Delta Naturalists Society

Seven birders met at DeBoville Slough in Coquitlam – Roger, Terry, Bob, Jacquie, Dottie, Mike and Lorna. Once again the predicted showers did not materialise, and we had a very pleasant walk along the slough, past blueberry fields to the Pitt River, on a cool dry morning. Up close and personal, right beside the parking area, was a pair of Common Mergansers, swimming and diving with a much smaller female Hooded Merganser. But the American Dippers were not there today.

Anna’s Hummingbirds were doing aerial displays. We saw and heard Song Sparrows, American Robins, Northern Flickers, Spotted Towhees, Steller’s Jay and Great Blue Herons. In the slough were Mallards, Canada Geese and Green-winged Teal. There were some small beaver dams but no sign of recent beaver cuttings. In the Pitt River were Mallards, Scaup and Bufflehead. A pair of Bald Eagles kept watch from a distant tree.

We returned to the cars and drove a short distance to Blakeburn Lagoons in Port Coquitlam. This recently developed park was once the site of two waste settling ponds. It is now a peaceful oasis and hotspot for water birds. In the lagoons were Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and a Common Merganser. In the trees were Red-winged Blackbirds, Anna’s Hummingbirds, American Robins, Black-capped Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows and a Varied Thrush. We were very pleased when a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk posed for photos.

Before COVID, we often went to a pub for lunch after the outings. In Tom’s honour four of us had lunch at one of his favorites – the Arms Pub.
Terry Carr

Photos are on Flickr.

eBird Checklists
DeBoville Slough
Blakeburn Lagoons