Delta Naturalists Society

Twelve Delta Nats met at Brydon Lagoon in Langley – Lidia, John, Ontario Brian, Jacquie, Lee, Lindly, David, Noreen, Glen, Angela, Bryan D and Terry.  We usually do this outing in early April while the Fawn Lilies and Trilliums are blooming in the adjacent Hi-Knoll Park.

Two pairs of Hooded Mergansers could be seen on the pond near the road.  There was a large variety of ducks on Brydon Lagoon – Mallards, Wood Ducks, Common Goldeneye, Northern Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, and Scaup – as well as Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots.  Swallows were zipping around – Tree, Violet-green and possibly Cliff – making them hard to photograph.

The path to Hi-Knoll Park was flooded, so we decided to drive there after walking a loop west of Brydon Lagoon.  As we started the loop, a Wilson’s Snipe flew by in the distance, and we saw a group of Ring-necked Ducks in the marsh.  There were two Bald Eagles in the Eagle nest tree.  Along the way were Robins, Sparrows, Starlings. House Finches, Towhees, Juncos, Crows, Steller’s Jay, Flickers, Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Herons, and both Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds.

A juvenile Cooper’s Hawk posed nicely on a bare branch, and a Red-tailed Hawk and a Northern Harrier flew past.  Leaves and spring flowers were bursting.  While walking on the other side of Brydon Lagoon, we watched Chickadees excavating a nest.  A bird high in the alder branches seemed to be a Pine Siskin, but photos showed the red frontal boss of a Common Redpoll.

Eight of us then drove to Hi-Knoll Park.  The white and pink Fawn Lilies and Western Trilliums were in full bloom.  As well as the birds seen earlier, here we added Pileated Woodpeckers and Yellow-rumped Warblers to our list.

This was a very pleasant outing on a cool dry day.
Terry Carr

Photos are on Flickr

David’s eBird lists
Brydon Lagoon
Hi-Knoll Park