PHOTO: American Robin (juv) by Cole O’Byrne….
Ten birders met on a sunny July morning in the North 40 Park Reserve: Alaina, Cole, Arthur, Connie, Grace, Henry, Naoko, Margaret, Bob and Dottie. A steady breeze from the west held for the whole morning and kept the temperature pleasant, especially in the shade. Common Yellowthroats called continuously from the tall grass, but made only a few fleeting appearances. The park was new to several of the birders, and we walked slowly, stopping to read the history plaques and marvel at the flat, treeless space it once was. We saw Black-capped Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Robins, Song Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, House Finches, Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings, though all in low numbers. Merlin heard Bewick’s Wrens and a Downy Woodpecker, but we couldn’t find them.
To be honest, it was hard to focus on the birds for all the fruit. Ripening cherries, plums, and crab apples were everywhere. An adult Bald Eagle perched on a power pole, and gulls and two Great Blue Herons flew overhead as we made a pilgrimage to the Wych Elm. We stopped to appreciate an active, bald-faced hornet nest then had a nice photo-op with a Brown Creeper. Hoping for an owl sighting, we circled around the back end of the park but saw only Crows, a single Violet-green Swallow and a large flock of European Starlings flying in the distance over the fields. Heading into the trees again we spotted Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds, a White-crowned Sparrow, a Cowbird and a family of Flickers.
Happy to say, the pleasant morning ended on a high note, with a pair of Bullock’s Orioles spotted (and photographed) by Cole.
Report by Dottie Uhlman
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday (July 22) the outing will be to Jackman Wetlands in Langley.
TUESDAY ONLY. NO WEDNESDAY OUTING.
Meet at 8 am in the disc golf parking lot on the west side of 272nd St between 16th Ave & 8th Ave.
Raptors Knoll Disc Golf Park, 1111 272 St, Langley (across from Langley Transfer Station).
Delta Naturalists Society 