Rain & Snow: Another DNCB Tuesday of crappy weather. Only three of us (Mike, Terry and me) went to Point Roberts where it poured rain, and we birded without leaving the vehicle. However, Terry got some good photos that you can see on our Flickr site at: https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=3027315%40N23&text=2017-50&view_all=1.
We procrastinated at Petra’s Kafe, then decided at 8 a.m. to go to Point Roberts. Border was clear, and at our first stop at Kiniski’s Tavern (outside, not inside), there were lots of Horned Grebes, Bufflehead, Common Loons and Surf Scoters diving. Terry was able to take shots without leaving the back seat. We did the same at other stops at Lighthouse Marine Park parking lot, the PR Marina, and last stop at Bayview Drive (east side of PR). We also saw Harlequin Ducks, Common Goldeneye, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, Cormorants (Pelagic and Double-crested), Killdeer, Song, Fox and White-crowned Sparrows. I almost ran into a coyote strolling along APA Drive.
Roger and I went to Lighthouse Park last weekend after buying gas and in our 20 minutes there saw: Marbled Murrelets, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Long-tailed Ducks, Northern Shrike, a Sealion and Harbour Porpoises, in addition to the above-mentioned species. Because we were wimps today and didn’t get out of the car, we were blanked on these sightings. We drove around Point Roberts for a couple of hours, and frankly, it was very enjoyable bonding with Mike and Terry.
We left the rainy Point and got to the Rose & Crown Pub around 10:30 a.m. Interestingly, the cars were covered with snow in Tsawwassen; very Christmassy, but I hope it doesn’t last. We were first customers in the pub which officially opens at 11 a.m., but Shelley and Leila looked after us. Sitting next to the fireplace, looking at the snow-covered Palm Trees outside, and enjoying their daily special of hot veggie soup and tuna sandwich, with a cold Canadian pint was simply awesome. Mike raved about his sandwich and pint of Guinness too. We bonded some more and acknowledged that it wasn’t a highlight DNCB outing, but very enjoyable and a Tuesday morning well-spent.
This Saturday, Dec. 23 is our Ladner Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Some of us will meet at Petra’s before 8 a.m. to do the Tsawwassen area. Others may wish to meet at the Ladner McDonald’s restaurant at 7:30-8 a.m. to join others there, including coordinator Jude Grass, to do sections in Ladner. Jude would like more volunteers. There is no DNCB outing on Dec. 26, however, the White Rock/Surrey CBC is Saturday, Dec. 30. Our next DNCB outing will be Tuesday, Jan. 3 to Tsawwassen Ferry Port and Brunswick Point. For more info on these outings, and other reports and photos, see our website at: www.dncb.wordpress.com. Here’s wishing each of you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2018, with the occasional neat bird sighting. Cheers: Tom
Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists Society
