PHOTO: Baby Yellow-bellied Marmot by Bruce Taylor….
4 of us met at the pullout along the ferry jetty at 8am on a very windy morning. Bruce and I got there first and scanned for birds but other than a lone Black Oystercatcher, there wasn’t much to see. Doug and Chris met us at 8 and we were entertained by a couple of baby Yellow-bellied Marmots.
We decided to try the 41B marsh on our way to Reifel since birds were absent at the jetty. When we arrived we met a couple of birders who said that they had seen a baby beaver on the trail there the previous day. We didn’t see beavers, but Tree Swallows were flying all around, Red-winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens were calling loudly along with Cedar Waxwings and few other regulars.
We got to Reifel Bird Sanctuary at 9 and were met by David and Gabriele. Gabriele heard about our walks from the Surrey/White Rock club. In the parking area we heard Cedar Waxwings again and Yellow Warblers.
Once in the park we spotted a Sandhill Crane. None of us were sure if there was a nest of them in the park this year. We were soon met by many Brown-headed Cowbirds, Mallards and Canada Geese. Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, American Robins, House Sparrows and Black-capped Chickadees were all calling. Further along we spotted a lone Spotted Sandpiper and some Wood Ducks. Yellow Warblers were calling. In one spot we were met by the sweet smell of honeysuckle.
We stayed along the outer trails and saw the Purple Martins flying in and out of the nest boxes. Red-breasted Nuthatches were calling, along with a Bewick’s Wren. Past the tower we heard and then saw some Killdeer, Cedar Waxwings (who were heard all through the park) and Marsh Wrens. Heading back inland, we saw some Gadwall and finally heard and saw some Yellow Warblers. On our way out Bruce saw two Blue-winged Teals in the large ponds that connects to Alaksen.
By the time we get back to the parking lot we had had 33 species, for a total of 35 for the morning.
Report by Nicki Brockamp
Photos are on Flickr
eBird lists:
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (June 10 & 11) the outings will be to Joe Brown Park in Surrey.
Meet at 8 am at 5381 125A St. There should be enough room to park below the traffic circle on 125A St.
Delta Naturalists Society 