PHOTO: Pigeon Guillemots by Terry Carr…….
Twelve DNCBers met at Lighthouse Park in Point Roberts – Jim, Mike, Jacquie, Terry, Lidia, Christine, Paul, Dottie, Bob, Susan, and Connie.
A few of us stopped first to check the shore at Kiniski’s. On the pilings were the usual Double-crested Cormorants. In the water were Canada Geese, Horned Grebes, Common Loons, Surf Scoters, Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead.
At Lighthouse Marine Park we were surprised at how still the water was. Here were more Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, Harlequins, Scaup and a Killdeer. Pelagic Cormorants, White-winged Scoters and Black Oystercatchers flew past – but we did not see any Long-tailed Ducks flying by. The male Surf Scoters were chasing each other – probably showing off for the females. Farther out were some alcids. We thought some might be Murrelets, but in fact all seemed to be Pigeon Guillemots. They are very white this time of year. Two Harbour Porpoises swam past.
The inland path was fairly quiet but we did see Anna’s Hummingbirds, Juncos, Towhees, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, House Finches, Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Back at the beach Paul found Black Turnstones on the distant pilings, and two Pigeon Guillemots had come closer.
The pond on the way to the marina had a few Canada Geese. The west side of the marina was fairly quiet. In the distance were Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Common Mergansers. Three Belted Kingfishers flew by, and one landed on a distant sailboat mast. A Great Blue Heron was sitting on a rooftop. Then Horned Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers came close enough for photos. There was a Red-tailed Hawk in a distant tree. Susan saw 2 Coyotes on the side of the road.
The tide was high at the jetties so there were no shorebirds present. There were Eagles, Herons, Horned Grebes, Harlequins, Surf Scoters, House Finches and Golden-crowned Sparrows. In the entrance to the marina were Canada Geese, Wigeon, Mallards, Gadwall, Harlequins, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Pelagic Cormorants.
Our last stop was Seabright Farm. Connie spotted the Kestrel that we hoped see. It sat long enough for us to get good photos. As we were getting closer to it, we were surprised by five Wilson’s Snipe flying from a marshy area. Also seen here were Anna’s Hummingbirds, Black-capped Chickadees and Eagles.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (January 28 & 29) the outings will be to White Rock & Blackie Spit.
Meet at 9 AM at White Rock Pier. There is free parking on the waterfront until 10 AM.
After the pier we will go to Blackie Spit at the NE end of McBride Ave in Crescent Beach.
Park in the gravel parking lot past the paved parking lot and the sailing club.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 