Twenty DNCBers enjoyed another beautiful Wednesday in Langley Township at the Jackman Wetlands and Aldergrove Regional Parks. Check out the spectacular photos of our sightings on our Flickr site.
Ten of us car-pooled magnificently at 7:30 a.m. from Petra’s in two vehicles and, after a pleasant drive through the Surrey and Langley countryside, got to the Jackman Wetlands parking lot before 8:30 a.m., even with “shortcut” Roger driving. The other 10 welcomed us and, following the perfunctory introductions (I love big words even if I don’t know what they mean), Jim took the obligatory Group Photo. Our local expert Leaders, Marion and Joanne, briefed us on this new park, formerly a gravel pit with a Dozer School next door. Then we began our walk on well groomed trails around the several wetlands ponds.
Some of our hi-lite sightings were: several brilliant Bullock’s Orioles (plus a nest), beaut pairs of Black-headed Grosbeaks, both Rufous and Anna’s iridescent Hummingbirds, probably nesting Pied-billed Grebes, an “interesting pair” of a male Lesser Scaup and a male Ring-necked Duck, Turkey Vultures, young families of Canada Geese, lots of Warblers calling (e.g. Wilson’s, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow), Bewick’s Wrens, Rough-winged Swallow (?), Sparrows (Savanah, Song, White-crowned), Killdeer, scintillating American Goldfinches. Glen’s eBird list indicates we saw 30 species today.
Jackman Wetlands is a beautiful park, despite its dog training areas and frisbee golf course, with excellent bird habitat. Interestingly, there were lots of trees planted and some nice blossoms, but I was struck by the vividly sparkling yellow Scotch Broome (invasive species) randomly growing along the trails. We got back to the parking lot around 11 a.m., several of us hot and sun-burned as the weather was warmer than we anticipated. Thankfully, Roger could drive us to our next stop about 10 minutes down the road, Aldergrove Regional Park. Roger had survived the attack of the Dog Trainer when he/Roger inadvertently ignited the duck calling machine in the middle of a field. It was hilarious watching Roger jump.
Aldergrove RP, another new destination for DNCBers, was a pleasant walk through trees around another pond/wetland. Being Noon, there was little bird activity (Common Yellowthroats), but the Nootka Rose bushes were beautiful, both looks and smell, and the flowers were full of feeding Honey Bees which was good to see. Western Painted Turtles nest here; we saw a turtle on a log but it was too far away to determine whether it was painted or the invasive Red-eared Slider Turtle.
Following our half-hour walk here, we drove to the Fox and Hounds Neighbourhood Pub in Aldergrove. Lively Joy served the 11 of us in this “authentic” English pub. My special of beef/vegetable soup, salad and a cheese & bacon melt sandwich hit the spot, of course with a pint of their Fox Lager, along with a few of Mikey and Terry’s chips. We left the pub and took the Roger & Mike guided tour home, past cemeteries, killing sites, marihuana greenhouses, umpteen birding spots, and other places I slept through. We got back to Tsawwassen at 2:30 p.m. having enjoyed another awesome DNCB outing.
The Twenty were: our Organizer Terry C, our local leaders Marion & Joanne (who it turns out hadn’t been there for a year so were relatively useless-just kidding), wandering Roger M, the Bird Box Team of Jim K, Chris McV, Mike B2 and Roger K2, historian Mike B, PB Lorna, Langley Bob McCl, North Delta Jean G, sisters Pat & Maureen, eBirder & photog Glen B, Vancity Lidia J, South Surrey Wazza & Lynne, North Van Rick H and me.
Next Wednesday, May 21, we’ll leave Petra’s at 7:30 a.m. for Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam, planning to meet others at the Lodge parking lot at 8:30 a.m. For more info on this outing, and other reports and photos, visit our website at: www.dncb.wordpress.com. As always, your comments are encouraged. Cheers: Tom
Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists Society
