PHOTO: Violet-Green Swallows by Christine Gaio……
11 Delta Nats met at Brydon Lagoon on a dry Wednesday morning. The Tuesday outing had been cancelled because of a very wet weather forecast. The lagoon usually contains a nice collection of duck species – and there were Mallards, Wood Ducks, Scaup, Shovellers and Bufflehead – along with Canada Geese and a Mallard x Pintail hybrid. This hybrid with Mallard and Pintail features has been here for several days.
Mallard x Pintail Hybrid by Colin Huggett
We heard and then saw two Cooper’s Hawks in the trees on the north side of the lagoon. Around the lagoon were House Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Black-capped Chickadees, House Finches, Starlings and Crows. A Brown Creeper was creeping up a tree. Violet-green and Barn Swallows were zipping over the lagoon – and some Violet-greens finally posed on a branch. Two Flickers were on top of a power pole and and Eagle was perched in a tree. A Robin was perched in the same bush as an active Bushtit nest. We heard but did not see a Common Yellowthroat.
The path from Brydon Lagoon across the fields to the Nicomekl River bridge and to Surrey’s Hi Knoll Park was completely flooded. We surmised that it was due to beaver activity.
The path to the Serpentine River bridge by Terry Carr
Because of the flooding most of us drove to Hi Knoll Park. We try to time our visit to this park for when the Fawn Lilies and Trilliums are blooming. The rare purple and white Fawn Lilies were blooming – so were the Trilliums. Trilliums are white but turn purple with age. Salmonberry, Twinberry, Indian Plum, Red Currant and Oregon Grape were blooming and there were several fungi species.
Fawn Lilies by Christine Gaio
We heard and saw two Cooper’s Hawks and a Pileated Woodpecker. An Orange-crowned Warbler sat long enough for photos. Flocks of Cackling Geese flew over. High in the sky were Gulls, Eagles, Herons and a Northern Harrier. Back at the parking lot were Chestnut-backed Chickadees – and we heard and then saw a Cooper’s Hawk fly into a distant tree.
Christine and I put the spare tire on my car after removing a tire with a nail in it. Christine, Lorna and I stopped at Beach Grove Park in Tsawwassen to look for the Great Horned Owls that have nested there for several years. Mum and 3 owlets were sitting in the nest tree and Dad was sitting in another tree. Several photographers were keeping watch. Nearby was an active Bushtit nest and a Rufous Hummingbird nest.
Great Horned Owls by Christine Gaio
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (April 21 & 22) the outings will be to the North 40 Park in East Ladner (3902 72nd St).
Meet at 9 AM in the parking area on Ontario St.
From Hwy 10 turn south onto 72nd St. Turn left into North 40 Dog Park on Ontario St (before you get to the railway crossing).
Saturday, April 25 there will be an outing to Deas Island Regional Park, 6090 Deas Island Rd, Delta (off River Rd east of the Massey Tunnel)
Meet at 10 AM in the parking area near the rowing club.
This is iNaturalist City Nature Challenge weekend.
Sunday April 26 there will be an outing to Centennial Beach, Tsawwassen
Meet at 10 AM in the concession/washroom parking lot.
This is iNaturalist City Nature Challenge weekend.
Delta Naturalists Society 