Delta Naturalists Society

Eight keen birders congregated in the carpark near the Community Gardens at Colony Farm: Brian and Louise, Jim, Kirsten, Marion, Rayme, Thea (lead), and Chris (author).  A good group, with a number with excellent birding skills.  Brian, Louise, and Thea spotted a pair of Turkey Vultures before others arrived.

We started on the annual “Lazuli Bunting Safari”.  It was hard from the signs to understand if the area was open or closed.  Being intrepid explorers, we ventured forth anyway.  (We would plead ignorance if rapped on the knuckles by the local authorities.)  Willow Flycatchers, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Northern Flickers and Spotted Towhees were seen and heard, but no Lazuli Bunting.  We persevered and heard a call near to the Metro Van parks yard.  In the tree behind the shed, a bright male Lazuli Bunting was seen.

We retraced our steps, and walked around the perimeter of the community gardens.  The group marveled at the number of vegetables and herbs that were being grown.  A number of species were seen here.  Rufous Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, American Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbird, and more Willow Flycatchers.  A pair of Bewick’s Wrens took turns carrying nesting material into a bee house.  Our biggest challenge was getting out of the gardens.  The eastern paths were muddy and it turned into a maze.  We split up, and somehow managed to regroup for our walk into the main park.

This walk started quietly with a few birds flying overhead.  A Peregrine Falcon, flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons, and a lone Killdeer were all spotted.  As we crossed the first bridge, a Common Yellowthroat was spotted.  We paused on the main bridge, but there was nothing on the Coquitlam River, so we ambled up the Dyke Trail.  This was probably the quietest part of the  walk.  More Willow Flycatchers and Song Sparrows could be heard.  A small family of Canada Geese were seen.

We reached the junction with the Pump House walk, and set about looking for the Eastern Kingbirds.  They obviously hadn’t been notified, and so we were skunked.  Morosely, we grumped our way along the trail towards the ponds at the end.  A number of swallows were flying.  Spotted were Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.  Red-winged Blackbirds made their presence known.

Arriving at the ponds, we were rewarded with a single Gadwall, female Hooded Merganser, and a male Wood Duck.  In the trees behind us, a pair of Yellow Warblers were heard.  After scrutinizing the suspected tree with cameras and binoculars, Thea broke the news to us that we were looking at the wrong tree.  The crafty little thing had flitted off into an adjacent tree.

We retraced our steps and managed to see a pair of Eastern Kingbirds, which was met with much celebration by Thea, who, being relatively new to Vancouver, had never seen them before.  A Mallard family was spotted in the water nearby.  On the way back, the usual culprits were spotted together with a pair of Turkey Vultures.

Our total bird list for the day came to 37 species, including (not yet mentioned) Red-Tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, American Crows, Black-capped Chickadees, European Starling, American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

A very pleasant outing.
Chris McV

Photos on Flickr.

Thea’s eBird list.