PHOTO:Common Merganser by Grant Edwards…….
13 DNCBers met at Surrey’s Serpentine Fen on a lovely morning. There was no sign of the usual Kingfisher at the bridge by the parking lot. In the trees across the bridge were House Finches and Eurasian Collared-Doves. A Flicker and another flock of birds landed high up in those trees. Lidia identified them – Evening Grosbeaks. A Great Blue Heron standing on the shore reflected nicely in the river.
We followed the appropriately named Serpentine River where we saw Mallards, American Wigeon, Common Mergansers, Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Canada Geese and more Herons. Large flocks of Canada Geese and disorganized-looking Cackling Geese flew over. In the bushes were Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Robins, Towhees and American Goldfinches. A male Northern Harrier flew over the marsh, and a Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a distant tree top. From the first viewing tower we had a good view of the meandering river and Mt Baker. We added a pair of Bald Eagles perched across the river. A dog walker agreed to take our group photo.
Around the next bend in the river we added Hooded Mergansers and large groups of Common Goldeneye. Several males were engaged in courting behaviour – throwing their heads back to impress a single female.
We left the river to continue our usual loop. The ponds below the second viewing tower added Northern Shovelers, Bufflehead and a Coot. In the bushes were Red-winged Blackbirds, Kinglets, House & Purple Finches, Robins, Towhees, Sparrows, Pine Siskins and an Orange-crowned Warbler. We checked the barn in vain for Barn Owls. But in the bushes beside the barn we added Fox Sparrow and Lincoln’s Sparrow.
From the third viewing tower we saw more of the same ducks, including another Eurasian Wigeon. The highlight of the last leg was a single Evening Grosbeak gorging on crabapples.
Photos are on Flickr
The outings next Tuesday & Wednesday (January 21 & 22) will be to Point Roberts, USA.
Meet at 9 AM at Lighthouse Marine Park. Bring passport or Nexus. Some people may stop first by Kiniski’s at the west end of Gulf Rd.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 