Five Delta Nats met in the Tsawwassen ferry terminal for the 7am ferry to Swartz Bay – Lidia, Margaret, Lee, Lorna and Terry. From the windows on the walkway to the passenger waiting room we saw several very cute gull chicks on the roof. From the ferry we could not see the Brown Pelicans that had been reported on the breakwater. But Lidia spotted one swimming very close as the ferry pulled out.
We spent the whole sailing standing outside at the front of the ferry. There were cormorants, gulls and Pigeon Guillemots. In Active pass we were surprised to see a Bald Eagle swimming toward shore. We hope it made it.
On bus 70 at Swartz Bay we bought our five dollar day passes for the “express” trip to Victoria. Halfway there the bus broke down. We had to get off to wait for the non-express bus that eventually got us to the Royal BC Museum. From there we walked to Beacon Hill Park. While we were walking through the Garry Oaks we saw a Cooper’s Hawk fly in. It posed in 3 different trees before flying off. Then we had good views of a Bewick’s Wren. We had trouble identifying some small birds high in the Garry Oaks. Photos showed that they were Chipping Sparrows. There were also Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Black-capped Chickadees are not found on Vancouver Island.
In Goodacre Lake there were only Mallards and the usual group of Red-eared Slider Turtles. But there were several dragonfly and damselfly species. Across the stone bridge we watched the noisy heronry. Farther along a Red-breasted Nuthatch was feasting on cedar cones.
After a lunch break at Beacon Drive-In, we crossed Dallas Road for a view of the ocean. We could not see any water birds. Heading back into the park we saw a Downy Woodpecker – then a deer, Robins, Juncos, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Bushtits, a House Finch, a peacock, and a drab bird that photos showed to be a female Western Tanager. The Rose Garden and other gardens were lovely. Two kinds of butterflies were very active in the park – Western Tiger Swallowtails and Lorquin’s Admirals. Later iNaturalist helped identify photos of several bees and wasps.
We headed back to the bus stop and took the 4pm ferry back to Tsawwassen. We enjoyed another scenic sailing while sitting on the outside deck.
Terry Carr
Lee’s Beacon Hill Park eBird checklist
Delta Naturalists Society 
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