PHOTO: Savannah Sparrow by Bob Winston….
Six birders, watched by American Crows, met in the Blackie Spit parking lot on a beautiful, sunny and mild morning — Christine, Connie, Dottie, Bob, Jacquie and Susan. The tide was really low and still ebbing as we walked out along the spit. New guardrails and roping have been installed to keep people on the central path, no doubt appreciated by a Killdeer than popped out then ran back into the grass. Apart from two subdued groups of Canada Geese, about fifty on each side of the spit, the water was quiet. Savannah Sparrows sang from either side and Purple Martins flew overhead.
Purple Martins (adult & juvenile by Bob Winston)
A lone Bonaparte’s Gull stood by the water’s edge. On the way back we spotted Bald Eagles and stopped to admire the flowers in full bloom – yarrow, beach pea and blanket flower.
Heading up into the park we saw and heard Black-capped Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees and Anna’s Hummingbirds. In the Rene Savenye area the sand wasps were once more active over their holes in the path. There were House Finches and Tree Swallows, but most of the calling was from the Purple Martins, who could be seen with their young on the boxes. We added an American Robin and Bushtits to the list on the way out, as well as two rabbits.
As we headed to the pump house a flock of fifty Mallards flew down over our heads and landed in the water. Yellowthroats called from the bushes in front of the Dunsmuir gardens but we couldn’t see them. We did see American Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings and Violet-green Swallows.
We continued into the Dunsmuir Community Gardens where Christine saw a Violet-green Swallow go into a nest box. She parked herself to wait for a good shot as the rest of us wandered through the gardens admiring the blooms and the fruit. In the gardens were American Crows, White-crowned Sparrows, American Goldfinches, a Willow Flycatcher and a Bewick’s Wren, with Great Blue Herons flying overhead.
Debbi was able to join us for the walk back to the cars. She helped us identify a chocolate brown bird as a juvenile European Starling and pointed out the call of a Western Flycatcher in the woods near the lot. In all, a really nice morning.
Report by Dottie Uhlman
More photos on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (July 1 & 2) the outings will be to Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver.
Meet at 8 am at the High View Lookout on the road up to Cypress Provincial Park. There is a large parking area and we may see some birds there. Then park at the cross country ski area and walk into Hollyburn Lodge and lake. Then park at the downhill area and walk the Yew Lake loop.
Delta Naturalists Society 