Field Notes – Reifel Bird Sanctuary & Brunswick Point,
January 24, 2014

by on January 28, 2014
<p>Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Stump

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Cygnus buccinator</i>, Anserinae<br /> Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator, Anserinae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p>Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Fallow & Foggy Field

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p>Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Foggy Silhouette

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Buteo jamaicensis</i>, Accipitridae<br /> Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome

Buteo jamaicensis, Accipitridae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Grus canadensis</i>, Gruidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis, Gruidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Mallard Crowd v.2

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p>George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Feeding Frenzy

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Grus canadensis</i>, Gruidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis, Gruidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Poecile atricapillus</i>, Paridae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

A Bold Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus, Paridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Picoides pubescens</i>, Picidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Downy Woodpecker - ♀

Picoides pubescens, Picidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Junco hyemalis</i>, Emberizidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis, Emberizidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Aix sponsa</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Wood Duck - ♂

Aix sponsa, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Mallard - ♂

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Waddling Mallards

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p>George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Foggy Pond

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Haliaeetus leucocephalus</i>, Accipitridae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Accipitridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas acuta</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Northern Pintail - ♂

Anas acuta, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas american</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

American Wigeon - ♀

Anas american, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Columba livia</i>, Columbidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia, Columbidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Columba livia</i>, Columbidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

A (Rock) Pigeon in Hand

Columba livia, Columbidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Agelaius phoeniceus</i>, Icteridae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Red-winged Blackbird - ♂

Agelaius phoeniceus, Icteridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas acuta</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Northern Pintail - ♀

Anas acuta, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Fulica americana</i>, Rallidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

American Coot

Fulica americana, Rallidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Mallard - ♀

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br /> George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> January 24, 2014</p>

Mallard showing Drake Feathers

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Sara I headed out to Delta last Friday to enjoy the nice weather. Unfortunately the sun was obscured by dense fog patches near the Strait of Georgia. We heard the fog horn blasting all day. The fog did make for some interesting photo opportunities at Reifel & Brunswick Point.

The diversity of waterfowl seemed diminished as compared with my previous winter visit but as this was one my first outings of the year I was able to add a bunch of common species to my Metro Vancouver year list. I was hoping to see some owls (still trying to see my first Vancouver Great Horned Owl) but we did spot both Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as a Black-crowned Night-Heron. As always the habituated waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes are very cooperative photo subjects so I tried to work on my avian portraiture. I also made a quick video (below) of the Black-capped Chickadees eating right from sara’s hand. Sara and I spent 3 hours at Reifel covering over 3.3 kilometers and observed 35 species of birds.




We then headed out to Brunswick Point in search of the Prairie Falcon that had been reported there. We spotted it initially right near the intersection of 30b St. and River Road, before it was flushed by a pair of Northern Harriers and headed east to perch on the chimney of the next farm house. After we parked at the end of River Road, I walked about a kilometer along the dike trail around the point before doubling back, a little over an hour in total. I was really happy to see a bunch of Red-breasted Mergansers, which I struggled to find last year. Other notable sightings included a perched Rough-legged Hawk and a brief glimpse of some Snow Geese in flight through the fog. On our way home we also saw the previously mentioned Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome. With the hawk we tallied up 18 species at the point. Check out the KMZ for a full list of sightings.



View KMZ in Google Earth

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Portrait

I’m a research scientist at the University of Washington. My research deals with the visual ecology of insects, such as butterflies, mosquitoes and other biting flies.