PHOTO: Squirrel & Steller’s Jay by Freddie Whiting….
14 birders met at Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley on a cloudy morning. Spring flowers were in bloom – Western Lily of the Valley, Bleeding Heart, Red Osier Dogwood, Pacific Ninebark, Thimbleberry and more.
At the first bridge there was a Mallard with 6 ducklings. Along the trail we saw Brown-headed Cowbirds, Song Sparrows, Towhees, Chickadees, Robins, Steller’s Jays, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Juncos, Downy Woodpecker, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Brown Creeper, Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, squirrels and a chipmunk. The new boardwalk includes two viewing platforms in the listening bridge area. Here we were entertained by Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow Warblers, Anna’s Hummingbirds and a Goldfinch.
We were told that there was a Barred Owl on the Vine Maple Trail so we headed there next. There was dense foliage on this narrow trail where we heard Wilson’s Warblers, Wrens, Swainson’s Thrush and Western Tanager. Giving up on seeing the Barred Owl, we headed back to the main path. Just before reaching the main path Christine spotted the Owl flying in. It posed nicely on a nearby branch so that we all had a great view.
We headed up the hill to the washroom and the pond by the 8th Avenue parking lot. A Swainson’s Thrush stopped briefly on the trail. Park staff were conducting a children’s program at the pond where we spotted one of the resident bullfrogs.
Walking back to the cars, we saw more of the same birds, and added Bushtits, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a dead mole.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (May 26 & 27) the outings will be to Colony Farm Regional Park on Colony Farm Road in Coquitlam
Meet at 8 AM at the Community Gardens parking lot. From Port Mann Bridge take the exit to Hwy 7 east (Lougheed Hwy).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 