Photo: Marbled Godwit by Mick Thompson
November 8, 2022
We returned to Canada for the first time since March 2020 and were greeted with sunny, calm conditions. We stopped at Boundary Bay, Elgin Heritage Park and Blackie Spit. Bird of the day was a perched Short-eared Owl that prompted life-bird dances from several of our group. Marbled Godwit, Eurasian Wigeon (several), Common Loon, Trumpeter Swan, Red-breasted Merganser and thousands of Dunlin were other highlights. We failed to find reported Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl, but overall it was a wonderful day.
46 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Dianna, Doug, Val, Judy Lo. Ken, Melinda, Karen, Pam T., Jane, Maureen, Graham, Judy B., Melissa, Jeff, Lynda, Norwyn, Sandy
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Trumpeter Swan (15), Eurasian Wigeon (11), American Wigeon (150), Mallard (200), Northern Pintail (1000), Green-winged Teal (209), Common Merganser (1), Red-breasted Merganser (4)
LOONS, GREBES: Common Loon (6), Horned Grebe (1), Red-necked Grebe (2)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (28), Great Blue Heron (22)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (8), Northern Harrier (3), Cooper’s Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (7), Merlin (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (600), Killdeer (1), Greater Yellowlegs (4), Dunlin (10,000)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (2), Ring-billed Gull (5), Glaucous-winged Gull (200)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Eurasian Collared-Dove (4), Mourning Dove (1)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (8)
CORVIDS: American Crow (58), Common Raven (1)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee {5)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (2)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (3)
THRUSHES: American Robin (31), Varied Thrush (3)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (1000)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Yellow-rumped Warbler (2)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (5), Song Sparrow (6), White-crowned Sparrow (8), Golden-crowned Sparrow (7), Dark-eye Junco (5)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (1), Brewer’s Blackbird (30)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (4)