Delta Naturalists Society

Five birders met on the ferry causeway on a very windy morning. There were Eagles, Herons, gulls and Oystercatchers, but the other birds were sheltering somewhere else.

We stopped at the heronry near the beginning of the causeway. Many herons were on nests, many more were flying in or out, and eagles were soaring above. We made another stop at the TFN pond. Jonathan walked to the shore where he saw Killdeer, Caspian Terns and a Yellow-bellied Marmot. Marmots that have been seen in the area must have hitched train rides from the interior.

We met the rest of our group at Reifel where we now numbered 13 – Bob, Terry, Liz, Deems, Alan, Mike, Lorna, Lorraine, Don, Jonathan, Dottie, Angela and Roger.

The nest boxes near the warming hut had Tree Swallows and House Sparrows going in and out. At least one of the warming hut Barn Swallow nests was occupied. On our usual circuit we saw Black-capped Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Canada Geese, Mallards, Cedar Waxwings, Bushtits and a Red-tailed Hawk. We heard and finally saw a Black-headed Grosbeak. We heard but did not see Common Yellowthroats. There were Purple Martins going in and out of their nest boxes, and Bald Eagles flew overhead. Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds zipped by.

From the viewing tower, Liz spotted a Phalarope in the distance. Photos determined that it was a Wilson’s Phalarope. The Red-necked Phalaropes did not put in an appearance. On the southwest trail we saw 2 Marsh Wren nests. Some of us circled back to the centre ponds where a Sandhill Crane was sitting on its island nest. Another Sandhill Crane walked along the path and passed us. Mixed in with the Mallards were a few other species – Wood Ducks, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and American Wigeon.
As we approached the exit a Yellow Warbler finally made a brief appearance.
Terry Carr

eBird checklist (Reifel)

Photos on flickr