandpipers.  Two Wilson’s Snipe flew across the fields before all of us had a good look at them.

There were several Northern Harriers patrolling the area, including one light-coloured male that flew very close.  Farther away a Short-eared Owl and a Northern Harrier were having a skirmish.  A pair of Ravens were skirmishing too and photos showed that one of them was carrying a vole.  There was a single Snow Goose in the field, and large flocks of them flying overhead.

In a distant tree was a large raptor with a very light breast.  As we got closer we realized that it was a juvenile Bald Eagle.  A Peregrine chased a Snipe at high speed back and forth across the path.  The Snipe managed to escape.  The tide was very high, and there were large numbers of ducks on the river – mostly American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Mallards.  Mixed in were Green-winged Teal and Gadwall.

Back at the first field, four Wilson’s Snipe flew in.  They were so well camouflaged that it was hard to find them even when we knew where they were.  This time they gave us a nice long look while they were foraging with a Killdeer.

Five of us then drove to Boundary Bay dyke at 72nd to meet Debbi and to look for the Mountain Bluebird that has been there for ten days.  But first we stopped at the restaurant at Kings Links Golf Course to get warmed up.  Here breakfast and coffee or hot chocolate was very welcome.  Then, with a short walk on the dyke, we soon found the Bluebird.  Another treat was a Short-eared Owl hunting on the golf course.

After I left, Debbi reported that the others saw a Northern Shrike and a Rough-legged Hawk.
Terry Carr

Photos on Flickr

Brunswick Point ebird checklist