Delta Naturalists Society

14 birders met on White Rock Pier on a cool sunny morning – Dottie, Bob, Jacquie, Christine, Jim, John, Lidia, Lorna, Nick, Pat, Alan, Liz, Tony and Terry.

We were pleased to see many Surf and White-winged Scoters close to the pier. Closer to shore were Mallards. Farther out were Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Loons and Horned Grebes. A Double-crested Cormorant and a Red-necked Grebe popped up close to the pier. The usual flock of Rock Doves was flying and landing on the pier. Close to the breakwater were a Red-breasted Merganser and a Pelagic Cormorant. On the breakwater were Gulls, Black Turnstones and 3 Black Oystercatchers. One gull had a collection of leg bands. I sent photos to the USGS to see what they can tell about the bird. In the distance beyond the breakwater we were able make out Red-throated and Pacific Loons, Western Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks.

Our next stop was Blackie Spit in Crescent Beach where we were joined by Jean and Margaretha. There seemed to be an unusually large number of birders – probably drawn by the Palm Warbler that had been present for a few days. We did not see it – or the Snow Buntings and Marbled Godwits that had been reported in recent days. Along the shore were Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, American & Eurasian Wigeon, Mallards, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, Great Blue Herons and Common Loons. At the end of the spit a Common Loon was getting a sculpin into the correct position for swallowing.

In the distance a large group of Harbour Seals were resting on shore, and large flocks of gulls and shorebirds were flying back and forth. Farther along, most of the Martin poles had Double-crested Cormorants perched on them. Nearby were Horned Grebes, more herons, ducks and yellowlegs. Walking to the pumphouse and back we added House Finches, Robins, Golden-crowned & White-crowned Sparrows, Juncos, Towhees, Flickers, Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Steller’s Jay, Bald Eagles and Bushtits.
Terry Carr

Photos are on Flickr

White Rock eBird checklist
Blackie Spit eBird checklist

Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Nov 21 & 22) the outings are to
Terra Nova Regional Park in Richmond
Meet at 8:30 am by the Adventure Playground at the west end of River Rd (west of the north end of No 1 Rd).