PHOTO: Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee on Dandelion by Terry Carr…..
The Tuesday outing was cancelled because of rain so a combination of Tuesday and Wednesday birders made a group of 20 who met at what was formerly called Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam. Those of us from south of the Fraser were delayed by an accident on the Port Mann Bridge.
Susan, Jacquie, Bill, David S, Lindly, Lee, Colin, Lorna, Lidia, Warren, Margaret, Lynne, Stephanie, Mike, Dottie, Chris, Roger, Deems, Bob, Terry
Opened in 1910, Colony Farm was an integral part of Riverview Hospital – providing both food and therapeutic occupation for patients. The farm ceased operations in 1983 and, in 1989, the Burke Mountain Naturalists initiated a public campaign to have the land protected. In 1996, Colony Farm was transferred by the Province to Metro Vancouver to be managed as a regional park. The park is now ƛ̓éxətəm (tla-hut-um) Regional Park, which means “to be invited” in the Kwikwetlem First Nation’s language. Open fields, hedgerows and wetlands provide habitat for many animals and over 200 bird species. Trails for both walkers and cyclists showcase great views of fields, mountains and the Coquitlam River. There is also a busy community garden.
Early bird, Lidia saw a Western Tanager and some flycatchers before the rest of us arrived. When most people arrived we walked back to the area where we usually see Lazuli Buntings. Although they had been seen by others, they were not heard or seen by us. There were several flycatchers that Merlin helped us to identify as Willow Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher and Western Wood-Pewee. In 2023, ornithologists lumped Pacific-slope and Cordilleran Flycatcher together as Western Flycatcher after treating them as separate species since 1989.
There were 4 kinds of swallows darting by and stopping briefly – Tree, Barn, Cliff and Northern Rough-winged. We soon added White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Towhees, Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds, Common Yellowthroats and a Yellow Warbler. High in a distant tree was a Great Blue Heron. Crows were chasing a Red-tailed Hawk. Crossing the irrigation canal, some saw a Muskrat. Across the river we saw House Finches and several Cedar Waxwings and Eastern Kingbirds. A Northern Flicker disappeared in dense leaves. Tree Swallows were going in and out of a hole in a tree. In the water was a Mallard with chicks, a Gadwall, a Bufflehead and Wood Ducks.
There were lots of bees on dandelions and roses and a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly landed briefly on the path. On the pond there were Wood Ducks and another Mallard with ducklings. One busy duckling was a long way from its siblings and we hope it joined its family. There were Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds and more swallows. Merlin heard a Black-headed Grosbeak.
Back at the parking lot a Turkey Vulture was soaring high above and two crows were chasing a Bald Eagle. Although it was not as birdy as we had hoped, it was a very enjoyable morning outing.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday and Wednesday (June 11 & 12) the outings are to Sturgeon Slough in Pitt Meadows (on the road to Pitt Lake).
Meet at 9 am. Park on Rannie/Neaves Rd after it crosses Sturgeon Slough (before Swaneset Golf Course). The address for Swaneset Golf Course is16651 Rannie Rd, Pitt Meadows.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 