While traveling along Deltaport way, a Great Blue Heron appeared alongside the road. I was able to stop and get a couple of shots as it took off.
Great Blue Heron - Deltaport Way, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #16
I arrived at Reifel just before 2:00 PM and the place was absolutely packed. I had to wait for a parking spot to become available, which cost me 15 - 20 minutes. The first two species recorded were both Wigeons.
American Wigeon - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #17
Even better was there was a rarer Eurasian Wigeon in the same area. This bird is stunning
Eurasian Wigeon - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #18
I had hoped to see the long-staying rare Black Phoebe on this day but it was not present in its usual location in the Southwest Marsh. It was not seen again after this day. Hopefully it decided to head south to its usual home in California, rather than having an unfortunate end here.
It can be seen in this post in my 2019 blog, it's about 2/3 of the way through the post under the August heading. Click on this link to see it: Black Phobe
A very common bird here is the Red-winged Blackbird. They work the visitors very well for seed treats.
Red-winged Blackbird - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #19
This next shot may be my best photo of the year, taken on the first day. As they say, timing is everything..I caught this Eagle just as it struck this threatening pose.
Bald Eagle - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #20
It was a good day here for photography compared to Point Roberts, and many of my subjects were much closer. This female duck is a good example.
Ring-necked Duck (F) - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #21
This next shot is a tad over-exposed but it makes for a nice effect.
American Coot - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #22
Probably one of the most popular birds at Reifel is the beautiful Wood Duck, both the male and female are gorgeous. Today's photo was of a male.
Wood Duck - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #23
A more unusual looking bird is the Northern Shoveler, and this pose makes it look even more so.
Northern Shoveler - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #24
This photo does not do these beautiful birds justice, but it was the only one I took on the day. They were probably 50 - 75 meters away from me.
Trumpeter Swan - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #25
The Spotted Towhee is another bird that does well with the visitors. When seed is thrown down, they are bigger than many of the other birds chasing after it.
Spotted Towhee - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #26
It's hard to get a natural shot of a Chickadee here as they spend so much time begging for seed. Here's one in a tree!
Black-capped Chickadee - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
2020 Bird #27
By this time I'd reached the end of the East dyke and turned towards the blind at Fuller Slough. It was quiet here and there was a beautiful grebe close to the blind.
Pied-billed Grebe - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #28
Farther out across the slough were some large white and green ducks with long orange bills. I was delighted to see Common Mergansers on New Year's Day. I've missed them in some years as they are not that common in the Lower Mainland.
Common Merganser - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #29
Back out in the more open parts of the Sanctuary, I saw my first Harrier of the year.
Northern Harrier - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #30
It was getting late in the day by now and I started making my way back to the parking area. But I saw a good number of new species on the way back.
This bird looks markedly different in it's Basic (non-breeding) plumage in the winter. But this is the easiest time to see them as they head north to breed.
Golden-crowned Sparrow - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #31
Common all year round is the familiar Song Sparrow.
Song Sparrow - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #32
It's rare to see one Snow Goose at Reifel, but seeing a few hundred in a flock is easy in the winter.
Snow Geese - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #33
I was almost back by now but still picked up a couple of more duck species on the way.
Bufflehead (F) - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #34
Green-winged Teal - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #35
The invasive House Sparrow is plentiful at Reifel.
House Sparrow - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2020 Bird #36
And finally, Reifel has a history of hosting Black-crowned Night Herons in Fall - late Winter. You can read more about them at this link:
They seem to be always partially hidden and sleep most of the day when they are here.
Black-crowned Night Heron - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
2020 Bird #37
This ended my day, I'd done better than 2018 or 2019 on New Year's day. More 2020 posts coming soon!
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