PHOTO: Curlew, Oystercatchers, Whimbrels & Godwits by Bob Winston…..
Seven DNCBers met at Blaine Marina – Christine, Lidia, Dottie, Bob, Jacquie, Connie and Terry. Vicky M met us at Semiahmoo Spit bringing our number to 8. There was no wait at the border crossing. It was a cold but dry morning.
Our first stop was the viewpoint on Marine Drive. The tide was out so the birds were far away – Mallards, Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Black Oystercatchers, Killdeer, and thousands of Dunlin.
Our next stop was the pier at the end of the road. The resident Kingfisher greeted us. There were close views of Surf and White-winged Scoters, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Loons, and Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants. In the scope we identified a Western Grebe with its long white neck and thin yellow bill. As we were walking back to the cars Connie spotted a small bird in the rocks near the water – a gorgeous Snow Bunting that put on a great show.
Our walk out among the boats at gate 3 of the marina yielded one Common Loon and some Great Blue Herons standing near the huge Cormorant nests. The stop at the boat launch gave us Pintails and Killdeer. Jacquie spotted a Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree before it flew off.
We drove to Semiahmoo Spit and stopped by the Cannery Museum. On the north side of the spit was the usual collection of Surf and White-winged Scoters – along with Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye and Common Loons. On the water in the distance was a flock of Brant Geese. We could not find a less common Black Scoter. The north side of the spit had a small flock of Northern Pintail.
We parked a bit farther along to walk around the spit. Again there were Scoters and Mergansers – but also Harlequins. On the floating breakwater was a flock of Double-crested Cormorants with a Bald Eagle perched above them. The farther floating breakwater was covered by a huge tightly packed flock of Dunlin. As we approached the marina we heard, and then saw, a Belted Kingfisher land on a sailboat to eat the fish it was carrying. At the end of the spit were more Common Loons. And on the far floating breakwater was a large mixed flock of Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels and a Long-billed Curlew. We wished that the marina gate was not locked so that we could get closer to them. From the platform by the resort, in the distance, we could see Long-tailed Ducks, Brant, Pacific Loons, Bonaparte’s Gulls and Ancient Murrelets. Continuing around the resort we added a Red-necked Grebe, then Bushtits and Hummingbirds.
We then stopped at the marina cafe for a hot drink and a snack. Walking back to the cars we noticed that a huge flock of Dunlin had formed a tight carpet at the end of the floating breakwater.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
eBird checklists
Blaine Marina
Semiahmoo Spit
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Dec 3 & 4) the outings will be to Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway & Reifel.
Some people may meet on the ferry causeway at 8 am. The parking pullout is part way along the north side of the causeway.
Meet at Reifel at 9 am. DNS has been booked as a group. You do not need to book parking – just tell the gatekeeper that you are part of the DNS group booking. Non-Reifel members will need to pay admission.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 