PHOTO: Bumble Bee & Yellow Crab Spider by Jonathan Mwenifumbo……….
Nine Delta Nats met at the high lookout on the Cypress Mountain road at 8 AM on a cool cloudy morning – Margaret, Jonathan, Lidia, Lorna, Lorraine, Dawne, Debbi, Alan, Terry. There were Robins, Towhees and Juncos and 5 noisy Ravens flew back and forth. Band-tailed Pigeons and a Merlin flew over. We managed to see Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers and a Black-throated Grey Warbler – but we heard several others.
Our next stop was the cross country ski parking lot for the trail to Hollyburn Lodge and Lake. There were lots of flowers but few birds on this cool morning. We heard more birds than we saw. We heard but we did not see the Townsend’s Warblers that we usually see here.
Our third stop was the downhill parking lot for the Yew Lake loop trail. Once again we heard more birds than we saw. A juvenile Robin was waiting for a parent to bring food and the usual Olive-sided Flycatcher perched on top of a snag. There were more interesting flowers and Lorraine found a carnivorous Sundew like the ones Roger Meyer pointed out on previous outings here. There was a Black Bear on a distant hillside. Back near the parking lot we finally saw Red-breasted Sapsuckers. A chick was perched on a stump and an adult made brief feeding appearances before the chick flew off.
Juvenile Red-breasted Sapsucker by Jonathan Mwenifumbo
Our last stop was the picnic area between the cross country area and the high lookout. Robins and Flickers were feeding on the grass. Band-tailed Pigeons, Eagles and Turkey Vultures flew over. We heard more birds in the wooded areas. At this lower elevation the lupins had gone to seed while they were just starting to bloom at the higher elevations. It was warmer here so we finally saw insects that were absent at the earlier locations.
Although we did not see as many birds as we usually see at this destination it was a very enjoyable outing.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
eBird Checklists:
High Viewpoint
Hollyburn Lodge
Yew Lake Loop
Picnic Area
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (July 7 & 8) the outings will be to Alaksen National Wildlife Area, 5421 Robertson Rd, Delta – on Westham Island before the turn into Reifel.
Meet at 8 AM in the first parking lot.
Delta Naturalists Society 