PHOTO: Bewick’s Wren by Terry Carr….
Eight Delta Nats met at Tynehead Regional Park in North Surrey on a glorious spring morning.
In the parking lot we saw Crows, Robins and a Flicker. Flying over were Mallards, an Eagle and a Heron. Trails wind through a mature forest along the headwaters of the Serpentine River. Heading out on the trail we heard and then saw a Bewick’s Wren. We heard, but did not see, Pacific Wrens. There were Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Kinglets, a Varied Thrush and more Robins. A Heron was sitting on the very top of a tall cedar.
We looked in vain for the Barred Owl that had been seen yesterday. Signs of spring were everywhere. Indian Plum, Skunk Cabbage and Salmonberry were blooming, and there was a huge flowering plum tree. There were leaves, but no flowers yet, on Bleeding Heart, Elderberry and Western Lily of the Valley. Massive ancient cedar stumps were acting as nurse stumps. Many of the trees were covered with moss and Licorice Ferns, and there were some interesting fungi.
Arriving back at the parking lot, we decided there was time for another quick stop at the nearby Godwin Farm Biodiversity Preserve. The Godwin family donated 26 acres of their property to Surrey. A trail loops through towering redwood trees, past a pond, around a meadow and along an orchard. Red-flowering Current was blooming, and Lupin was in full leaf. In the pond were Mallards and Wood Ducks. There were Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Robins, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Starlings, Flickers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and an Anna’s Hummingbird..
Although it did not seem terribly birdy, it was a very enjoyable outing on a glorious morning, to two places that we do not often visit.
Report by Terry Carr
Bird lists
Tynehead:
4 Mallard
2 Great Blue Heron
2 Bald Eagle
1 Northern Flicker
24 American Crow
10 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
6 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Pacific Wren – not seen, but heard and identified by merlin
1 Bewick’s Wren
1 Varied Thrush
2 American Robin
2 Song Sparrow
3 Spotted Towhee
Godwin Farm:
6 Wood Duck
3 Mallard
1 Anna’s Hummingbird
1 Northern Flicker
5 American Crow
6 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
6 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2 Brown Creeper
2 European Starling
2 American Robin
2 Song Sparrow
2 Spotted Towhee
The Saturday outing (March 23) has been cancelled.
Next week the Tuesday & Wednesday outings (March 26 & 27) will be to Deas Island Regional Park, 6090 Deas Island Rd, Delta (off River Rd east of the Massey Tunnel). Meet at 9 am in the parking area near the rowing club.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 