PHOTO: Common Merganser by Glen Bodie….
8 DNCBers met at the Brydon Lagoon parking on a sunny morning: Warren and Lynne, Claude and Freddie, Colin, Richard, Anne and Glen. The birds were entertaining us right from the start in the parking lot – Canada Geese, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, House Sparrow and Anna’s Hummingbird. We moved on to the lagoon and found it full of species: Mallard, Wood Duck, American Coot, Lesser Scaup, Northern Shoveller and Bufflehead. For those with keener eyes, or those willing to wait until we got further around the lagoon, there was also Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, more Canada Geese and Glaucous-winged Gull. About the only thing we would have expected, but didn’t see, was a Great Blue Heron until one flew over us an hour or so later.
Moving counterclockwise around the lagoon, the bushes and trees gave us Red-winged Blackbird, Black-capped Chickadee (in a nest hole on a snag), Bushtit, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Robin and Steller’s Jay. Colin searched in vain where a White-throated Sparrow had previously been seen. As we made it to the power substation at the other end of the lagoon we saw a Chipping Sparrow. We decided to walk around the grove of trees along the power lines finding more of the same species plus Violet-green Swallow, Purple Finch, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Flicker and Downy Woodpecker. We took the small side trail under the conifers looking for signs of Owls but got nothing.
Once fully around the trees we took the trail towards Hi-Knoll. Before you reach Colebrook Rd there is a path from the parking lot off to the west (right) in to the old Skelton family land which eventually was made into Hi-Knoll Park. In a glade along there we saw a few (and heard many more) species including Bewick’s Wren, House Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush and Spotted Towhee. Continuing along that trail ends up back at Colebrook Rd near the bridge so we crossed over there to get on the trail under the power lines that goes back up to the top of Hi-Knoll. Along that route we added more species such as Hutton’s Vireo (heard), Rufous Hummingbird, Cooper’s Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker (heard) and Orange-crowned Warbler.
At the top of that rise we headed back (left) into the Hi-Knoll woods. Along that trail we saw Brown Creeper, more Hutton’s Vireo, more Black-capped Chickadee. Finally we reached the place near the park entrance where we found all the Fawn Lilies in full bloom, both white and pink. In the trees above were Brown Creeper and Yellow-rumped Warbler. We turned back toward the lagoon, eventually walking the last length along the shoreline of the lagoon but not seeing any species we had not seen from the other shores at the start. It was a long walk but with great results – 52 species!
Report by Glen Bodie
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (April 22 & 23) the outings are to Joe Brown Park in Surrey.
Meet at 8 AM at 5381 125A St. There should be enough room to park below the traffic circle on 125A St.
NATURE CHALLENGE WALKS:
Saturday, April 26: Delta Nature Reserve in North Delta
Meet at 10 AM at the SE corner of Planet Ice parking lot,10388 Nordel Court, North Delta.
Saturday, April 26: Deas Island Regional Park in Delta
6090 Deas Island Rd (off River Rd east of the Massey Tunnel
Meet at 10 AM in the parking area near the rowing club.
Sunday, April 27: Centennial Beach, Tsawwassen
Meet at 10 AM in the concession/washroom parking lot.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 