PHOTO: Yellow-rumped Warbler by Colin Huggett…..
Yellow-rump day! It was a clear, sunny morning as ten casual birders met on the dyke at the end of 64th St., Bob, Dottie, Fen, Pat, Connie, Colin, Lidia, Susan, John and Alexis along with Earl, companion-pup-in-training. The large tree at the corner was alive with Yellow-rumped Warblers, well placed to catch the morning sun. Additionally there were three Bald Eagles, a European Starling, and, in the shrubs below, an Anna’s Hummingbird. Kinglets were flitting in the evergreens across the street, both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned. A Pacific Wren and a Bewick’s Wren were calling but not seen.
As we walked east along the dyke it was Yellow-rumped Warblers all the way to the pond, to the point that we all remarked on the first Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee. In the pond were American and Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal, American Coots, three female Buffleheads, and a Pied-billed Grebe. Across the way, looking out over the grass towards the water, were Eagles on the water’s edge and Greater Yellowlegs, flocks of Starlings coming and going, a female Harrier making the rounds and the occasional Great Blue Heron in the grassy foreshore.
About then a Merlin swooped low overhead, which was exciting, but happened too fast for photos. A flock of White-crowned Sparrows sat in a small tree and House Finches were spotted in the shrubs bordering the ploughed field. Sleeping ducks lined the far edge of the field; Killdeer were spotted in the middle. The old electrical site was dotted with Eagles on the power poles and a Flicker was nearby, but nobody was perched on the fence posts today. As we turned back, we saw a male Harrier dive into the bushes just beyond the fence and disappear.
The walk back was notable for a Marsh Wren that popped out from the grass over the ditch and, of course, the Yellow-rumped Warblers yet again, yellow rumps very much on display, making for a great morning all around.
Report by Dottie Uhlman
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (February 17 & 18) the outings will be to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen.
Meet at 9 AM in the concession/washroom parking lot.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 