This season’s annual Ladner Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, Dec. 19 under a calm, clear, and dry sky.
Close to 100 people went out and identified and counted birds in Delta, parts of south Richmond, Tsawwassen, and Point Roberts.
A total of 130 species of birds were detected on Count Day within the 24 km diameter circle. This is two species more than last year’s total of 128, which was the second highest count in Canada, after Victoria, B.C.
Four additional species: American Bittern, Common Murre, Red Knot, and Rhinoceros Auklet, were missed on the official Count Day, but were recorded on the three days prior to or after Dec. 19, which is considered Count Week.
Highlights included a Northern Waterthrush at Deas Island, a type of ground-warbler that usually migrates to winter in Central and South America.
Another rare bird on the count for the second year in a row was a Northern Mockingbird at Boundary Bay. This species is only regularly found in northern Oregon to the south, but a few manage to wander into our area most years.
Other noteworthy finds included 12 Least Sandpipers in south Richmond, two Greater White-fronted Geese at Boundary Bay, and one Glaucous Gull at the Delta Landfill. The colder than usual weather resulted in the presence of Common Redpolls at several locations.
Thank you to all who joined in to help Birds Canada and National Audubon Society keep track of the population of wild birds every year since 1900. You can learn more about the program at www.birdscanada.org/cbc.
