DNCB Outing No. 2013-21 to the North Forty Park

• Photos by Jonathan, Terry & Ken
• click on any photo to see larger version

DNCB at North Forty monkey tree

Fourteen (one more than our usual Lucky 13) DNCBers had a fun but overcast Wednesday morning at the North Forty Park behind Boundary Bay Airport.  We were: Roger, PB Lorna, Mike, Kay, Bryan & Janet, Ken & Anne, Jonathan & Lorraine, Johnny Mac, Marion, Terry and me.  Hi-lites included: a Great Horned Owl, Warbling Vireos, Western Wood-Pewees and Marion’s audition for Cirque de Soleil.  Check out photos on our DNCB Picasa link.

Common Yellowthroat (m)

Yellow Warbler

Great Horned Owl

We met at the North Forty parking lot entrance just before 8:00 a.m. and after the usual intro’s we followed the main road in.  Lots of Common Yellowthroats, Spotted Towhees and Song Sparrows calling.  Two Brown-headed Cowbirds were on the top of a bush in the field.  We cut off the main road to where the Lazuli Buntings normally are, but we saw and heard nothing.  Roger led us down several of the old 1950’s streets and we finally found the Great Horned Owl.  We saw little birds flitting in the trees, and Janet recognized a Cassin’s Vireo.

Cassin’s Vireo

We also saw several Warbling Vireos, a couple of Yellow Warblers, perhaps some Wilson’s Warblers.  Really, there were not as many birds in the North Forty this day as I am used to seeing.  Some Barn and Tree Swallows were hawking insects, and Rufous Hummingbirds are always a treat to see.  Lots of Bald Eagles circling and we saw the resident Red-tailed Hawk.  We searched in vain for our two other target birds, the Bullock’s Oriole and Western Tanager.  The group separated and some saw Red Crossbills and a Pacific Slope Flycatcher.

Bald Eagle (juv)

Western Wood-Peewee

Two rather large juvenile Bald Eagles were perched on their nest and we watched the parents bring what looked like a mole or vole.  Ken took the Group Photo at the Monkey Tree just below this eagle’s nest.  Marion again entertained us with her flailing Cirque du Soleil dance in front of the camera.

A small flock of Bushtits flitted through the bushes beside us.  As we continued our search for the Lazuli’s (which may have moved on), we were entertained by a pair of Black-capped Chickadees bringing tiny worms to their hole in a dead tree.  In the area where the orioles are often seen, we found a couple of occasionally-posing Western Wood-Pewees.  There were lots of dog walkers around and several more arrived for their 11:00 a.m. daily outings.  Not sure whether the many off-leash dogs contributed to the lower number of birds around.  We got back to the vehicles about 11:00 a.m. and it was starting to sprinkle.  We savoured Lorna’s egg sandwiches (a pleasant change from the PB’s), Bryan’s cookies and other’s goodies (I forget what and from whom), but again, no one brought beer.  Although it was relatively early, the threatening weather persuaded us to end the outing.  Although blanked on our target birds, it was again a very enjoyable outing.

Next Wednesday, June 5, is our quarterly Birds on the Bay outing in Boundary Bay Regional Park.  We meet at and leave from historic Cammidge House at 9:00 a.m., returning to CH around 11:30 a.m. to enjoy “goodies” provided by the Delta Nats Ladies.  As usual, comments welcome and let me know if you want off my List.  Cheers: Tom

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society

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Tentative Schedule for DNCB outings…

• 1) June 5 – BOTB in BBRP;
  2) June 12 – Pitt Lake.

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