PHOTO: Spruce Grouse by Jonathan Mwenifumbo………
Eleven birders met at Manning Park Resort – Terry, Stephanie, Jonathan, Lorraine, Colin, Lindly, Lidia, Bruce, Nickie, Dawne, Marie.
Families of Columbian Ground Squirrels were entertaining park visitors. The first of us to arrive saw a Red-naped Sapsucker which is a bit different from the Red-breasted Sapsuckers that we often see in the Lower Mainland. There were also Steller’s Jays, Robins, Flickers, Barn Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and a Canada Jay.
We drove up the Blackwall Peak Road to the alpine meadows. Along the roadside were large batches of flowers. We stopped at the Cascade Lookout for the panoramic view of the park. There were Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels here, but not the usual Clark’s Nutcrackers or Ravens. This 16 km road up to the alpine meadows opens on the Canada Day weekend.
We parked at the end of the road (elevation 6400 feet/1950 meters) and walked the 1.5 km loop of the fairly level Paintbrush Trail. It was cooler at this elevation. There is usually excellent wildflower viewing here in July and most of the flowers were blooming. There were also butterflies and other insects, but the only birds that we saw were Pine Siskins, a Junco, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. The most common butterfly was Edith’s Checkerspot.
We drove back to the resort for our picnic lunches. Some went into the pub to watch the FIFA game (England v. Argentina). Some tried to figure out the charging stations for their electric vehicles. The rest of us drove to the Strawberry Flats trail. Just before the parking lot we stopped to photograph a Spruce Grouse on the roadside. It was joined by 3 chicks before they all moved into the forest. It was very hot and birdless on the Strawberry Flats trail, so we drove back to Twenty Minute Lake for the shady walk around the lake. We were pleased to see a flock of Cedar Waxwings and a Barrow’s Goldeneye with chicks. Jonathan saw a Kingfisher.
We made one more quick stop at the Beaver Pond trail where we saw more Cedar Waxwings. The other birds seemed to be avoiding the heat.
Although we did not see many birds, the scenery, flowers and insects make this an enjoyable annual outing.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (July 21 & 22) the outings will be to Jackman Wetlands in Langley.
Meet at 8 AM in the disc golf parking lot on the west side of 272nd St between 16th Ave & 8th Ave.
Raptors Knoll Disc Golf Park, 1111 272 St, Langley (across from Langley Transfer Station).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.
Delta Naturalists Society 