PHOTO: Double-crested Cormorant with Starry Flounder by Terry Carr…..
Ten DNCBers met at the Serpentine Fen parking lot on a very nice morning – Bob, Christine, Lidia, Dottie, Lee, Pat, Gareth, Liz, Alan and Terry. The resident Kingfisher did not appear at the beginning or the end of our walk. There were White-crowned Sparrows and several Eastern Grey Squirrels near the parking lot. Several large flocks of Canada Geese and gulls flew over.
We headed along the river path. In the river were Gadwall, Common Mergansers, Scaup, Mallards, Wigeon and Canada Geese. We were entertained by a Double-crested Cormorant struggling to get a large Starry Flounder into position for swallowing. Great Blue Herons were perched on the edge of the river. We were surprised to see a Harbour Seal this far from the ocean. In the bushes were Song Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos, Robins, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Fox Sparrow. A brilliant red Rufous Hummingbird perched on a high branch.
Around the bend in the river was a group of Great Blue Heron nests. There has been a small heronry here for a few years. Some Herons were bringing in branches to add to the nests while others were sitting on nests. Crows were also carrying nesting material. We added Flickers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bushtits and a Bewick’s Wren. We heard tapping, and then saw a Downy Woodpecker working on some nearby trees. Eagles flew over, and one was perched on a distant electrical tower.
Turning onto the path away from the river, we noticed a Black-capped Chickadee going into a hole in a birch tree. It soon came out with a beak full of sawdust. We watched it do this repeatedly – obviously making a nest.
The pond had Mallards, Shovelers, Wigeon, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, Coots and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds. Eurasian Collared-Doves were perched in a tree but there were no Starlings or Hawks perched on electrical towers. Liz saw a Yellowlegs, and we heard a Killdeer.
On the path through the marsh we added Marsh Wrens and House Finches. Frogs were very vocal but we could not see them. Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows were swooping over us a Northern Harrier patrolled in the distance. A bumble bee was busy in Salmonberry blossoms.
Since it was relatively early when we returned to the cars, five of us decided to carry on to Colebrook Park. There was a Flicker on a distant treetop. We were greeted by Song Sparrows and a Rufous Hummingbird. Skunk Cabbage was in full bloom. There were Robins, Juncos, Towhees and Song Sparrows. One area was very birdy – with Golden-crowned & Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits and Brown Creepers. Back near the parking lot were House Finches and an Anna’s Hummingbird posing on the top of a bush.
We returned to the cars to find that Bob and Dottie’s back window had been smashed and an empty camera case had been taken. A sad ending to the outing.
Lee had found Bushtits making a nest, and Christine went back to it for photos.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
eBird checklists:
Serpentine Fen
Colebrook Park
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (April 8 & 9) the outings will be to North 40 Park Reserve 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 