The day threatened fog and mixed clouds, but by mid morning it was sunny and warm enough that people were unzipping layers. The group of 12, then 13, then 14 started from the Bat House (Burr Villa) and inspected the river from the observation deck around the tower. We failed to find the very purple Buffleheads which Lee had seen. In fact the river was empty except for a stiff current bringing debris to the sea.
As we made our way West on the North Trail we did a lot of birding by ear (and by Birdnet and Merlin) hearing 3 Wrens (Pacific, Bewick’s and Marsh), Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chickadees, Kinglets and Creepers. Lots of small birds flitting about in the tree tops but hard to get good IDs at that distance and against a flat grey sky. A Rufous Hummingbird followed us along the trail, more often heard than seen. A male and female Wood Duck were up in the trees looking at the available nesting sites.
On the ground were Sparrows (Song and Fox), Juncos and Towhees, and the call of the Varied Thrush stayed enticingly out of view – at some distance or on the other side of a thicket. In the distance across a marsh we saw a Red-tailed Hawk up in a tall tree, and as we approached it kept moving a few more trees further away. We saw several Eagle nests (probably), but some were in disrepair, one seemed in good shape and only one had any visible adults near it.
The new spring growth kept us all entertained – Salmonberry and Indian Plum were the first in flower, and perhaps that’s what kept the Rufous following us along. The Skunk Cabbage were showing nicely in the marshy places, and David explained to us the differences between Common Horsetail, Giant Horsetail and Scouring Brush which can be used to scrub pots or construct reeds for clarinets and saxophones!
As we approached the Massey Tunnel, we decided to cut over through the pine trees (lots of Creepers here) to the South Trail and make our way back along the rowing channel, which was being well used. The Rufous was with us along the trail again, and finally agreed to sit still in good light for a few seconds. At one point a great racket up in the trees had us all watching half a dozen Downy Woodpeckers chasing each other around.
By this point the conversation was starting to take over the birding, until we passed a Garter Snake resting in the warm sand. It didn’t seem to mind us all gathered around and shutters clicking. Did it look like any of the pictures in our new “Garter Snakes in Boundary Bay” pamphlet? Of course not, they are famously variable in their markings. But we’re sure about the Garter Snake part of the ID even if we’re not sure about which species of Thamnophis it was.
The group today was David and Noreen, Marion, Lidia, Lee, Jacquie, Bob and Dottie, Jonny Mac, Jim K, Susan G and Glen, then Robert showed up and then Bryan joined us with a big stick to protect us from coyotes. A nice day’s birding in a park that was new to some, and not recently visited by many others.
Glen Bodie
Photos are on flickr
Delta Naturalists Society 
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