Delta Naturalists Society

A dozen DNCB birders met at the North 40 Dog Park early on a frosty morning that promised lots of sunshine.  Present were Anne, Marion, David, Noreen, John McF, Lidia, Liz s.,Lorna, Margaretha, Mike B, Brian, Louise.

Lidia arrived with the news that among the gulls at the turf farm there was a flock of Black-breasted Plovers and with these a dozen or so Whimbrels.  It was decided that these would be viewed after completing our circuit of the North 40.  Mistake!

As we were getting started and offering our morning greetings, a flock of 48 Cackling Geese went over low, and we spotted a larger line of geese in the distance, too far to identify.

Near the start was a bunny living dangerously under the gaze of numerous Eagles.

A song sparrow announced ‘It’s Spring!  It’s Spring, It’s Spring!’

Nearby there was the first of a number of male Rufous Hummers seen during the  morning occupying the top branches of various shrubs.

Our group moved slowly around the old wireless site.  Early excitement was caused by a Cooper’s Hawk that seemed to be on a nest just North of the entrance gate.  Debate about whether it was a Red-tailed Hawk seems to have resolved it as a Cooper’s.

There was a good selection of the expected birds; Robins, Goldfinch, Song Sparrow in abundance, Towhees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, lots more eagles and several Downy Woodpeckers.  The first Savannah Sparrows of the spring for the group members were observed near the east end of the site.  As noted above, there were numerous male Rufous Hummers and Eagles galore.

A promised Barn Owl that is often found in an ornamental Cedar on the centre street was not in residence.  Apart from the Savannah Sparrows, there were no Warblers or other migrants observed.  The leaves are just starting to open so another few days will be required before there is food and cover for the migrating birds.

Back at the cars a bit early, several of the group headed off to see the Whimbrels that of course had departed.   At the Boundary Bay dike there were several White-crowned Sparrows, an advance contingent for the ones soon to arrive.

Brian Avent

Photos on Flickr