PHOTO: California Sea Lions by Glen Bodie…….
In spite of varying dire weather predictions, 6 brave birders met at Second Beach in Stanley Park – Terry, Lorna, Lidia, Brian, Stephanie and Glen. As usual, the weather forecast was flawed and we had a much warmer day than expected with no rain and even moments when the clouds seemed to part.
The seawall waters held mostly the usual Bufflehead, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Horned Grebes and Canada Geese, some American Wigeon walking around in the grass and 2 Black Oystercatchers flew by. We continued along the seawall, and eventually turned back to Lost Lagoon through a forest trail which was so silent, no birds chittering in the brush, just one far off juvenile Bald Eagle.
The creek flowing out of the Lagoon had flooded the field alongside (with help from the recent rain) and it was all taken over by mud-dabbling Mallards. The wooden bridge was inaccessible to us but festooned with Wood Ducks. Once again, no small birds in the bushes until we got up on the stone bridge and found Towhees, Black-capped Chickadees, a Song and a Fox Sparrow and some Anna’s Hummingbirds. On the Lagoon we had Coots, Mallards, Bufflehead, the odd Wood Duck, a pair of Hooded Mergansers and quite a large flock of Ruddy Ducks, mostly females it seemed. We encountered the Ruddy Ducks several more times as we went around, some quite close to the shore.
At the East end of the Lagoon we diverted under the road and went to the Rowing Club Marina in search of California Sea Lions. They had been seen there WEEKS ago, but we were informed they were still around. The first place we looked just had assorted Gulls and a couple of Seals, but then we heard the Sea Lions‘ roar over on the other side of the rowing clubhouse. There were maybe 10 Sea Lions, cavorting and diving and rolling around. One would assume they were staying there and feeding, though its hard to imagine such a food source that would keep them there for weeks. The Gulls were all around on the water – one all white one was a rare Glaucous Gull. A few Harbour Seals stayed just outside the range of the Sea Lions. Other water birds gathered around included Double-crested Cormorants and Common Mergansers. Nearby were also American Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall, and a Great Blue Heron.
We retraced our steps and continued around the Lagoon. We saw more of the Ruddy Ducks and a large flotilla of Lesser Scaup. We saw a few more Coots, another GBH and lots of evidence that the beavers had been there. We saw an excellent stump with 3 (at least) species of mushrooms on it, notably some Winter Oysters (Sarcomyxa serotina). Still very quiet in the bushes – none of the Kinglets or other Sparrows that we would have expected.
We were all surprised at the time when we made it back to the parking lot and decided to call it quits. A good morning of birding with 32 species.
Report by Glen Bodie
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (January 16 & 17) the outings will be to Point Roberts, USA. Meet at 8:30 AM at Lighthouse Marine Park. Bring passport or Nexus. Some people may stop first by Kiniski’s at the west end of Gulf Rd.
Delta Naturalists Society 