PHOTO:
15 Birders met at Serpentine Fen in Surrey on a sunny morning. The Kingfisher was not in its usual spot by the bridge but a Great Blue Heron was hunting close to shore. It scooped up a few small fish before flying across the river. A female Mallard was also scooping up small fish along the shore.
In the river farther along were Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Canada Geese and a female Common Merganser – its white chin distinguishes it from other female Mergansers. In the trees were Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Crows, Towhees, Flickers and an Anna’s Hummingbird. Herons flew by carrying branches for a small heronry that seems to have established here in recent years. A Belted Kingfisher was perched on a distant piling and then flew past. Also flying by were Double-crested Cormorants, Gulls and Eagles.
We turned away from the river and checked the ponds where we added Shovelers, Bufflehead and Coots. In the bushes were Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees, Eurasian Collared-Doves and more Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins and Towhees. Farther along we added Tree Swallows, Greater Yellowlegs and a Bewick’s Wren. Several Marsh Wrens were singing and some did show themselves. The power lines did not have the usual massive flocks on Starlings but we did hear and see a large flock as we completed our loop to the parking lot. The Kingfisher was at the bridge but flew across the highway.
We were surprised that we had not seen any hawks but we had a very enjoyable outing on lovely morning.
Report by Terry Carr
Delta Naturalists Society 