Delta December 2021

[Bentley]

Setting my alarm for 5:20am, didn't miss it. Woke up few minutes early if I remember right. Gord let me burrow his scope, which really was a life saver. Leaving around 6:15, the time to get to our first destination was set, just before the eight o'clock sunrise. Once I arrived at Reifel I realized that opens at nine, not eight. So, I outed to Brunswick Point. Snapped some DCCO photos. I arrive back an hour or so later, just to realize that I forgot the reservation. Missed out on four of my target species. Planning to try again in March. After that whole incident, Tsawwassen was my next destination. Freezing cold, but worth it for seven lifers. Headed out to Centennial Beach, my first of RBMEs, gorgeous birds. But, using the scope and skimming a SUSC flock, I spotted it. The overall target of the trip, a Black Scoter. Granted a female, but still a lifer for me. Didn't stick around too long in Boundary Bay, spotted some Dunlins and a kestrel. Quite a few people there, probably searching for the recently reported mockingbird. But at North 40, I found the resistant great-horned. Blackie Spit was my final stretch, wouldn't have been able to go if it was not for the Reifel incident. Pintail galore, spotted quite a few Slavonian Grebes, a White-Winged Scoter, Grey Plovers, and some Eurasian Wigeons. Overall, good trip.

ebird.org/tripreport/16760

[Randy]

Great report and sounds like an awesome day! I looked at your list and there's some great species there as well as some excellent photos!

I actually hadn't heard Slavonian Grebe or Grey Plover so I had to look them up. Turns out they are Horned Grebe and Black-bellied Plover.

Also, I'm impressed you know the 4 letter banding codes for being relatively new to birding! On the forum we usually try to avoid them so that folks who are not familiar with them know what us crazy people are talking about .

Keep up the good work and looking to seeing more reports and photos!

[Ben]

Well, I like the banding codes. It's like a fun mini puzzle to figure out which bird it is. And if I get stuck I just look it up.
That said I understand the reason not to use 'em, just like I don't put latin names everywhere....

Btw, I think it's SUSC not SUSO.

Any photos of the Black Scoter? That's one I've been looking for every time I head that direction, but have come up empty thus far.

[Bentley]

My mistake on the Surf Scoter. No photos of the black unfortunately, my lens can barely zoom onto a duck less than 50 meters away. I'd say Centennial and Tsawwassen would be good places to check for wintering scoters out there.