Just past the entrance to the sanctuary there are often some of the outcasts of the bird world lurking about:
- Brown-headed Cowbirds because of nest parasitism
- House Sparrows due to their invasive species status
This photo captures both in one shot:
House Sparrow (left) and Brown-headed Cowbird - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
A much more welcome regular resident is the Wood Duck. Here's a few of them hanging out with a Mallard.
Wood Ducks and Mallard - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
At this time of year Reifel is alive with the sounds of calling Marsh Wrens. The males are singing long and loudly to attract a mate.
Marsh Wren - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
One of my hoped for species was the Common Yellowthroat, a warbler that nests in marshy areas. It has a very distinctive song and call. They are easy to hear but hard to spot. Occasionally they pop out into the open. I was lucky to get this shot of one standing still for a short period.
Common Yellowthroat - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2018 Bird #141
Much more easier to see and photograph are Canada Geese. In breeding season the goslings are a real treat to see. This parent wasn't letting anyone get too close.
Canada Goose - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
The next two shots of a Marsh Wren highlight the differences in my two cameras. The first is a nice clear shot taken with the Canon SLR and the 400 mm lens, it accurately portrays what I saw in real time.
Marsh Wren - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
The next shot was taken with the Nikon P900 with a fixed lens, with the camera set to Birdwatching mode. It over-saturates the colour to produce an artistic view of the bird.
Marsh Wren - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC
There has been a flock of Long-billed Dowitchers at Reifel for a few weeks, they may be loading up on food before heading further north to breed.
Long-billed Dowitcher - Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Delta BC - 2018 Bird #142
This ended my weekend, I'd sneak a small trip in on the following day on my lunch hour.
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