PHOTO: Bald Eagle by Terry Carr……
Six Delta Nats met at White Rock Pier – Jacquie, Dottie, Bob, Christine, Lorna and Terry. The rain stopped just before we arrived, so we had a very pleasant walk along the pier. Close to the pier were a Red-breasted Merganser, a Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, and large groups of White-winged and Surf Scoters. A pair of Bald Eagles were perched above the pier and making periodic fishing expeditions. One held small fish in one talon and ate them one by one. There were also Common Loons, a Pelagic Cormorant and a Common Goldeneye – but no Long-tailed Ducks.
Our next stop was Elgin Heritage Park. At the marina were Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and Mallards. A Red-tailed Hawk was watching from a treetop. On the ground were Towhees, Song Sparrows, Juncos, a Fox Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrows. In the trees were Red-winged Blackbirds, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Northern Flicker. On the shore was a group of Dunlin, and in the river were all three Merganser species. We did have a shower here, but we carried on. When we returned to the marina, we heard and saw the resident Belted Kingfisher.
The rain had stopped, so we decided to make a quick stop at Blackie Spit to look for the Yellow-billed Loon. We did not see it, but there were half a dozen Common Loons. On the spit were a single Yellowlegs, and a few Wigeon and Mallards.
So it was another enjoyable outing on a mostly dry morning.
Report by Terry Carr
eBird Checklsts
White Rock Pier
Elgin Heritage Park
Blackie Spit
Next Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan 30 & 31) the outings will be to Blaine, USA
Meet at 8:30 AM at Blaine Marine Park. Approximate address is 235 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA, USA. Bring passport or Nexus.
Cross the border at Peace Arch and take the immediate exit 276 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).
Delta Naturalists Society 