REPORT ON REIFEL BIRD SANCTUARY FIELD TRIP:
January 21, 2007

It was a beautiful sunny morning, and the group of 12 set off wading through the sea of Mallards that are trained to greet you as you enter the Sanctuary – especially if you are carrying a brown paper bag of bird seed! It is amusing to watch young children, eye to eye with a Mallard drake, react. Some are excited to get so near, others want them to fly away, and others throw seed at them with all their might, while staying safely close to their own mothers. Reifel Bird Sanctuary is an interesting place for both young and old to see the wonders of nature.

Rock Pigeons controlled the sky over the shop, taking flight as people entered the sanctuary only to loop around and land back where they started from – on the roof overlooking the duck ponds. Nearby a bird feeder was busy with Black-capped Chickadees and House Finches. Red-winged Blackbirds singing in the bushes added to the tranquillity of the place.

We gathered further down the path to watch four Black-crowned Night Herons roosting in the trees beside the east pond. These birds are considered rare in BC. They are a medium-sized (approx 25”) stocky heron with a short neck. Their crown is black as well as their back, with grey wings and white under-parts.

American Wigeon, Northern Pintails and Mallards flew in overhead landing in various ponds in the sanctuary. They joined Buffleheads, Lesser Scaups and American Coots who are quite commonplace.

The hedgerows around the entrance were also a hive of activity – White-crowned Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows kept the naturalists excited as they busily carried on foraging for insects and birdseed on this sunny day.

We continued leisurely along the NE path, eagerly looking for the Saw-whet Owl that some of us had the fortune to see on previous visits. Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees would fly and land in your hand seeking sunflower seeds. These spoilt birds were not the least bit interested in boring millet seed! Our stroll was interrupted by Wood Ducks skating on the frozen drains, their colours displayed beautifully by the morning sun. A Brown Creeper was spotted creeping up a Douglas fir tree, his slender brown body providing good camouflage. This bird is about 5”, and its long tail providing support as it searches for food while climbing the tree. And then we found the owl, this tiny Saw-whet Owl. Seven inches, it is very small! It was tucked in under the branches of the tree, so much so that it took several of the group some time spot it in front of them when it was pointed out.

A flock of Canada Geese, more Mallards and American Wigeon could be seen in the fields to the east. They seemed quite content. There were a group of American Robins on the tops of some deciduous trees – sunning themselves. A Northwestern Crow called out as it passed by heading for a large tree in the distance.

The group split up for a while – some walking to a hide to see if there were any interesting birds on the NE pond, but it was frozen and quiet. Some of us found a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Fox Sparrow. Another group saw a Woodpecker and a Cooper’s Hawk. The rest of the group just visited with other naturalists, just catching up on news and enjoying the day.

The inlet from the sea at the northern end of the sanctuary was patrolled by two Northern Harriers, effortlessly gliding above the rushes. The drainage ditch, full of water was home to Hooded Mergansers, a Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler, more Mallards and American Wigeons. An immature Bald Eagle surveyed the area from the top of a tree. In a neighbouring tree, a Rough-legged Hawk also surveyed the area. There were Trumpeter Swans near the shoreline, some sitting in the reeds, while others swam close-by.

Later we found ourselves observing from the top of the observation tower. On such a clear day, one could see the mountains of North Vancouver and across the sea to Victoria, as well as the western ponds of the sanctuary and the outer dyke. The Fraser River marine traffic was busy with barges and pleasure craft. Two Bald Eagles flew from the marshes to our right and followed the shoreline, no doubt looking for an opportunity to catch an early supper - but not this time. They lit on two poles out by the water’s edge.
We were about to descend the stairs when we spotted a small hawk flying in front of us, it lit on a nesting box pole. Steve took a closer look through his scope – it was a Merlin.

We continued along the western dyke, stopping to look for snow geese, but unfortunately we were not in luck. We came along to find three Sandhill Cranes on the edge of the path. We got quite close and everyone was excited. Then as if by magic, we heard a strange call and looked around us to see four more Sandhill Cranes flying across the trees the other side of the pond. They called and called and the three that were beside us started to call out too. The flying four, changed their course and landed on the path in the middle of our group almost crash landing on my mother-in-law and my wife! (No wonder Jackie insisted on us signing the waiver!). So the group stood within arms length of the Sandhill Cranes and had a great opportunity to get a close look.

On the return walk we saw a pair of Gadwalls, more Mallards and American Wigeons. The last section of path, we found another Saw-whet Owl. This time we had a great view as he was sitting at eye level in a deciduous tree.

Most of the group, hungry at this stage, relaxed in the warming hut and had lunch. Through the window, we were able to watch the pond and we saw a female Common Merganser, Ring-necked Ducks, and …. (you’ve guessed it) more Mallards and American Wigeons!
Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to leave after lunch, taking the opportunity to continue the lunchtime chat and watch the activity on the pond. There was a small duck on the little island beside the deck of the warming hut. What type of duck is it? Nobody could identify it with certainty. Everyone consulted their bird book, between us we probably had the entire collection of bird books published. But still nobody could identify. Then John Ireland came by with a group. It was a female Green-winged Teal. Of course, everybody then found it in their book!

Michael Manley