Delta Naturalists Society

Seven birders met at Terra Nova Park in Richmond on a perfect bluebird morning with the sun rising behind the watching eagles. Present were Anne, Gabriele, Lindly, Margaretha, Marion, Brian & Louise.

The foreshore marsh had a modest population of American Wigeon, American Green-winged Teal with a few Mallards in the mix. An American x Eurasian Wigeon was spotted hiding in the reeds nearby. A few Ring-billed Gulls loitered in the distance and a couple of Double-crested Cormorants headed seaward. Unidentified ducks could be seen still sleeping in the reeds across the river.

The adventure playground was empty of children at this hour, but occupied by Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Robins, Towhees and a pair of Downy Woodpeckers.

Further on at the pond were a number of Tree Swallows, Robins, two Mallards and a couple of American Coots. A beaver was spotted in the pond but did not stick around. A few American Goldfinch were in the trees nearby, and the ubiquitous Crows and Northern Flickers were in evidence.

The group climbed the mound next to the playground to survey the marsh and look out over the Strait. Eagles, Herons and Red-winged Blackbirds were in evidence in the marsh. A Red-tailed Hawk watched our progress from high in the grove of Cottonwood trees south of the mound. A lone Trumpeter Swan arrived from the North and landed out on the edge of the ocean, and then we spotted 25 more Trumpeter Swans flying low in the north near the airport.

The group continued on south along the dike and out onto the verge of the marsh. A Harrier was observed out in the marsh, and of course some more herons. Various ducks traded back and forth over the edge of the ocean in the distant west but were largely too far away for identification. A coyote was watched for several minutes across the Ducks Unlimited marsh.

Continuing on around the south part of Terra Nova on the path next to the golf course, several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a Golden-crowned Kinglet put on a display and posed for us.

Back at the cars at noon, we completed a leisurely four hour birding stroll in a prime spring morning. A Common Merganser was fishing in the river out in front of the cars and topped off the birding list for the day.
Brian & Louise

Photos on Flickr

eBird checklist