Delta Naturalists Society

Nine birders met at Jackman Wetlands on 272nd Street in Langley – Chris, Alan, Herb, Debbi, Bob, Jacquie, Terry, Dottie and Lorna. Jackman Wetlands, a former landfill site, now has paths, ponds and an 18 hole disc golf course. Players use thick, heavy, Frisbee-like discs and aim for chain baskets as targets.

At the parking lot we were greeted by a White-crowned Sparrow. All morning we heard and saw many Willow Flycatchers and Cedar Waxwings. Four swallow species – Barn, Tree, Violet-Green, and Northern Rough-winged – were hunting insects. Other bird highlights were Anna’s & Rufous Hummingbirds, Goldfinches, Savannah Sparrows, House & Bewick’s Wrens, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Swainson’s Thrush. Towards the end of our loop we finally had a glimpse of a Bullock’s Oriole. In and around the ponds were Mallards, Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebes, Killdeer, and Spotted Sandpiper. There was a Pied-billed Grebe nest in the main pond, and more Pied-billed Grebes with chicks in the south Pond. There were also several butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. On the reeds some dragonflies and damselflies were emerging or had emerged from their larval skins.

On the way home Debbi showed Lorna and me an area of Campbell Valley Regional Park that we had not visited before. On the north side of 16th Avenue we took a path through a meadow to MacLean Ponds. This is a little used path that leads to ponds where Western Painted Turtles nest. We heard and/or saw many of the same birds here, as well as more butterflies and dragonflies.

Both destinations were lovely places to spend a sunny summer morning.
Terry Carr

Photos on flickr

Debbi’s eBird checklists
Jackman Wetlands (38 species)
MacLean Ponds, Campbell Valley (25 species)