Delta Naturalists Society

Although it was chilly at 8:00 am on Wednesday, the sun shone the whole time, and it gradually warmed up as our group of seven made its way around Deas Island. We were Brian and Louise, Liz, Marion, Vicki, Margaretha, and Angela. Roger M. joined us briefly to make sure we found the Great Horned Owl that the group spotted yesterday, a treat for many of us (Roger and the owl). 

We saw and heard the usual Chickadees, Towhees, Song Sparrows, and House, Purple, and Gold Finches. All seemed to be in fine singing form, as were the ubiquitous Bewick’s Wrens, throughout the park. We managed to count two Yellow-rumped Warblers. Even the Brown Creepers were present in larger than usual numbers, and we had an encounter with two that landed on a tree trunk beside Brian at waist height, too close for him to get a photo. We heard and saw many Downy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers as we made our way, and paused to watch one Flicker excavate a nest.

I heard my first Rufous Hummingbird of the season, but did not see it. On our way back, a Belted Kingfisher announced itself as it flew from one location near the water to another.  Water birds were scarce, but we did see four Common Mergansers along with several other species. 

It was a long, chatty, enjoyable walk around the island, however, we were dismayed to see the numbers of condos being built along the dike.
Marion

Photos on Flickr

Brian’s eBird checklist
Deas Island Regional Park, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Mar 29, 2023 8:02 AM – 11:11 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.113 mile(s)
31 species

Canada Goose  2
American Wigeon  4
Mallard  2
Bufflehead  4
Common Goldeneye  3
Common Merganser (North American)  3
Anna’s Hummingbird  1
Rufous Hummingbird  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Double-crested Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  1
Bald Eagle  4
Great Horned Owl  4
Belted Kingfisher  1
Downy Woodpecker  6
Northern Flicker  8
American Crow  8
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Brown Creeper  5
Bewick’s Wren  7
European Starling  30
American Robin  24
House Finch  9
Purple Finch  3
American Goldfinch  4
Dark-eyed Junco  1
Song Sparrow  12
Spotted Towhee  18
Red-winged Blackbird  6
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2