PHOTO: Bald Eagle & Bullock’s Oriole by Terry Carr…….
Seven DNCBers met at Sturgeon Slough in Pitt Meadows – Terry, Mei, Margaret, Lorna, Lindly, Dottie, Bob. The telephone poles were covered with Starlings. A bird on the top of a distant tree on the east side of the road turned out to be a Lazuli Bunting – the only one that we saw today. On the same side of the road we heard and then saw a Willow Flycatcher.
Crossing the road to walk our usual route along the slough we soon added Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Kingbirds, Tree and Violet-green Swallows and a Killdeer. A Kestrel flew away before we got a good look but we did have better views of an Osprey and a Kingfisher as they flew by. Common Yellowthroats were teasing us with their “witchety witchety” songs and one did appear long enough for Bob to get a photo.
Common Yellowthroat by Bob Winston
There was an Eagle perched high up in a tree on the other side of the water with a yellow bird flying around it and perching close to it. We were able to determine that it was a Bullock’s Oriole. It seemed to be very strange behaviour and the Eagle was completely ignoring it. Perhaps the Oriole had a nest nearby. Mallards were the only ducks seen. We had many more Cedar Waxwings and Willow Flycatchers as well as Flickers and Herons. On the way back to the cars we were entertained by a Kingfisher hovering and diving.
After a quick washroom break at Swaneset Golf Course we stopped at Catbird Slough, hoping to see the Yellow-breasted Chat that has been seen here this year. We did not see it or Catbirds but we did see a pair of Bullock’s Orioles and an Eastern Kingbird.
Our last stop was at Grant Narrows Park to see Ospreys that nest on Pitt Lake. There was one active nest with 2 chicks. There were more Cedar Waxwings and Willow Flycatchers.
Osprey with 2 chicks by Terry Carr
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
eBird checklists
Sturgeon Slough
Catbird Slough
Pitt Lake
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (June 23 & 24) the outings will be to Blackie Spit at Crescent Beach.
Meet at 8 AM in the gravel parking lot at the NE end of McBride Ave in Crescent Beach. Go past the paved parking lot and sailing club.
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 