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Blog: DNCB Report 2017-15 to Ladner Parks

Thirteen DNCBers enjoyed a surprisingly almost-rainfree and birdy Wednesday morning wandering through a few parks in Ladner. Enjoy the close-up-and-personal photos on our Flickr website at: www.flickr.
ducks
Wood ducks

Thirteen DNCBers enjoyed a surprisingly almost-rainfree and birdy Wednesday morning wandering through a few parks in Ladner. Enjoy the close-up-and-personal photos on our Flickr website at: www.flickr.com/groups/dncb, (click the magnifying glass icon in the “Photo Pool” row, and add 2017-15 to “DNCB Photos” in the Search box at the top of the page).

Six guys met at Petra’s at 7:30 a.m. and car-pooled to our first destination Ladner Harbour Park. David H took Mike B, Terry C and Roger Two, and Chris came with me in the Jeep. We arrived at the park parking lot around 8 a.m. where Roger M, Johnny Mac, sisters Pat & Maureen, Glen B and Richmond Brian were waiting and enjoying the Warblers singing in the trees (Time-challenged Margaretha came fashionably later to make the 13). Roger took the Group Photo of us surrounding the playground slide. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers (mostly Audubon’s in this park) were flitting about and we got good looks as the leaves have not yet fully developed. We also may have heard other species, Yellow, Wilson’s, Orange-crowned and Common Yellowthroats, but couldn’t actually spot any. Kinglets were there too and we recognized Ruby-crowned. Lots of Bushtits around, some nesting and others collecting nest material. It was kind of a “nest day” for us as we not only saw a nice hanging Bushtit nest, but also a Northern Flicker expanding its nest cavity and an American Robin sitting on a nest under the picnic shelter.

We followed the Swenson trail, avoiding the many dog walkers, and were surprised by several Brown Creepers “creeping” up various tree trunks, some also collecting nesting material. Lots of Wrens singing too, both Pacific and Marsh. We walked out to the shoreline at a few spots and found the one Greater Yellowlegs. At the water’s edge were Green-winged Teal, a couple of Buffleheads and American Wigeon and Mallards. A flock of about 20 Dunlin gave a nice fly-past. A few Hummers around, probably both Anna’s and Rufous. Downy Woodpeckers posed too. The park paths were easily traversed and the marsh area was packed down and dry (low tide) so we could access and get good views of the river that we normally don’t get towards the summer. It’s a gorgeous area; Pat pointed out the “Lions” behind Cypress Mountain in the distance.

Continuing on to the infamous non-Lookout behind the off-leash dog park, more warblers, and lots of Swallows hawking insects. We saw Tree, Violet-green and finally a few Barn Swallows. Probably other species too. Roger One snuck off on us and scared up the Wilson’s Snipe. By the time the rest of us found Roger, the Snipe was long gone. But we did get great looks and photos of two Lincoln’s Sparrows in a marsh bush. We clearly saw several Sparrow species this day, Song, Fox, Golden- and White-crowned as well. And brilliant Finches too, both House and American Goldfinches. Before leaving Ladner Harbour Park, we wandered over to the adjacent provincial Wildlife Management Area but couldn’t see any development of the new bridge and boardwalk that is apparently planned for this area.

Next stop was the park on Ferry Road where the stream crosses from the marsh, it may be called Earle Burnett Park. Anyhow, we went to the little bridge where Mike “jimmied” the gate so we could get through to view the many Wood Ducks in the creek. This has been a good nesting area for Wood Ducks, however residents have told me that they are not successful because of predation from racoons and otters. We moved on to the next park, and followed the trail along the slough through the condos to Cove Links Golf Course. Lots of Warblers here too, interestingly more Myrtle than Audubon’s Yellow-rumped. Roger regaled us here with his infamous historic feat of getting a “House Birdie” on the fourth hole of the Cove Links course; his errant tee shot bounced off a house roof onto the green. It started to sprinkle (why not? It always rains on DNCB days) as we wandered back to Ferry Road. It was about 11:30 a.m. and by “almost-democratic vote,” we decided to abort a visit to South Arm Marsh Wildlife Park and go directly to Speed’s Pub in Ladner for lunch.

Good decision, as 12 of us (including Jim K, a Drop-in from the Probus candidates meeting) bonded nicely and had tasty dishes at very reasonable prices. I had a Speed’s club sandwich with a veggie soup, of course with a couple of delectable pints of Okanagan 1516 Beer, on special which I always appreciate. It was another very pleasant DNCB outing, and I got home in time to rest before entertaining the grandkids while their parents took dance lessons.

On Wednesday, April 26, we will have a special outing to Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park where Nat Marion Shikaze will lead our adventure. We will leave Petra’s at 7:30 a.m. and meet Marion at the Royal Oak Road parking lot at 8:15 a.m. Check out our website for more outing info, and reports and photos, at: www.dncb.wordpress.com.  As always, your comments are appreciated. Cheers: Tom.

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists Society