PHOTO: Bewick’s Wren by David Hoar….
Either morning traffic is getting worse or I’m slower off the mark as we arrived at Terra Nova almost 10 minutes late to find Brian and Louise ready to go.
We headed south and at the bridge saw several Mallards and a distant Grebe, probably Pied-billed Grebe swimming in the heavy pond weed growth covering much of the pond. Heading down along the east side of the pond we got close enough to confirm the Pied-billed Grebe, and identify a second one in the same area. Few birds were vocal, but a pair of American Goldfinch and a Song Sparrow made a brief appearance.
Heading to the community gardens, we heard several Black-capped Chickadee and saw an American Robin, and, in the gardens amongst the vegetables, there were several Song Sparrows, probably a family of youngsters. There was a Red-breasted Nuthatch calling from the evergreens to the East but it did not make an appearance.
Continuing South, we crossed Westminster Highway and followed the slough where we heard more birds, but it was not until a vocal Bewick’s Wren challenged us with its loud call that we saw a few House Finch and a flock of Bushtits cross the path. A Great Blue Heron lifted off as we approached the mud dam a beaver has been creating over the drain grid. At the trail end we crossed to the dyke side and feeding in the blackberries there was a female Common Yellowthroat and several House Finch mixed in with a group of noisy Black-capped Chickadees.
At the beach we saw distant Gulls and a scattering of Great Blue Herons but no raptors. Although it was hazy in the distance from the wildfire smoke, the view from the beach was beautiful with the greens dotted with brown Cattails and clusters of Yellow Hawkweed blossoms and their dandelion-like white seed heads. Continuing along the beach a few dragonflies could be seen sitting on the pond-side vegetation but there were generally few insects to be seen other than a few grasshoppers. As we continued North in the shade along the east side dyke trail, a Downy Woodpecker could be heard briefly as were a couple of Spotted Towhees but they were not located.
As we returned to the parking area we could hear a distant Opera Singer in full voice and the Kidik-kidik call of a Virginia Rail came from right below us close in the bulrushes. As we were commenting on the lack of eagles, one overflew us, the first of the day. There was little activity on the river, but a distant cormorant did make an appearance and come in for a landing just as we were about to depart. It was a quiet morning bird-wise, but pleasant with a light breeze and the occasional bird to focus our attention. The multitude of noisy “Gas-Hawks” buzzing off and onto the river were a constant reminder that we were not far removed from a busy airport, yet in some ideal habitat for our normal winter birds.
Report by David Hoar
Photos are on Flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (Sept 2 & 3) the outings will be to Brydon Lagoon & Hi Knoll Park in Langley
Meet at 8 AM in the parking lot at 19850 53 Ave, Langley.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 