PHOTO: Sora by Christine Gaio….
15 birders met at Jackman Wetlands Park in Langley Township – Alaina, Cole, Arthur, Terry, Susan, Lee, Stephanie, Colin, Christine, Carolyn, Renata, Lidia, Bill, Dottie, Connie.
We left Tsawwassen in its usual bright sunshine, but it was overcast here all morning. Part of our drive was along scenic Zero Avenue – no traffic lights, no trucks and mostly no fence between Canada and the USA.
This former gravel pit and landfill site now has paths, ponds and an 18 hole disc golf course. Players use thick, heavy, Frisbee-like discs and aim for chain baskets as targets. Next door are large movie sets.
Black-capped Chickadees and a Downy Woodpecker were feeding in the Great Mullein and Tansy beside the parking lot. There were many slugs and snails on the trail. Renata, Lidia’s sister visiting from Australia, had studied snails and identified them as Brown-lipped Snails. We soon added Pine Siskins, Towhees, House Finch, Willow Flycatchers, Robins, Flickers, Bewick’s Wren, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and Savannah Sparrows. There were at least 3 species of Swallows flying overhead – and some perched – Barn, Tree and Northern Rough-winged.
Cole and Arthur spotted an American Bittern leaving the first pond. In this pond were Mallards, Gadwall and a female Hooded Merganser. A Spotted Sandpiper was walking along the shore, and there were Pied-billed Grebes with chicks. The chicks have distinctive zebra-like stripes on their heads and necks. There was a very vocal Sora at the end of the pond. Christine got a glimpse of it after the rest of us gave up.
At the next pond were more Pied-billed Grebes and two Spotted Sandpipers. We added American Goldfinches, a Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds and Ravens. We heard and saw a Swainson’s Thrush. We heard, but did not see, Common Yellowthroats.
Back by the parking lot, Cedar Waxwings were feeding on the Great Mullein and Tansy.
This turned out to be the birdiest outing of the summer with 36 species. But sadly, because of the cool overcast weather, we did not see any dragonflies, butterflies or any other insects. This is usually a good place to find them.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Jul 29 & 30) the outings will be to Alaksen National Wildlife Area, 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta on Westham Island before the turn into Reifel. Meet at 8 am.
Delta Naturalists Society 