Seven people went to Cypress on Tuesday – Roger M, Glen, Lidia, Brian, Louise, Kirsten, and Terry. It was a very pleasant outing and not too hot. There were lots of flowers, some interesting birds and some dragonflies. Another group is there today, so there will be another report and more photos later.
Our first stop was the lookout part way up the mountain. The city was hazy below. Here we saw Band-tailed Pigeons, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwings, White-crowned Sparrows, Hairy Woodpecker, Warbling Vireos, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Black-capped & Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Robins.
Our second stop was at the cross country ski area, where we walked into Hollyburn Lodge and First Lake. On the way in we heard Pacific Wren and Swainson’s Thrush. On the path along the lake there were 3 Townsend’s Warblers, Steller’s Jays and Canada Jays. Also Hudsonian Whiteface dragonflies.
Our third stop was the downhill ski area to walk along the Yew Lake trail. At the beginning of the trail we saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker. We heard Varied Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush and Western Wood-Pewee. There were more Hudsonian Whiteface dragonflies and lots of Northern or Boreal Bluet damselflies. It is difficult to distinguish between those 2 damselflies.
Damselflies are usually smaller than dragonflies, their eyes are separated, and they fold their wings when perched. Dragonflies have eyes that touch on the tops of their head, and they keep their wings open when perched. All will become clear in the forthcoming DNS brochure Damselflies & Dragonflies in Delta.
Three of us stopped at a picnic table for lunch where we noticed a Merlin sitting on a dead tree across the lake. Back at the parking lot were swallows and Ravens. On her way back to the parking lot Louise saw a bear with cub.
Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Delta Naturalists Society 
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