Photo: American Wigeon by Philip Dickinson
October 31, 2023
Beautiful weather made for a day at one of our most popular destinations even better. One of the local Black-crowned Night Herons greeted us near the entrance, even before Black-capped Chickadees and Red-winged Blackbirds began snacking on handheld seeds. Pine Siskins fed near the trail until a Peregrine Falcon scattered them, while resident Sandhill Cranes strolled the marsh. As usual there were thousands of ducks – Mallard, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Hooded Merganser and others. We also saw several Fox and Golden-crowned Sparrows. Four American Avocets were a highlight for some of us, but others missed them. Northern Shrike, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher, Purple Finch and hundreds of Cackling Geese were among other sightings. A brief stop at the Boundary Bay dike offered views of hundreds of Dunlin and another Merlin before we headed home.
66 Species (Approx. Qty)
Attendees: Phil, Rick, Jane, Rex, Judy Lo., Dianne, Denny, Pat, Marcia, John H. Lisa, Graham, Shirley, Barry, Doug C., Bruce, Karen, Robin, Lianne, Merilee, Pam P., John E., Sue B., Judy B., Chendur
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (1600), Cackling Goose (500), Canada Goose (50), Trumpeter Swan (12), Northern Shoveler (400), Gadwall (25), American Wigeon (200), Mallard (2000), Wood Duck (1), Northern Pintail (100), Green-winged Teal (8), Ring-necked Duck (4), Greater Scaup (2), Hooded Merganser (25)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS: Ring-necked Pheasant (2)
LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loon (6), Common Loon (4), Pied-billed Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (75), Great Blue Heron (25), Black-crowned Night Heron (1)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (12), Northern Harrier (7), Red-tailed Hawk (2), Merlin (2), Peregrine Falcon (1)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (3), American Coot (21), Sandhill Crane (4)
SHOREBIRDS: American Avocet (4), Black-bellied Plover (4), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Dunlin (2000), Long-billed Dowitcher (3)
GULLS: Ring-billed Gull (3), Glaucous-winged Gull (9)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (7), Eurasian Collared-Dove (1)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's Hummingbird (2)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (3)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (4)
SHRIKES, VIREOS: Northern Shrike (1)
CORVIDS: American Crow (14), Common Raven (1)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (150)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Brown Creeper (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (2), Marsh Wren (4)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (1)
THRUSHES: American Robin (28)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (150)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (5)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (8), Savannah Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (18), White-crowned Sparrow (2), Golden-crowned Sparrow (13), Dark-eyed Junco (15)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (125)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Purple Finch (2), House Finch (1), Pine Siskin (40), House Sparrow (25)