PHOTO: Short-eared Owl by Jim Kneesch…..
Today’s outing started with three brave birders at Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty where the weather was crisp but fog free. Chris, Jim and Grant enjoyed a spectacle of over 4000 Dunlin dancing across the sky. After surveying the expected ducks (Mallards, Northern Pintails and Green-winged Teal) we wondered where the Oystercatchers were. Then, on command, a group of 20 noisily swooped in! Then Grant wondered where the recently seen Whimbrel was. Poof, a Whimbrel descends onto the scene! We then all started chanting “Snowy Owl, Snowy Owl” – but alas the magic was all used up. A few more notable sightings of Brant, Red-breasted Merganser and White-winged Scoters wrapped up our quick visit at the jetty.
At Reifel Bird Sanctuary we connected with the rest of the day’s group – another 8 including two guests. A few spotted the Sandhill Crane family by the washrooms. We headed toward the southeast marsh in hopes that the high tide would equate to a Bittern sighting, but no luck. Eagle-eyed Jim picked out a distant Belted Kingfisher which entertained us with its cackling calls. Once on the outer dyke trail, we did see a couple of Short-eared Owls hunting and perching in the marsh. Through the scope most got satisfying looks at them. We also scoped many Trumpeter Swans and a sizable raft of Snow Geese on the ocean. Calm winds and sunny skies made it a very enjoyable walk along the outer dyke trail.
Again, a wish for a Northern Harrier was answered in short order with a couple of sightings and good scope views. The Harriers seemed happy to be flushing ducks in the foreshore. “Snowy Owl, Snowy Owl” we chanted, but still no luck. Closer to the tower a Virginia Rail called. We noticed a lot of Great Blue Herons moving about in the marsh. A couple of Anna’s Hummingbirds with the zoomies whooshed by.
A few participants left us near the tower as we continued down the north dyke searching for Saw-whet Owls. Lots of Chickadees greeted us along the walk, with more sightings of Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees and Juncos. We checked out the bird blind on north-east slough (Ewen Slough) where we saw Lesser Scaup, Common Mergansers, numerous Hooded Mergansers and a very close Great Blue Heron! (that bird blind must also be a cone of silence as our noisy group failed to make the Heron flinch).
Near the end of the walk, we studied the waters by Fuller Slough as we enjoyed the warmer sun rays. About a dozen Ring-necked Ducks were picked out, and a few came very close for photos. Distant Common Mergansers and Pied-billed Grebes were enjoyed through the scope. Many Bufflehead in mixed raft with Scaup. An adult Bald Eagle posed nicely in the nearby conifers.
Report by Grant Edwards
Photos are on flickr
16 species at Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty
40 species at Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (December 10 & 11) the outings will be to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen.
Meet at 9 am in the concession/washroom parking lot.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 