PHOTO: Yellow Warbler by Glen Bodie….
It only takes 2 to make a DNCB group outing – Susan G and Glen. We met at Jackman Wetlands on perhaps the first real warm and sunny summer day this year to see what we could see. Even though there were only 2 pairs of eyeballs at work we managed to get a respectable 31 species (see the eBird list linked below). Most were seen, but some were only heard. We let Merlin identify some species but only included them in the list if we recognized the sounds after Merlin’s help. We didn’t see a Great Blue Heron or any Hummingbirds, which made Glen sad, and we also didn’t see the fabled and flamboyant Roseate Spoonbill.
There were lots of Willow Flycatchers vying for our attention, but they stayed well hidden until we were some distance in to our walk. Then our eyes started to pick them out all over the place, sitting on their perches and flying out and back. We heard lots of Black-headed Grosbeaks but never managed to spy one since most seemed to be at some distance high up in some Spruce tree. We did see many of “the regulars” – Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, House Finch, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Flicker.
At the first pond we came across a pair of American Coots and one Pied-billed Grebe accompanied by some well-hidden bullfrogs. A flash of yellow in the tree above turned out to be a brilliant Yellow Warbler which kept flying off and returning to his perch. Then a lone Killdeer flew past, making his call, followed shortly thereafter by 2 groups of Canada Geese heading for the larger pond. A Pileated Woodpecker called loudly from a large stand of Spruce trees but we never saw him. Other species heard but not seen include Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick’s Wren, Swainson’s Thrush and Common Yellowthroat.
We were surprised not to see any Swallows, and then as we were most of the way around the ponds, we saw all 3 – Tree, Violet-green and Barn, in a mixed flock picking off bugs just above a grassy field. And as we came close to the end of our route there was a large number of Cedar Waxwings, quite close and flitting from perch to perch on thinly leaved deciduous trees along the edge of the pond. They seemed annoyed with us as though we were close to a nest, or something, but they made for great photos! The only other species to add would be Rabbit, Turtle and a pair of Golden duck-retrievers in training. Not an arduous outing, just a nice walk on a sunny morning.
Report by Glen Bodie
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (June 25 & 26) the outings are to Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway & Reifel
Meet at 8 am on the ferry causeway (small parking area on the right just before the end of the causeway).
Meet at 9 am at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. You do need to book parking. There will be a group booking for Delta Nats – just say that you are part of the group booking. There is an admission charge unless you have a Reifel membership.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 