PHOTO: Paintbrush Trail by Terry Carr….
Eleven Delta Nats met at Manning Park Resort on the hottest day of the year. Some had wisely driven up the day before and spent the night there.
On the way up some of us stopped near the park entrance to look for Pikas. These little rodents were scurrying around a rock pile. At the resort picnic area families of Columbian Ground Squirrels were entertaining park visitors. Because of the heat, the only birds that we saw there were swallows.
We drove up the Blackwall Peak Road to the alpine meadows. Along the roadside were large batches of flowers. We stopped at the Cascade Lookout for the panoramic view of the park. Everyone who stopped here was being entertained by Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, Yellow-pine Chipmunks, a Raven and a Clark’s Nutcracker. This 16 km road up to the alpine meadows opens on the Canada Day weekend. We parked at the end of the road (elevation 6400 feet/1950 metres) and walked the 1.5 km loop of the fairly level trail. It was a bit cooler at this elevation. There is usually excellent wildflower viewing here in July and most of the flowers were blooming. Again the birds were few and far between – Juncos, Pine Siskins, a Chipping Sparrow and a House Finch. Some saw a Grouse. The most common butterfly was Edith’s Checkerspot.
We drove back down to the resort area for our picnic lunch. It was much hotter at this elevation so after lunch we decided to drive to Twenty-minute Lake and walk the shady loop trail there. We heard, and then had a nice view of, a Spotted Sandpiper. It was pretty quiet birdwise, but we did see more interesting plants and insects. Once again iNaturalist was essential for identifying the photos.
Some people went for a swim in Lightning Lake before the long drive home. Although it was hot, it was a very enjoyable day spent in this beautiful park.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Jul 16 & 17) the outings are to Alaksen National Wildlife Area, 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta on Westham Island before the turn into Reifel, opens at 9am.
MEET AT 9AM
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 