PHOTO: Variegated Meadowhawk by Bob Winston………
Nine Delta Nats met at the 41B Pond on Tsawwassen First Nation where we were immediately greeted by four Yellow-bellied Marmots. Marsh Wrens were singing and posing for photos. The male Marsh Wren builds multiple “dummy nests” within his territory to attract females. Once a female chooses one, she lines the inside with feathers and soft plant down to lay her eggs. Males take on multiple female partners. A single male will actively defend his territory while his various partners incubate their eggs and raise their chicks separately.
Red-winged Blackbirds were also singing and posing for photos. Their nests are built exclusively by the female. Territorial males will aggressively defend their breeding areas and maintain “harems” that typically include 2 to 15 females nesting at the same time.
In the ponds were many Mallard families along with Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, Canada Geese and a Beaver. We also saw Robins, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Starlings, Herons, Goldfinches, Cowbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows. We heard but did not see Common Yellowthroats. We were entertained by more Marmots along the dyke. The tide was out but we did see a Killdeer on the shore and an Eagle and a Northern Harrier flew over.
At Reifel we were joined by 2 more, bringing our number to 11. We walked back along the driveway to look for a reported Red-tailed Hawk nest. We did not find the nest but we did hear and see one very noisy hawk move from tree to tree. Here we also had glimpses of Bullock’s Orioles.
There were two Blue-winged Teal in the House Pond, and Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds were making forays to the feeders. Barn Swallows were nesting on the warming Hut. We soon added Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, House Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, Cowbirds, Robins and Cedar Waxwings. Mallards, a single Shoveler and a Turtle were sitting on a log in Fuller Slough.
We headed next to the Southwest Pond to look for the Sandhill Crane nest. The nest is on a small log in the pond. The female stood up briefly to show a single egg. There was no sign of the male. Here we also had Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Marsh Wrens.
We found five Wilson’s Phalaropes in the west pond but they were too far away for good photos. In the north marshes we added Purple Martins, and farther along a Red-breasted Nuthatch. We were entertained by a Townsend’s Vole sitting on the edge of the path. We soon added Wood Ducks and Canada Geese families.
These are two great birding sites and on this warm sunny day both sites also had some neat mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies and other insects.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
eBird Checklists:
41B Pond & Dyke
Reifel
UPCOMING OUTINGS:
SUNDAY, JUNE 7: Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Meet at Reifel at 9 AM. DNS has been booked as a group. You do not need to book parking – just tell the gatekeeper that you are part of the DNS group booking.
Non-Reifel members will need to pay admission.
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 & 10: Joe Brown Park, Surrey
Meet at 8 AM at 5381 125A St. There should be enough room to park below the traffic circle on 125A St.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 