PHOTO: Yellow Warbler with bug by Jonathan Mwenifumbo…
8 Birders met at Burnaby Lake Nature House after a surprisingly easy drive with little traffic – Jonathan & Lorraine with granddaugther Melia, Bob & Dottie, Glen, Lorna, Terry. The butterfly garden was in full bloom and we saw Song Sparrows, Chickadees and a Rufous Hummingbird there.
There was a smoky haze over the lake, and the sun was a big orange ball. On the lake were large groups of Canada Geese, Mallards and Wood Ducks and a few Green-winged Teal. The ducks were very drab in their moulting plumage. A flock of Long-billed Dowitchers flew in. We scanned the waterlilies to no avail for Snipe. A few Herons were standing on the far side, and Double-crested Cormorants flew by.
We walked west from the spit instead of east to the dam. We heard and saw several Willow Flycatchers, as well as Robins, Towhees, Crows, Ravens, Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow Warblers and Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds. Bob walked to the dam and saw a Cooper’s Hawk before joining us again.
Melia took some great photos and her young eyes spotted things that we missed – including a millipede and some neat Bird’s Nest Fungi.
Checking the spit again, we found that more Dowitchers and ducks had arrived. Barn Swallows and a Merlin flew over and dragonflies were zipping around.
In the warmer weather there were now bees, hoverflies and a Skipper Butterfly in the butterfly garden.
Report by Terry Carr
Photos are on flickr
Next Tuesday & Wednesday (August 11 & 12) the outings will be to Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond.
Meet at 8 AM by Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment, 2340 River Rd (at the west end of River Rd and west of the north end of No 1 Rd).
To sign up for an outing, click on the DNS bird outing schedule sheet.