PHOTO: Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe by Freddie Whiting ….
Nine Delta Nats met at Brydon Lagoon in Langley – Freddie, Bob, Dottie, Christine, Mike, Connie, Lorna, Terry and Lee.
The pond near the parking lot was surrounded by tall growth. We could not see the water but we heard the quacking of Mallards. There were Red-winged Blackbirds on the bulrushes.
The group of Mallards and Wood Ducks on the edge of the lagoon looked drab because they are moulting. In the lagoon were also Gadwall, a Canada Goose, Glaucous-winged Gulls and two Pied-billed Grebes. We looked in vain for the Green Heron that has been seen here on recent days. In the bushes were Song Sparrows, House Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Starlings, Chickadees, Robins and House Finches.
Walking beside the wooded area, we added Anna’s Hummingbirds and Flickers – and a flock of Bushtits followed us. We heard but did not see a Lincoln’s Sparrow. There were many colourful flowers and seed heads. Bees and other insects were busy. A detour into the wooded area did not yield Owls which we have seen here on previous visits. Perhaps they objected to the noisy BC Hydro crews. A small woodpecker that Merlin identified as a Hairy Woodpecker flew from the trees.
Walking to Hi-Knoll Park, we crossed the Nicomekl River which is very narrow here. Above the bridge is a beaver dam. A noisy Swainson’s Thrush appeared briefly. We heard, but did not see, Bewick’s Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Western Tanager.
There was still no sign of the Green Heron back at the lagoon. At Christine’s suggestion some of us drove to the nearby Sendall Gardens. This small park is lovely. As well as flower gardens and trails there is a tropical greenhouse with exotic plants. We heard the tapping of a Nuthatch, and the call of a Steller’s Jay, but a Crow was the only bird that showed itself during our brief stop.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on Flickr
Next week September 9 (Tuesday only) the outing will be to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen.
Meet at 8 AM in the concession/washroom parking lot.
Delta Naturalists Society 