PHOTO: Great Blue Heron Colony by Terry Carr…
Pat, Dorothy and Terry met on the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway in bright sunshine. The tide was high and there were only a few of each duck species close to shore – Mallards, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, Scaup and Surf Scoters – no large flocks. There were Common Loons but no grebes. On the closest spit were gulls, Brant and Oystercatchers. On a farther spit was a massive flock of Dunlin. Before Dorothy and I arrived, Pat saw their swirling murmurations before they settled on the spit.
Our stop at the end of the causeway near the terminal added a large number of Cormorants on the distant breakwater. There was nothing on the water. We stopped at the beginning of the causeway to view the Great Blue Heron colony. There are about 300 nesting pairs in this colony. The nests are clearly visible at this time of year before the leaves come out.
At Reifel Bird Sanctuary we met Jim, Alan & Liz, Doug & Christine M, Joni, Susan, Lidia, Warren & Lynne and Margaretha – bringing our group to 14. The 3 Sandhill Cranes were foraging near the house. Later they were near the centre ponds. Anna’s Hummingbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds were at the feeders. We could not find the Black-crowned Night Herons in their usual trees. They are usually at Reifel from September to April. The usual collection of Mallards and American Wigeon were on the path – the green on the heads of the males was shimmering in the sunlight. The most common ducks in the ponds were Northern Shovelers and Gadwall. The Gadwall were upending like Pintails. There were also Wood Ducks, Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Coots, Canada Geese, and a Pied-billed Grebe.
We heard tapping, and finally found a Northern Flicker working on a hole on a snag. Tapping farther along turned out to be Red-breasted Nuthatches. Along the way we added House Sparrows, Robins, Towhees, Chickadees, Juncos, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Brown Creepers, Pine Siskins, Bald Eagles and Tree Swallows.
Along the outer dyke path we heard, and finally saw, Marsh Wrens. We heard, but did not see, a Virginia Rail. There were Trumpeter Swans on the foreshore. In the marsh were lots of Herons, a Northern Harrier and a Killdeer. We searched for the American Bittern near its namesake sign, where the Tuesday group had seen it. After most of us gave up, Liz spotted it. We all rushed back and got good views before it disappeared into the reeds. That was the highlight of another great visit to this birding hotspot. Before leaving Westham Island we had a good view of a Red-tailed Hawk on a power pole.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (March 11 & 12) the outings will be to Deas Island Regional Park.
6090 Deas Island Rd, Delta (off River Rd east of the Massey Tunnel).
Meet at 9 am in the parking area near the rowing club.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 