Just six birders answered the 9 o’clock roll call at Delta Air Park on 104th Avenue – Glen, Teresa, Colin and Stephanie, Lorraine and Jonathan. The threat of rain no doubt kept some at home, but that’s all it was – just a threat. The rain had stopped by the time we arrived and the skies brightened as the morning progressed. No wind and a high tide made for ideal birding conditions.
The tide had pushed the duck flocks into the shallows and we were all amazed at the sheer numbers of ducks lining the foreshore in both directions – mostly Pintails, with some Green-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler. Many Wigeon somewhere out on the bay were heard both by us and Merlin, but we couldn’t find them. We also puzzled over an almost all white duck with a brownish head, which we think was a leucistic Wigeon or similar. Shorebirds included Greater Yellowlegs and some peeps we identified as Pectoral Sandpipers. Our post walk photo search revealed Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin flying fast and low over the sandbanks.
Pectoral Sandpiper by Jonathan Mwenifumbo
Heading west, the hedgerow and ditch on the shore side of the dyke were active with Spotted Towhee, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finches, a Fox Sparrow and a Downy Woodpecker. We spent some time peering into and around the hawthorne and willow “owl trees” that border the ditch and sometimes hold Long-eared Owls, but unfortunately no owls were seen. We were however rewarded with good views of a Northern Shrike.
Northern Shrike by Glen Bodie
Continuing along the dyke, keen eyed Teresa spotted a small bird sitting on one of the shore-side pilings and upon inspection our bird of the day was confirmed, a Snow Bunting. eBird thought it a sufficient rarity that additional info was required to accept the listing.
Snow Bunting by Glen Bodie
Apparently in company with the Bunting was another mystery bird, later ID’d as a juvenile American Pipit. My Sibley guide says American Pipit “shows an unusual amount of individual variation in appearance” and thus you can’t rule it out just because it doesn’t seem to match the pictures in your guide. Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Western Meadowlark were added before turning around and heading back to the cars. Teresa left 10 minutes early and reported back to us that she’d seen two Sandhill Cranes in the field west of the air-park, but they were gone by the time the rest of us got there. Our final eBird list had 37 species. No Robin, Junco, or gulls other than Short-billed however.
Report by Colin Huggett
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (October 20 & 21) the outings will be to Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond.
Meet at 9 AM by Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, 2340 River Rd (at the west end of River Rd and west of the north end of No 1 Rd).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.