PHOTO: Common Yellowthroat by Brian Avent
Nine of us gathered at the parking below the circle and headed into the park just after 08:00. We had not gone far when a Shaggy Parasol caught Glen’s attention and we stopped. This allowed Colin to catch up with Glen, Lorna, Richmond Brian, Louise, Warren, Lynne, Margaretha, Noreen and me, completing the group of 10.
We had been hearing Dark-eyed Juncos and Song Sparrows and actually saw one of each but the Orange-crowned Warblers were elusive so we headed to the playing field in the hopes of seeing a Robin or two and, perhaps, warblers along the edge. High above us there were vocal Brown Creepers and a Nuthatch, but no movement in the lower vegetation which had many flowers in bloom. The False Lily-of-the-Valley and Miners lettuce were prominent on the forest floor while Salmonberry flowers were along the edge.
Looking into the sun for warblers was tough so we crossed the field with the sun behind us and started to see more distant birds flitting in the top of the evergreens and on the grass. House finch, with both Red and Orange males, were singing high up, with Golden-crowned Sparrows in the grass along the blackberries. The American Robins showed up and a pair of Pine Siskin chased each other in the evergreen top. Their identity was confirmed with photos but in the distance they were difficult to identify.
Moving down the road we heard, then spotted, two calling Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Glen pointed out a lumpy branch which was a Downy Woodpecker. Black-throated Gray and Orange-crowned Warblers were calling but not showing themselves. At the ravine bridge we hunted for movement and it was primarily the creek waters below in motion although a Golden-crowned Kinglet was heard by Merlin. Returning to the trail and continuing south, a Black-capped Chickadee and a small warbler size bird caught our attention. Hopefully a photo will confirm its identity, but in the dark foliage our best binoculars suggested Orange-crowned. We kept hearing multiple Black-throated Gray Warblers high above us and eventually one flew overhead.
We went through the NW forest trail loop and Glen spotted a flycatcher type that we decided was a very quiet Western Wood-Pewee. Again Brown Creepers teased us, and eventually two were spotted by Lynne, as well as two Varied Thrush whose single whistles had been evident for some time. Heading downhill, several American Goldfinch and two Red-tailed Hawks were added to the list, along with a Red-winged Blackbird male and several Starling.
On the trail out to Colebrook Road the Starlings were active in the holes of the dead Alder trees and Rufous Hummingbirds, Common Yellowthroat, and Goldfinch made appearances. No Marsh Wrens were vocal or seen which was unusual for this stretch of trail but the blue sky with a few white clouds made the Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and Ravens easy to identify as they soared high above the ridge.
At this point we headed back and as we were passing the ball park Glen herded us together along the edge and Louise took the obligatory group photo. The eBird total was 36 species for this beautiful walk as the three loud quacking Mallards that flew over our car about 11:30, just before we departed for home, became the final entry.
Report by David Hoar
Photos are on flickr
The May 11 Saturday outing has been CANCELLED.
The next Tuesday & Wednesday outings (May 14 & 15) will be to Campbell Valley Regional Park (16th Ave entrance) 20290 16th Ave, Langley.
Meet at 8 am in the parking lot on the south side of 16th Ave.
To sign up for future outings go to the signup form and put an x by your name.
https://tinyurl.com/dncb-signup
Delta Naturalists Society 