Delta Naturalists Society

We accumulated at the dyke just before 09:00 and the tide was still out, but on its way in.  We were a group of 14 keen birders including Anne (with scope), Brian & Louise, Chris P., Colin & Stephanie, Glen, Chris McV., Jim K., Lidia, Marion, Pat S., Noreen & David. 

There were numerous small passerines in the trees along the dyke edge including Ruby-crowned Kinglets, House Finch, European Starlings, American Robins, Black-capped Chickadees, Spotted Towhee, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow that Anne picked out.  Something in the trees had a Murder-of-crows very agitated but we could not identify the cause of their excitement. 

As the tide moved in the large numbers of ducks (many Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Mallards,  Green-winged Teal, and a few Northern Shovelers) were moving inshore and along the tide line we could identify Black-bellied Plover and see a few small groups of peeps including Dunlin in addition to the large cohort of Gulls.  Review of photos showing the black armpits of the Black-bellied Plover in flight, there were likely both Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers based on size and the pattern of the open wings. Amongst these more distant birds there were many Glaucous-winged and the smaller Ring-billed but I did not see any Short-billed.  Brian identified an adult Herring Gull from his photos that turned out to be a Herring Gull X Glaucous-winged Gull Hybrid according to Melissa.  In retrospect its yellow eye looked “Angry” or fierce, a characteristic I have heard used to describe this hybrid gull.  Anne also picked out two California Gulls with the scope.  Certainly there were others but they were not specifically identified. 

On the flats we came upon a small group of Pectoral Sandpipers with a single Baird’s Sandpiper flitting from hummock to hummock with them.  The size difference was obvious and photos confirmed this late sighting of the Baird’s.  From time to time a Bald Eagle would flush the birds giving us a chance to see the birds in flight.  We also spotted a Merlin, American Kestrel and a Peregrine Falcon keeping the smaller birds on their toes and a Northern Harrier made a brief appearance. 

About 11 AM we were just past the pilings and the “House Float” (or is it Float House?) where the occupant was busy beach-combing drift, and Anne had to leave but the rest of us continued to 96th Street.  We began to see the American Pipits in numbers and a Merlin obligingly flushed the large group from the vegetation of which we had only seen a few at the edge.  On the water side, there were about 6-8 Greater Yellowlegs and a single Semipalmated Plover.  There were lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding on the Tansy heads and a large group of Immature White-crowned Sparrows with a few mature birds in the field side bushes. When we reached 96th, it was time to turn back and we headed for the car park.  There were quite large numbers of Cackling Geese and a few Snow Geese flying overhead during our outing giving this a true Fall sound.  It was after noon before we reached the car park and dispersed.  The tide was right for this outing and starting at 9AM was a smart choice.  There was essentially no wind and the weather was pleasant for early October.
David Hoar

The total species count was close to 44 when you combine the two lists.  Anne listed on eBird (eBird Canada Checklist – 4 Oct 2023 – Boundary Bay – 96th to 104th Sts., Delta – 43 species (+2 other taxa)  until she left and then I (David) continued with a new list starting at the Pilings and ending at 96th Street (eBird Checklist – 4 Oct 2023 – Boundary Bay – 96th St., Delta – 14 species).

Photos on flickr

Next Tuesday and Wednesday our outings are to the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway and Reifel.
Meet on the ferry causeway at 8am. The parking pullout is part way along the north side of the causeway.
Meet at Reifel at 9am. DNS is booked as a group. Non-Reifel members will need to pay admission.