Post by dvdk on May 28, 2006 10:18:28 GMT -8
Went for an early trip to church this morning, tallying 28 species in total. Set out from my house in the hilly Downes Road area of Abbotsford, which is a 15 minute walk from Downes Bowl Park. My route took me along Downes Road, to the bottom of the hill where Downes Creek goes under the road. From there, I entered the park, which has trails meandering through some beautiful second-growth forest. (By this time I already a had a severe case of warbler neck). I took a fork back down to the creek where I saw a couple of red-tails and and unidentified flycatcher. From there I back-tracked up the ravine, took the other fork to the boardwalk over the marshy area and wetlands. The boardwalk is flanked on both sides by dense willow growth - a great place for warblers and small woodpeckers. I did get a couple of Wilson's today and a Hairy Woodpecker today, but not much else stirring.
In the swamp the highlights were three wood ducks, a mallard with ducklings, and a waxwing - probably a Cedar, but didn't get a good look at it. The trail then leads away from the swamp back toward the main trail and through a low-lying cedar forest and crosses a couple of minute tributaries of Downes Creek. Not much of significance here - some Swainson's Thrushes, few Black-headed Grosbeaks, some chickadees.
Followed the trail back up the hydro right of way where I scared up another red-tail. Also a Pileated Woodpecker near the margin between field and forest. From there I crossed Clearbrook road onto Maclure Trail which leads up into the hills near the watershed boundary of Downes Creek, up onto Blueridge Road, up Blueridge and then down the hill toward Downes back to my house. Altogether a 3 1/2 hour walk - going at a birder's pace, mind you - with lots of salmonberries serving as breakfast along the way.
27 species identified, 1 unidentified
35 Canada Goose
3 Barn Swallow
9 Northwestern Crow
9 Song Sparrow
20 American Robin
13 Starling
6 Black-headed Grosbeak
10 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Bushtit
6 Spotted Towhee
3 Steller's Jay
1 Chestnut Backed Chickadee
8 Swainson's Thrush
2 Bewick's Wren
2 Brown Creeper
2 Western Tanager
2 Winter Wren
3 Red-tailed Hawk
3 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Goldfinch
2 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Wilson's Warbler
1 Mallard
3 Wood Duck
1 Pileated Woodpecker
2 Rufous Hummingbird
1 Yellow Warbler
Flycatcher - unidentifed
Good Birding!
Daniel van der Kroon
In the swamp the highlights were three wood ducks, a mallard with ducklings, and a waxwing - probably a Cedar, but didn't get a good look at it. The trail then leads away from the swamp back toward the main trail and through a low-lying cedar forest and crosses a couple of minute tributaries of Downes Creek. Not much of significance here - some Swainson's Thrushes, few Black-headed Grosbeaks, some chickadees.
Followed the trail back up the hydro right of way where I scared up another red-tail. Also a Pileated Woodpecker near the margin between field and forest. From there I crossed Clearbrook road onto Maclure Trail which leads up into the hills near the watershed boundary of Downes Creek, up onto Blueridge Road, up Blueridge and then down the hill toward Downes back to my house. Altogether a 3 1/2 hour walk - going at a birder's pace, mind you - with lots of salmonberries serving as breakfast along the way.
27 species identified, 1 unidentified
35 Canada Goose
3 Barn Swallow
9 Northwestern Crow
9 Song Sparrow
20 American Robin
13 Starling
6 Black-headed Grosbeak
10 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Bushtit
6 Spotted Towhee
3 Steller's Jay
1 Chestnut Backed Chickadee
8 Swainson's Thrush
2 Bewick's Wren
2 Brown Creeper
2 Western Tanager
2 Winter Wren
3 Red-tailed Hawk
3 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Goldfinch
2 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Wilson's Warbler
1 Mallard
3 Wood Duck
1 Pileated Woodpecker
2 Rufous Hummingbird
1 Yellow Warbler
Flycatcher - unidentifed
Good Birding!
Daniel van der Kroon
