At the Bird Sanctuary

We had a great day at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta.

The greeting party

The first time I saw a Wood Duck, I thought it looked way too exotic to be native to North America. I thought it belonged with my Dad's Golden Pheasants which hail from India.


The exotic-looking Wood Duck

Ubiquitous Mallards in the foreground

Usually these guys are in the water but this time I had a great view of his big blue feet.

American Coot

Just look at those feet

I don't know what kind of duck she is. She looks feminine although she's probably a drake.

Cute duck with no name

This is a Hooded Merganzer. The one on the chart had a white head so this must be a baby. This is also the name of my favourite restaurant in Penticton named for the bird that flew around during the construction.


Hooded Merganzer

This cute little guy is a Kinglet and is the first time I've seen one. He was very photogenic and my favourite. Can you tell?

 

 



Sparrow—What I call any bird I don't know the name of



Sparrow

Sparrow

There was some interesting plant life.

I haven't seen this plant before



Unfurling Ferns

Looks like a morel mushroom

The sanctuary is not just for birds.

Turtles on a log




Carp are not very pretty but I do like the bubbles (almost look photoshopped)



Young heron doing the flamingo

Signs of Spring were everywhere.


Canada Goose sitting on a nest

Duck nest on the path




Sandhill Crane nesting—I love the heart on his head

The birds love it here—cranes (man-made) just visible in the background

Bufflehead



Young Bufflehead I think because he has the same coloured eye

I love the reflection and the ripples

Red-winged Blackbird at one of the many feeders

The Red-winged Blackbirds were in full chorus

Just a glimpse of the red wing

In a more traditional pose

Another exotic-looking duck—check out that very long tail

We heard the Snow Geese honking a way off in the distance and here is a photo I took earlier in the year not far from the sanctuary.

Snow Geese love the farmer's field

We've been to the bird sanctuary a few times and we usually only see Mallard ducks but this time we saw many species.



So serene (except for the ducks quacking) but I wouldn't have it any other way!