Bird watchers from Ladner and Richmond were celebrating, of sorts, after they pipped “rivals” Greater Victoria in this year’s annual Christmas Bird Count.
Greater Victoria lost its title for finding the most species during B.C.'s annual Christmas bird count by a single species, with bird watchers in Ladner and Richmond counted 141 species.
The Christmas bird count is conducted on any one day from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 within a 24-kilometre diameter area that stays the same from year to year.
Ladner count coordinator Jude Grass said she was pleased the weather was mild and sunny, making it easier to spot birds. It also encouraged a greater number of volunteers to around the 50 range.
Last year, Delta finished second to the Victoria count, due in big part to miserable weather in these parts and a fewer volunteers.
"We had a fantastic day. It was supposed to be a terrible, rotten, wet day, but it was anything but that," said Grass.
She noted the preliminary number has Ladner at 141, slightly ahead of Victoria, and that number could increase with a couple of other species confirmations, including a great egret, an all-white bird similar to a sandhill crane.
The Ladner count, which also includes areas of South Delta, southern Richmond and Point Roberts, is part of a regional Christmas Bird Count, which is part of a much larger count across the continent.
Taking place over several days in December, the many counts are part of an ongoing project of the National Audubon Society in the United States, coordinated in Canada by Bird Studies Canada.
The Ladner edition joined in the 1950s, having local birders and those interested in trying for the first time taking part in several ways, from venturing out to different spots or watching bird feeders from home.
Some of the more interesting and less common species spotted this year included a sora rail, a small, secretive bird of freshwater marshes, at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, as well as a western scrub-jay at Tilbury Island .
Westham Island was also the location for a rare sighting of Townsend's solitaire and a palm warbler.
"We did well with the owls. We had six or seven species, which was really great," said Grass.
In Point Roberts, plenty of different seabirds were spotted.
"That's what pushed us up a little bit. The weather was good, the tide was high and it was calm. When you looked out, we didn't have the wind and waves with ducks bopping up and down, because then you couldn't count the darn things," she added.
The count once again had someone venture into the Vancouver Landfill, where the usual gulls were spotted. Landfill management use the data collected on the birds there to help their ongoing management plan for the dump.
The final numbers should be in within the next few days, but it's looking good that the Ladner could be tops.
Over a couple of dozen of the volunteers wrapped up Sunday with an enjoyable post-count get together and dinner at the Reifel sanctuary.
