PHOTO: Barred Owl by Terry Carr………
I was the only one who stopped at the ferry causeway before we met at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary. In the water were American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Mallards, Surf Scoters and a Common Loon. The highlights were a massive flock of Dunlin passing back of forth, looking for a landing place during a very high tide, and a group of Bald Eagles fighting over a duck carcass. Several juvenile Eagles were chasing an adult Eagle that was carrying the carcass. It finally dropped the carcass and a juvenile took possession of it and flew off. When it landed, the other eagles were close behind – but it managed to keep possession.
A quick stop at the heronry found that the Great Blue Herons were not nesting yet.
I met the other 10 birders at Reifel when it opened at 9 o’clock – Ontario Brian, TK, Grant, Angela, Dottie, Deems, Lidia, Jacquie, John and Bob. Anna’s Hummingbirds were at the feeders by the gift shop. The bright sunshine made the green heads of the Mallards look particularly glamorous. The house pond was full of Northern Shovelers. I have never seen so many Shovelers – every pond along our route seemed to be lined with them.
A single Black-crowned Night-Heron was in the usual spot. Great Blue Herons were plentiful along our route. Many male Red-winged Blackbirds were noisily flashing their colourful epaulettes – but the females were few and far between. Barn Swallows, and possibly Tree Swallows, were cruising overhead. Although we did not see a Saw-whet Owl, a Barred Owl was posing nicely in a fairly open spot right beside the path.
Along the way were Wood Ducks, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Northern Pintail, American Coots, Lesser Scaup, a Common Merganser, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Juncos, Towhees, Chickadees, Marsh Wrens and Flickers. Trumpeter Swans were along the edge of the river. As we headed back to the entrance, the Barred Owl was still posing, and having a pedicure, in the same spot. Mixed in with the Mallards on the path was a Canada Goose wearing a large satellite tracking collar.
After returning to the parking lot we walked along the driveway to look for the pair of Great Horned Owls that have returned to the same tree as last year. They have been investigating an old Red-tailed Hawk nest in a nearby tree. After walking around the tree several times, peering between the branches, we finally managed to locate the two owls. It was a perfect ending to an outing on a gorgeous spring morning.
Report by Terry Carr
eBird lists
Ferry Causeway
Reifel
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Feb 20 & 21) we will meet at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond (via Templeton St & Ferguson Rd)
Meet at 9 am by the washrooms.
Delta Naturalists Society 