Eleven DNCBers enjoyed a very pleasant Wednesday morning wandering the trails of Tynehead Regional Park in Surrey. Not many birds around, but a few neat bird, flower and fish sightings and some decent conversation. Check out the photo evidence (by Jonathan, Glen, etc.) on our DNCB Picasa site.
Only three of us met at Petra’s at 7:30 a.m.; PB Lorna and I rode with Glen, very smoothly via the SFPR to Tynehead, arriving about 8:15 a.m. The other eight (Ken B & Anne A, White Rock Al, returnees Jonathan & Lorraine, Jean G, “youngster” Eric L, and Pat S without her sister) met us at the Fish Hatchery parking lot. The Hatchery was closed, but Tynehead Volunteer Joe gave us a tonne of information on its operations and the park. Ken took the Group Photo with Joe before we left on the trail walk. Our sightings were minimal, a few Robins, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker and Song Sparrows. The neatest bird sightings were a Red-breasted Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Lorna’s Belted Kingfisher.
WR Al kept us enthralled with his oft-repeated identification speech on the various tree species. One would think after being shown, seemingly hundreds of times, the identifying characteristics of Grand Firs, Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Alders, etc. that we would be able to recognize them (not). We did recognize the many “nurse” trees and some huge first-growth stumps left from the 19th century logging days.
And some of the flowers were pretty, even the invasive Himalayan Orchid (aka Policeman’s Helmet).
Several Salmon species use the Serpentine River for their spawning migration and, although currently very low (in some places dry) in the Park, with Eric’s guidance we did find several Coho Fry swimming in pools under bridges.
It was a very picturesque walk through the woods, even cool, but as the morning passed, it became much warmer, especially in the sun. Jonathan was impressed with a number of the “carved faces” on tree stumps. We got back to the parking lot around 11:00 a.m. where a crowd of young people were enjoying an “Employee Development Day” away from their office, playing silly games in the park.
While eating PB Lorna’s peanut butter and banana sandwich, I reminisced about the “interesting” Employee Development Days I had some 40 years ago.
On the ride home, Glen, Lorna and I decided to check out Boundary Bay at 104th and then 96th Street. The tide was way out so we saw no Shorebirds (expecting Hudsonian Godwits, Golden and Black-bellied Plovers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, or even the escapee Ruff). Glen got a shot of a Common Yellowthroat.
We got back to Petra’s around 12:30 p.m., pleased with another almost-exhilarating DNCB morning.
Next Wednesday, August 26, is our Gulf Islands outing. We take the 9 a.m. Ferry to Swartz Bay, then 11 am to Fulford Harbour, Saltsping – check Maps & Directions page for outing details. Also, join your Delta Nats Display Team at the Delta Animal Expo on Sunday, August 23 at Ladner Memorial Park, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. As always, your comments are encouraged and let me know if these incredibly verbose missives annoy you. Cheers: Tom
Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society
Delta Naturalists Society 
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