Delta Naturalists Society

Five birders (Colin, Marion, Liz, Nick and Glen) were sure that the fog was going to burn off “real soon” so made the trek.  And we were right, most of the day was in full sun and it even warmed up. 

The only disappointments were the hunter returning with a goose, the people with off-leash dogs (some more well-behaved than others) and the cluster of photogs out in the marsh land looking for Short-eared Owls.  Time to get the Wildlife folks out there with the DNS Owl pamphlets again.

The list of everything we saw is attached at the end (thanks to Colin) and it was a pretty good list with 39 species.  There were lots of Eagles in the trees at the start and then again in the trees at the farm where we usually turn around.  And quite a large number of Ravens cruising around and making a racket. 

After the Tuesday group’s report we were on the lookout for Snipe, and we saw one in approximately the same place as Tuesday, near the start.  It was there when we began, and still there when we came back hours later.  We also saw a second one sleeping near the water’s edge at the far end of our route.

At the bench at the point we were treated to some acrobatics by a few Short-eared Owls and a Northern Harrier.  There were small flocks of Least Sandpipers in the field, and also a small flock of Pipits.  In the flocks of Robins we searched in vain for a Varied Thrush. 

There was a flyover by a V of geese, which on closer inspection had very short bills, and were determined to be Cackling Geese.  Off-shore in the surprisingly calm waters we saw Wigeon and Pintails, and a large number of Swans near the shoreline.  When we returned to the riverside at the end of our walk, we finally saw a few more duck species in the river – Bufflehead, Goldeneye and Merganser.

Thanks all for a good day of birding.

Glen Bodie

Photos here