PHOTO: Northern Flicker by Terry Carr….
Five Delta Nats met at the lookout on Cypress Mountain on a glorious summer morning.
Terry, Lidia, Lorna, Margaret and Christine
We did not find the usual collection of birds here but we did have Robins, Juncos, Crows, Ravens and brief views of a Swainson’s Thrush and a Warbling Vireo. So we drove to the cross-country ski area for the forest walk to First Lake. On this trail in both directions we heard and briefly saw 2 Townsend’s Warblers high in the canopy. Again we did not find the expected birds at First Lake.
Our next stop was the downhill parking area for the walk to Yew Lake. As well as the gravity-powered luge ride, an axe throwing concession has been added. Needless to say we avoided those. Here we added Pine Siskins, White-crowned Sparrows, Chickadees, Swallows, Mallard, Steller’s Jays and Flickers. We heard and then saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher sitting on a high treetop. We heard the drumming of a Grouse and the tapping of woodpeckers. There were lots of neat small sapsucker holes – but the birds did not appear. There were many flowers and insects to upload to iNaturalist for identification, and massive hemlock trees with massive fungi attached.
Although we did not see many birds is was a lovely morning walk on the mountain. There was very little traffic on our way over, but the same cannot be said for the drive home.
Photos are on flickr.
The outings next week are:
Tues, July 9: Manning Provincial Park
We will leave Tsawwassen at 7am and meet about 930 at the Manning Park Resort Parking lot. Then we will drive up the road on the other side of the highway to the Blackburn Peak/Heather Meadows parking lot at the end of the road (15 km). Bring a picnic lunch. After lunch we will drive to the Strawberry Flats Trail which is on the other side of the Resort past Lightning Lake.
Wed, Jul 10: North 40 in East Ladner (3902 72nd St)
Meet at 8 am in the parking area on Ontario St. From Hwy 10 turn south onto 72nd St. Turn left into North 40 Dog Park on Ontario St (before you get to the railway crossing).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 