October 31, 2020 - Afternoon at Brunswick Point

After Reifel we made the short trip to Brunswick Point. Out last visit featured a great variety of birds, with highlights including both Kinglet species. Today, it was quieter but we still saw some birds, including one new 2020 bird for me.

The first bird I photographed was a sparrow. I assumed it was a Song Sparrow at the time. Upon reviewing my shots that evening, I concluded it was a Fox Sparrow.

Like the Song Sparrow, there is great variety in Fox Sparrows depending on location. the Sibley guide details four subspecies groups. The Pacific birds belong to the Sooty group. This bird matches closely the bird detailed in the guide.

Fox Sparrow - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

As happened on our previous two visits, we soon saw a Rough-legged Hawk flying overhead.

Rough-legged Hawk - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

There were a number of large white birds far off in the distance. We debated whether they were Trumpeter Swans or Snow Geese. Close-up review at home revealed they were the latter.

Snow Geese - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

No birds in sight on the next shot. Because I'd reverted to my Canon and telephoto lens, I couldn't catch the fact that this platform was about 8 feet off the ground.

Mary-jean spotted a sparrow just off the path in a brushy area. She identified it as a Lincoln's Sparrow and these shots back her up. The second shot clearly shows the finely streaked buffy breast. This was my first of this species for 2020.

Lincoln's Sparrow - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

2020 Bird #126

Lincoln's Sparrow - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

There wasn't much else to see this time so we made our way back to our starting point. We had another visit from a Rough-legged Hawk, perhaps the same one seen earlier.

Rough-legged Hawk - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

We couldn't quite get an angle on the bird where the branch shadow would be hidden.

We saw a few common birds on the walk back:

European Starling - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

Song Sparrow - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

House Finch - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

There's a marshy area just off the trail, quite close to the parking area. We were delighted to see this bird in that area. I didn't recall seeing one this late in the year before. I did some research and did see one in December 2014.

Marsh Wren - Brunswick Point, Delta BC

That was the last bird of the day. It had been a good day of birding.