Post by kestrel on May 10, 2020 19:52:04 GMT -8
John V., Ed, Larry, and myself birded around the east end of the Fraser Valley for Global Big Day. It was quite windy early in the morning, but the wind gradually died down.
Our first stop was the Hope Airport. Here, we found a couple of Western kingbirds along with a House wren (heard only). A Vaux's swift zipped overhead as well. The biggest highlight however, was what later turned out to be a Loggerhead shrike (see Rare Bird Alert section).
Western kingbird by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
ebird.org/checklist/S68763086
We then made our way over to the Hope sewage lagoons. Nothing too exciting was seen here, except for a lone Lesser scaup.
ebird.org/checklist/S68761873
After this, we drove down Silver Skagit Road to Silver Lake. There was a lot of traffic, but we still managed a decent list along the road. Silver Lake had a pair of Spotted sandpipers and a flyby American dipper.
ebird.org/checklist/S68763544
ebird.org/checklist/S68761927
We made a brief stop at Thacker Park. At this spot we managed to get a Nashville warbler, only the second one I've ever seen. Other than that it was pretty quiet, as by now it was getting pretty warm out.
ebird.org/checklist/S68761952
The last stop was Cheam Wetlands. Even though it was during the hottest part of the day, it was still productive. The late-staying Trumpeter swan was still there. A Bullock's oriole made an appearance at the beginning of the loop trail. What none of us expected to see here, was a small flock of Snow geese. At first, we were certain they were domestic waterfowl.
Snow geese & Canada goose by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
ebird.org/checklist/S68764745
Our first stop was the Hope Airport. Here, we found a couple of Western kingbirds along with a House wren (heard only). A Vaux's swift zipped overhead as well. The biggest highlight however, was what later turned out to be a Loggerhead shrike (see Rare Bird Alert section).
Western kingbird by Joel Schmidt, on Flickrebird.org/checklist/S68763086
We then made our way over to the Hope sewage lagoons. Nothing too exciting was seen here, except for a lone Lesser scaup.
ebird.org/checklist/S68761873
After this, we drove down Silver Skagit Road to Silver Lake. There was a lot of traffic, but we still managed a decent list along the road. Silver Lake had a pair of Spotted sandpipers and a flyby American dipper.
ebird.org/checklist/S68763544
ebird.org/checklist/S68761927
We made a brief stop at Thacker Park. At this spot we managed to get a Nashville warbler, only the second one I've ever seen. Other than that it was pretty quiet, as by now it was getting pretty warm out.
ebird.org/checklist/S68761952
The last stop was Cheam Wetlands. Even though it was during the hottest part of the day, it was still productive. The late-staying Trumpeter swan was still there. A Bullock's oriole made an appearance at the beginning of the loop trail. What none of us expected to see here, was a small flock of Snow geese. At first, we were certain they were domestic waterfowl.
Snow geese & Canada goose by Joel Schmidt, on Flickrebird.org/checklist/S68764745
