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Blog: DNCB Report No. 2017-29 to Minnekhada Regional Park

Thirteen DNCBers had a ball on another gorgeous Wednesday morning wandering the pristine trails of Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam. Check out the photo evidence on our Flickr site at: https://www.flickr.
junco
Junco

Thirteen DNCBers had a ball on another gorgeous Wednesday morning wandering the pristine trails of Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam. Check out the photo evidence on our Flickr site at: https://www.flickr.com/search/?group_id=3027315%40N23&text=2017-29&view_all=1.

Eight of us car-pooled from Petra’s at 7:30 a.m. Mike took, Roger, SLB Syd took Viviane, Glen and Johnny Mac, and I drove Gerhard in our “toy,” Scott’s Willy’s Jeep. It was a pleasant hour-plus ride via the SFPR and then through Coquitlam; at least the traffic wasn’t horrendous like previous week’s outings. We met the other five; Pat & Maureen, Marion, Jean and Richmond Brian at the lodge parking lot around 8:45 a.m. The lodge grounds were well-groomed and the 1930’s estate lodge itself looked magnificent, but unfortunately was closed so I couldn’t show the newbies the impressive historical interior. We strolled down the driveway to the lookout and took the mandatory group photo before starting our walk along the lodge trail, around the Lower Marsh to the Low Knoll Lookout.

Pacific-slope Flycatchers were calling all along the trail, but we never did see one. We did see Willow Flycatchers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers (target bird here), Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Juncos and other common stuff. Two pair of Sandhill Cranes were strolling along the edge of the Upper and Lower Marshes, respectively, but we didn’t see any colts. We saw bear evidence (scat), but no bears, probably scared away by Marion’s bear bell. Lots of Cedar Waxwings around and we heard Western Tanagers and Pacific Wrens. We heard Warblerish calls, but I couldn’t specifically identify any. On the Mid-Marsh Trail, between the two Marshes, we saw a family (five) of Pied-billed Grebe, and a couple of Lesser Scaup (first looked like Common Goldeneye), Wood Ducks, and of course lots of Canada Geese, Mallards and Great Blue Herons, and several Red-eared Slider Turtles.

We met lots of other runners, walkers, some with dogs, along the trail, but we all often repeated how glorious and pleasant the walk was in this beautiful forest park. Roger pointed out the different plant species, the Salal Berries were ripe and delicious and the flowering Hydrangea were brilliant. The view from the Low Knoll Lookout was spectacular; we took another group photo there. A tiny Tree Frog hopping on the trail fascinated some as they held him in their hand for photos. We got back to the lodge parking lot around noon and 11 of us decided to go for lunch at a pub in Coquitlam. Our web gurus found The Arms Pub on Coast Meridian Drive, and it was a treasure. I had steak and prawns (most expensive menu item) with roasted potatoes and veggies, along with two pints of Canadian, and my bill was only $27. The food was delicious and the service superb (Tell Laura I Love Her) in this friendly local pub; Mike B was so thrilled he wanted to return for dinner that night. Although I felt like it, I couldn’t sleep driving home; thankfully the open air and Gerhard’s direction, kept me awake. Home around 3 p.m. in time to pick up the grandkids at daycare school. Another awesome DNCB outing.

Next Wednesday, Aug. 2, is our annual outing to see the wildflowers in Manning Park. We will meet at and leave from the Ladner Bus Exchange at 6:30 a.m., then meet others at the Manning Park Lodge around 8:30 a.m. Check out our website at www.dncb.wordpress.com for more outing information, reports and photos. As always, comments welcome. Cheers: Tom

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists Society