Where: Burnaby Lake (Burnaby), Mundy Park (Coquitlam)
Weather: Sunny, 19-27°C
The Outing
Burnaby Lake
I suggested Burnaby Lake, not because I wanted to get a lot of steps, but because it has a lot of tree canopy and if we’re not going to see many birds because of the time of year, we may as well not see them while in the shade.
But we did see a few, including a brown creeper right near the bridge over Eagle Creek near Piper Spit. Unlike previous creepers, this one was hyperactive and was constantly flitting from tree to tree. This would prove to be the standard behaviour of nearly every bird we encountered, for reasons unknown to me.
Piper spit was again bereft of shorebirds, though the water level was a bit lower, so maybe they’ll be back again soon. We did spot a few yellowlegs near the dam, which is an odd place for them to hang out (they walked on the lily pads). Mostly it was geese (one of which clamped onto the tail of another in the water before they separated, because there must always be goose drama), mallards and wood ducks. We did see what must have been a late brood of baby wood ducks following mom around and chowing on one of the lily pad flowers.
The rest of the lake afforded a few nice views, but not much in the way of birds. There were barn swallows at the rowing club, but they were elusive as always, and a cormorant, but it was standing atop a distant pole.
Overall, though, it was a pleasant, if step-intensive outing.
Mundy Park
Nic suggested the community garden at Tlahutum Regional Park after lunch, which would have meant minimal walking, but would be entirely out in the sun. I countered with Mundy Park, which we’d only been to once before.
It proved step-intensive as well, but there were a few birds, including some blue-winged teals (we think– some of the coloration didn’t seem to match up with what the Merlin app was offering). And there were turtles enjoying the sun and water at Lost Lake, which we totally found.
Mostly it was relatively cool and shady paths through wooded areas that were deep enough to actually get you away from traffic noise (unlike Burnaby Lake).
Despite the relative lack of birds (and the erratic behaviour of them), it was a fine day to be out, we didn’t get ankle-deep in black goo, and I set a new Garmin Forerunner record for steps, which stand at 36,199 as I type this.
The Shots
Soon™
The Birds (and other critters). Rare or rarely-seen birds highlighted in bold.
Sparrows and sparrow-adjacent:
- American robin (probably)
- Barn swallow
- Bewick’s wren (heard, not seen)
- Black-capped chickadee
- Brown creeper
- Brown-headed cowbird
- House finch (maybe?)
- Red-winged blackbird
- Song sparrow
- Spotted towhee
Waterfowl and shorebirds:
- Canada goose
- Blue-winged teal (?)
- Green-winged teal
- Mallard
- Wood duck
Common:
- American crow
- Rock pigeon
Raptors:
- None!
Non-birds:
- Western painted turtle
- Assorted pollinators
- Dragonflies all up in the hizzy
- Various butterflies and such
