PHOTO…..Song Sparrow by Terry Carr…..
10 Delta Nats met at Ladner Harbour Park – Freddie, Bob, Connie, Lee, Dorothy, Lorna, Lindly, Dottie, Roger and Terry. Black-capped Chickadees and a pair of Downy Woodpeckers were feasting on the feeders by the caretakers house, and an Anna’s Hummingbird was at the hummingbird feeder.
We headed along Shirley’s Walk where an Eagle landed in front of us and flocks of Snow Geese flew over. House Finches and a Varied Thrush were in a tree below the second bridge. We added Mallards, Song Sparrows, Robins, Juncos and Marsh Wren. Just before the end of Shirley’s Walk a Pacific Wren flitted beside the path and a Hairy Woodpecker was tapping on a tree. Both were hidden behind branches making it hard to photograph them. The woodpecker was bigger and had a longer bill than the Downy Woodpecker that we had seen earlier.
Back at the road were more Robins, House Finches and Song Sparrows. We heard and then most of us saw a Belted Kingfisher when it made a few brief stops. On one side of the bridge were Mallards. On the other side a Pied-billed Grebe was hanging out with more Mallards. A Fox Sparrow was on a piling with House Sparrows.
Walking along the river we added a Heron, a female Hooded Merganser, Starlings and Flickers. Then the rain started. We carried on to the viewing platform but then headed back to the cars. We were lucky that the rain had held off as long as it did. The first hour had been very enjoyable with lots of nice bird sightings and coloured leaves to admire. But after the rain settled in the birds were hunkered down, so we called it a day.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Next week (Tuesday only) November 4 the outing will be to Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
Meet at 9 AM by the Nature House (4519 Piper Ave) at the south end of Piper Ave (off Winston St).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 