PHOTO: Killdeer Chicks by Christine Gaio….
Three Delta Nats met at Centennial Beach on a gorgeous morning – Christine, Lorna and Terry. There were no Eagles in the trees around the parking lot but we did see a few later on. In the pond, Northern Shovelers were swimming in circles to stir up food, along with a pair of Gadwall.
There were 10 Great Blue Herons on the roof of the house beside the beach. The tide was far out and there were more Herons along the shore and and on sandbars.
Great Blue Herons by Terry Carr
Along the path were Robins, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows. There were rabbits everywhere. Barn swallows and House Sparrows were at the nest boxes. Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows were demonstrating their aerial skills as they hunted for insects. We soon added Savannah Sparrows and Northern Flickers. Flocks of Western Sandpipers were flying back and forth and feeding on the sandbars. A pair of Northern Harriers circled above.
We added Mallards, Green-winged Teal, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Starlings and Black-capped Chickadees. We kept trying to locate the source of the “witchety witchety” calls of Common Yellowthroats. We finally saw a couple that appeared briefly for photos – along with Anna’s Hummingbirds, Marsh Wrens and Red-winged Blackbirds.
Common Yellowthroat by Christin Gaio
We took the recently repaired boardwalk back to the beach and found the Killdeer family that Christine had seen earlier – 2 adults and 4 fluffy chicks.The chicks were too big to hide under mum but they knew enough to hide behind tufts of vegetation. Later Christine saw a Killdeer nest with 4 eggs that the parents were trying to protect from Crows.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (May 6 & 7) the outings will be to Ladner Harbour Park. 4905 Mcneelys Way (off River Rd – NE of former West Coast Seeds store).
Meet at 8 AM in the parking lot by the caretaker’s residence.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 