February 9th;
On this day, I did a mini-big-day with Liron Gertsman in the Richmond/Delta/Surrey area. We started early, more specifically 8:30 a.m. at Brunswick Point in Richmond. After first introductions ( we had never met before ), we began scanning the mouth of the canal for seabirds. We found several Bufflehead, 2 Common Goldeneyes, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, one lone female Hooded Merganser, 4 Western Grebes, and a Red-throated Loon showing its distinctive profile a ways out to sea. Starting to walk along the trail, we bumped into a flock of around 20 Golden-crowned Sparrows feeding on a clay deposit, picking through the dirt for food.
Clay-pecker Sparrows
Directing our attention back to the water, we saw the resident bunch of Double-crested Cormorants hanging out on the erect wooden poles situated near shore.
Double-crested Cormorants
Even further out, we counted at least 50 Northern Pintails actively flying and landing on the water, and exactly 52 Trumpeter Swans sitting together nearby. On each side of the trail, we saw great numbers of Fox and Song Sparrows, not to mention tons of Spotted Towhees exhibiting the "scratch, scratch" technique on the ground, searching for bugs. Two Virginia Rails strutted across the ice on the left side of the trail, which is always a delight to see in the winter, and a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets entertained us from a patch of low bushes. Rounding the wide loop of the path, I spotted two Western Meadowlarks whipping in and out of the grasses on the field, and Liron was soon able to locate them too. A massive flock of Dunlin were swirling around out near the shoreline a long distance away, and we calculated there were at least 5000 birds in the group.
Continuing on, we were greeted by a brisk northern wind shooting at us, a White-crowned Sparrow, and a posing Golden-crowned Sparrow huddling down from the wind. 
Golden-crowned Sparrow
There were birds around the vicinity that liked the wind though, with 5 Northern Harriers surfing the prairie low in dramatic fashion. On our way back, Liron and I did watch an interesting spectacle; a Bald Eagle chasing a Western X Glaucous-winged Gull hybrid with a piece of food in its claws. We were amazed at the eagle's dedication to the subject of "steal the food from that gull!!!". The Bald Eagle was in hot pursuit of this gull for literally ten minutes. In repetition this went on : 1 - Gull flying away swiftly, 2 - Bald Eagle catching up, 3 - Gull gracefully twisting and turning out of the way, 4 - Bald Eagle catching up again. The final verdict : the Bald Eagle didn't catch the gull.
Okay, let's get back to where we were. Liron and I were heading back to the car. We happened to run into another birder/photographer, who we started talking to. It turned out to be our own Nick B. from these forums! Friendly introductions were exchanged between the three of us. It was great to meet you, Nick!
By now, we had just reached the parking area. A moment later, we saw a shorebird zip over the cars in the lot. It turned out to be a Wilson's Snipe - an excellent surprise!
Upon leaving Brunswick Point, I noted 5 Snow Geese flying from the direction of Reifel Bird Sanctuary, and had brief, unsatisfying looks at the Prairie Falcon sitting prettily in a farmer's field as we were driving away.
Next stop - Tsawwassen Ferry Docks.
Birds counted right off the bat were a mixed group of Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, and Mallard resting on the beach. A Greater Yellowlegs shot out from the shore, which I photographed landing near the flock of ducks.
Greater Yellowlegs
To our wondering eyes, as we walked out to the edge of the pebbly shore, was a Dunlin sitting perfectly 4 feet away at the water's edge! Photo-op time!!!
Dunlin portrait
Dunlin artistic shot
Dunlin probing
Dunlin
After smiling for quite some time, we plodded on down the beach. Out on the water there were bountiful amounts of ducks with 35 Bufflehead, 8 Lesser Scaup, 4 Greater Scaup, 30 Surf Scoters, 4 Common Goldeneyes, and 1 Barrow's Goldeneye. Here are some photographic highlights from along the shore :
Black Turnstone
Black Oystercatcher on rocks
Black Oystercatcher
Peek a boo!
Snow Bunting
After the exciting photo shoots, Liron and I crossed the road ( don't worry, there was a break in the ferries; no traffic
) My main goal here was to find my lifer Brant. A quick scan of the spit covered with hundreds of Mallards..... produced two Brant! 
British Columbia lifer #280! They were hiding in between the Mallards at the edge. Thank you Liron for using your camera as a scope with the 1.4 extender for me to see my lifer up close. 
Scouring through the choppy water in the wide cove, we were able to see an additional 15 Brant, several Common Loons, and 2 Pelagic Cormorants almost a kilometer out, flapping over the water.
Well, that's it for Part 2! I hope you didn't find it too long-winded. I REALLY hope you didn't fall asleep!
Part 3 - coming up!
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