PHOTO: Bewick’s Wren by Christine Gaio….
Ten DNCBers met at Surrey’s Joe Brown Park – Lee, Terry Christine, Connie, Dottie, Dorothy, Naoko, Henry, Lorna and Grace. Colin joined us later.
We had good views of a Yellow-rumped Warbler across the street. We were surprised at how many leaves had opened in the last few days – making it harder to see the birds. We saw Robins, Song Sparrows, Hummingbirds and Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. We heard and then saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch moving along a branch. Merlin heard a few more things including a Crossbill – but we did not see it or count it.
Merlin heard, and we saw, a Hairy Woodpecker and then a Downy Woodpecker. We had some good views of a pair of Hutton’s Vireos, a Bewick’s Wren, a Pacific Wren, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Brown Creeper and more Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Along the fields we had more Robins, Towhees, Juncos, Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds and White-crowned Sparrows. A Hermit Thrush landed briefly on the field. The detour to the bridge did not add anything new. Heading down the hill we added American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbirds and European Starling. We were surprised to see a pair of Sandhill Cranes fly over.
On the Delta Surrey Greenway we had some good views of a male Common Yellowthroat, more Yellow-rumped Warblers and Goldfinches. Beavers have been very active with beaver chewed stumps and a large lodge. A Starling was coming out of a nest hole, on a dead birch tree, carrying feathers in its beak. A Harrier, a Tree Swallow, Mallards and an Eagle flew over. We also added Purple Finch, Orange-crowned Warbler and Pine Siskins. A pair of Northern Flickers were on a power pole.
It was lovely and warm on our return to the cars and bees were on the blossoms.
We wondered who Joe Brown Park was named after. J.T. Brown came from a pioneer family and donated the land to establish the park in 1932. He was a Surrey alderman from 1912 to 1930. He was reeve (mayor) from 1930 to 1937 and from 1941 to 1945.
Four of us checked on the Great Horned Owls in Beach Grove on the way home. Two owlets were peeking out of the nest hole and an adult and another owlet were on a branch quite far from the nest tree.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (April 29 & 30) the outings will be to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen.
Meet at 8 AM in the concession/washroom parking lot.
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 