Delta Naturalists Society

Six Delta Nats met at Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond on a cool sunny morning – Dottie, Bob, Jacquie, Liz, Alan and Terry. On the edge of the river were Mallards, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and a Great Blue Heron. A Double-crested Cormorant and 2 Trumpeter Swans flew by. In the ditch were Mallards and Gadwall.

Five River Otters were putting on a show in the pond behind the playground, and 2 Pied-billed Grebes were diving. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk and a Cooper’s Hawk landed briefly and then flew off. The bushes were full of House and Purple Finches, Golden-crowned, Fox and Song Sparrows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Towhees, Juncos, Robins and Varied Thrush. Several Northern Flickers, Anna’s Hummingbirds and Cedar Waxwings posed for photos.

We struck out on the Pine Grosbeaks that have been seen near the community gardens for a few days. We did see 2 Barred Owls and a Great Horned Owl. One Barred Owl and the Great Horned Owl were having a staring contest until the Barred Owl flew off.

Crossing the dyke onto the foreshore gave us good views of the North Shore mountains, and what must have been more than a thousand Snow Geese flying along the shore and then dropping out of sight. Here we added Starlings, American Goldfinch and another Red-tailed Hawk.

Walking back to the pond by the playground, we were briefly surrounded by Bushtits. The Otters and Pied-billed Grebes were still in the pond, and a pair of Bald Eagles were sitting in a tree above the carpark.
Terry Carr

Photos on Flickr

eBird checklist

Next Tuesday & Wednesday (November 28 & 29) the outings will be to
Blaine, USA (Drayton Harbor & Semiahmoo Spit)
Bring passport or Nexus. 
Meet at 8:30 at Blaine Marine Park.
Approx 235 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA, USA. 
Cross the border at Peace Arch and take the immediate exit 276 for highway 548 into Blaine. 
At the traffic circle before the shops, turn right onto Marine Drive, cross the railway tracks and park on the street by the small lookout (across the street from Sundance Yacht Sales). 
We’ll look for birds there and at the pier at the end of Marine Drive. 
Then we will drive around the bay to Semiahmoo Resort.
Before going to the resort we will park by the APA museum in Semiahmoo Park (at the beginning of the spit on the left).
To sign up for future DNCB outings go to the signup form and put an x by your name.