PHOTO: Red-winged Blackbird & Pussy Willows by Terry Carr.
Five birders met at Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond after a particularly slow journey through the tunnel – Lidia, David, Noreen, Lorna and Terry. Although showers were forecast, they were few and far between.
The South Pond was lined with pussy willows. Red-winged Blackbirds were singing and showing their colourful shoulders. A dozen Great Blue Herons were gathered on the shore. There were a few Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks and a Bufflehead in the pond. Barn and Tree Swallows cruised overhead.
A brief stop at the beach produced only crows and a few gulls. Walking between the two ponds, we saw Robins, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Pine Siskins, Chickadees and Eagles. A pair of Anna’s Hummingbirds put on a show. There were no birds in the North Pond. As we continued around the South Pond more birds flew in – a Hooded Merganser, American Coots, a Double-crested Cormorant, American Wigeon, a Ruddy Duck, and more Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup. Noreen noticed a dead Long-eared Owl on the ground. A phone call to OWL confirmed that they would arrange a necropsy. So after our outing, David and Noreen took it there. Rob at OWL had a quick look at the owl and noted one foot was quite swollen and he suggested it was unable to hunt effectively because of this. It is very sad that this endangered owl did not survive.
Continuing our route along the river, we added Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Gadwall and Northern Harrier. Across the river was a small group of Trumpeter Swans. After returning to our cars we decided to stop at the settling ponds. Although access to the ponds is no longer allowed, they can be viewed from the roadside. The NW pond was full of water but very few birds. The SW pond had very little water, but hundreds of Northern Pintail were in the water and on the shore. There were also Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teal and two Killdeer. A Merlin did a quick flypast.
We had another pleasant outing on a mostly dry morning.
Report by Terry Carr
The Saturday Outing (Feb 24) will be to Surrey Lake
Meet at 9 am in the parking lot at 7500 152 St, Surrey.
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Feb 27 & 28) the outings will be to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen
Meet at 9 am in the concession/washroom parking lot.
Delta Naturalists Society 