Where: Campbell Valley Regional Park (Langley), Tlahutum Regional Park (Coquitlam)
Weather: Sunny, 26-32°C
This was my second time birding since surgery and I may have been a bit overly ambitious on setting out an extravagantly long route around Campbell Valley as the temperature eventually climbed to 32C.
Campbell Valley Regional Park
We parked at the South Valley entrance, where the car seats would get set to “broiling” while we wandered the many trails of the park. We eventually began questing for a water fountain and settled for a bathroom sink by an old red barn.
Our first visit here was in March 2023 and did not yield too many birds. This time there was a lot of activity and a surprisingly large variety of birds–but many proved elusive, either appearing fleetingly, or only taunting us from somewhere in the dense foliage.
One of the reasons I suggested Campbell Valley on this day was the forecast–I remembered it had a lot of shade. And the shade is maxed out in the summer. It was quite nice to stroll under the relative cool of the canopy, but the sections where it opened up were Africa Hot and I regretted not having a camera bag large enough to hold a big ol’ water bottle.
We also saw the Historic Langley Speedway, which is now just a curious paved oval in the middle of the forest.
Toward the end I was further regretting the long, elaborate route I’d suggested. Then we got to the Shaggy Mane Trail and encountered about a dozen horse (with riders) split into a few groups. Most of the rest of the way out from here was navigating around horse poop–big fresh piles of tapestry (I had opined earlier about the tapestry of nature)–and passing a disturbingly large number of EMERGENCY CALL 911 signs because apparently horses or horse riders apparently have lots of accidents or something.
In an ironic twist, we came across a flooded part and had to navigate across on a plank, while simultaneously parched and desperate for water.
By the end we had managed a few decent shots, more than a few foiled attempts and a desire to return either in the spring or fall, when there are fewer places for the birds to hide and temperatures will be cooler.
Still, a welcome trip back, if a wee bit more than was perhaps sensible given conditions.
Tlahutum Regional Park
We went hunting for a bunting here, but the hunt was unsuccessful. I shot more kitsch than birds in the community garden, but it was 32C by now, so the sensible birds were hiding in the shade. Nic managed a shot of an American Goldfinch. Had it stayed put for another second, I would have gotten a shot, too, but it finched right off just as I lifted my camera. I had better luck with some House Finches in a tree.
We opted to not venture to the big pond, but did see a single scruffy Wood Duck in one of the increasingly swampy waterways.
A few high clouds blotted out some of the sun, which provided a little relief in the late going.
In all, not a bad day of birding at all, even if it was silly hot and the birds were largely (and wisely) absent.
The Shots
Shot with a Canon EOS R7 with 18-150 mm kit lens and 100-400 mm telephoto. Some scenery captured on a Samsung Galaxy S26. The light and shadows were especially harsh. And my camera may have started melting.
The Birds (and other critters)
Sparrows and sparrow-adjacent:
- American Goldfinch
- American Robin
- Anna’s Hummingbird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Brown-headed Cowbird (possibly)
- Cedar Waxwing
- Common Yellowthroat (heard, not seen)
- Eastern Kingbird
- House Finch
- Red-bellied Sapsucker
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Savannah Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Spotted Towhee
- Steller’s Jay
- Tree Swallow
- Willow Flycatcher
Waterfowl and shorebirds:
- Mallard
- Wood Duck
Common:
- American Crow
- Rock Pigeon
Raptors:
- None!
Non-birds:
- Assorted pollinators
- Flies on leaves
- A majestic slug
- A few errant squirrels