PHOTO: Common Merganser (f) by Pat Smart…..
15 Birders met at Serpentine Fen in Surrey on a sunny morning. Christine reported that she had just seen the Tufted Duck at Green Timbers Park.
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 been 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 a lovely morning.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Upcoming outings:
Saturday, April 4: Ladner Harbour Park, 4905 Mcneelys Way (off River Rd). Meet at 9 AM in the parking lot by the caretaker’s residence. Bring a picnic.
Tuesday & Wednesday (April 7 & 8): Brunswick Point in Ladner. Meet at 9 AM in the parking lot near the south end of River Road West in Ladner – past the Westham Island Bridge. The parking lot is 1 km before the end of River Rd near 30B St.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 