PHOTO: White-throated Sparrow by Christine Gaio…..
11 Delta Nats met at Surrey’s Serpentine Fen on what was forecast to be the last dry day for a while – Susan, Teresa, Margaret, Christine, Dottie, Fen, Bob, Pat, Claude, Freddie and Terry.
The resident Kingfisher did not put in an appearance at the bridge at the beginning or the end of the outing. There were Wigeon, Mallards and a pair of Common Goldeneye in the river. Flocks of Canada Geese, ducks and cormorants flew over. Farther along the river were Cackling Geese, Scaup, Gadwall, Common Mergansers and a Double-crested Cormorant that entertained us by bringing up fish and getting them in position to swallow.
From the first tower we could see a flock of Green-winged Teal and 3 Greater Yellowlegs feeding in the shallow water. Bob also photographed a distant Trumpeter Swan from the tower. A pair of Bald Eagles was perched together in a tree presenting courtship behaviour – putting beaks together.
Several Great Blue Herons were standing statue-like along the shore. Farther along the river were larger groups of Scaup, Common Goldeneye and Common Mergansers with a few Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers and a Pied-billed Grebe. A Northern Harrier, with its distinctive white rump, glided by on the lookout for prey.
Continuing our route away from the river we climbed the second viewing tower where we could see Mt Baker in the distance. Here the ponds were mostly frozen with Mallards and Wigeon standing on the ice. In some open water were Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead and Coots. We were surprised to see a tiny Tree Frog on the grass on this cold winter morning. It soon disappeared. There were thousands of European Starlings in the trees and on the hydro towers. We climbed the third viewing tower and then managed to get through a muddy section. In the bushes were Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Towhees, Bewick’s Wrens, Black-capped Chickadees, Eurasian Collared-Doves, House Finches, Purple Finches, Kinglets, Black-headed Cowbirds and an Anna’s Hummingbird.
Most of us were ready to head home after another satisfying outing. Christine decided to stay and continue looking for the Meadowlarks that had been seen on previous days. She did not find them but she did find a Lincoln’s Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow and a Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (February 3 & 4) the outings will be to White Rock & Blackie Spit
Meet at White Rock Pier at 9 AM. Free parking on the waterfront until 10am.
After the pier we will drive to Blackie Spit. Blackie Spit is 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 