Journal

September, 2007

September 9, 2007

The weather has been co-operating lately; warm and sunny was the forecast and it was as predicted. As we entered the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve today we were greeted by Dick, one of the volunteer photographers of the reserve society. He joined us on part of our walk and showed us a photo of the Beaver that he had taken earlier in the morning.

We spotted the Green Backed Heron across the lagoon, fishing from one of its favourite spots.

Green Backed Heron

As we were taking photos of a young Hooded Merganser and young Wood Duck on a log in the lagoon, a Black Throated Grey Warbler hopped into an alder tree near us, flitting amongst the leaves, it searched for insects, giving us quick glimpses of its striking black and white stripes. Either a Warbler or is it a Vireo peered back at Bruce from the safety of alder leaves.


Juvenile Hooded Merganser	Juvenile Wood Duck

Black-Throated Grey Warbler	Black-Throated Grey Warbler

Black-Throated Grey Warbler	Is It A Vireo Or A Warbler?

A Sparrow spent a long time running back and forth on a log over a small pond looking for insects and seeds. Grass overhanging the log; gave it some cover from prying eyes of hawks and photographers.


Sparrow On Log	Sparrow Running Back

Chickadees hung from branches, calling dee dee dee while searching for insects and seeds. Grasshoppers sprang out of our way along gravel and grass pathways.


Chickadee	Grasshopper

Dick went back to the Rotary Interpretive Centre, he had been out a couple of hours before us and we continued on our way. A young Red-Tailed Hawk landed on a branch of a tree damaged from last winter’s wind storms. He surveyed the area and took off; soaring and circling the trees and grass below.


Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk	Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Circling

A butterfly landed softly on a red clover and enjoyed a sip of clover nectar.

Butterfly & Clover

We walked to the edge of the lagoon and came face to face with a Great Blue Heron; who was more startled is hard to say; as it flew away with a loud squawk. Dragonflies hovered over water, big and blue; their gosamer wings glistening in the sunlight. Other Dragonflies landed on sticks and grasses, we saw a White-faced Meadowhawk, brilliant red in the bright sunlight.


Canada Darner	White-faced Meadowhawk

We took our time and wandered the pathways, taking photo after photo some will go in a gallery later on this coming week. On our way out; we stopped and talked to Dick who was busy in the Rotary Interpretive Centre and came home to spend a quiet day with the summer sun. Hope that you’ve had a good weekend. We certainly have, with a few more summer weekends still left in the year; we’ll take advantage of every minute.

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September 8, 2007

This morning was such a clear summer’s day that we took longer than usual on our walk. It was so pleasant to walk in the fresh air, a slight breeze causing little waves and ripples on the lagoon and the sun shining, not weak but warm and welcoming.

I was taking a photo of turtles basking in the sun when Bruce behind me quietly told me to look at the mink on the side of the bank. It was wandering along the bank, sniffing out a track of something intriguing only to mink.

Turtles Basking


Mink	Mink

As we passed the annex, we spotted the very talented artist John LeFlock instructing an art class; everyone seemed absorbed in their art, they produce some really nice artwork there.

Wildflowers are still blooming along paths and in fields; they add charm as well as seed and cover for birds, insects and other wildlife. A butterfly paused for a quick drink on a pretty blue Chicory flower. A moment so fleeting, yet precious, in a farm garden, the same butterfly would be a nuisance but here it added a beautiful light to a lovely day.

Butterfly On Chicory Flower

A flycatcher stopped for a second on a Red Osier Dogwood, the berries almost totally picked clean by the migrating birds, while nearby a Steller’s Jay mimicked a hawk with perfect accuracy, so much so that some birds stopped and looked to see where the sound was coming from.

Flycatcher

In the Dogwood next to the Rotary Interpretive Centre, a pair of female House Finch stopped, waiting their turn at the Reserve bird feeder. They blended so well with the leaves, that it was difficult to spot them.

Finch

Down at the Salwein Creek Loop bridge another mink swam under the bridge out of sight.

Mink

Some of the trees have changed colour already and the leaves are beginning to fall now, floating on the air, distracting us as we catch a glimpse of them in our peripheral vision we wonder if it is a bird or a leaf, when we turn to see we are rewarded with a leaf swirling and turning; buffeted by the breezes, colourful and as pretty as butterflies in the morning light.

Some Trees Have Colour

We stopped as usual to talk to the Rotary Interpretive Centre volunteers; today it was Muriel and Donna. We found that we had all noticed some birds still feeding their young.

As always it was a nice start to our day and we look forward to more visits, maybe we might see you there. So for now, have a lovely weekend.

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September 7, 2007

Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron and Otter fishing, it is the fishing season after all. That was the theme for the early part of the morning as we wandered through the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. When we first walked in, the Great Blue Heron looked particularly pensive as he looked at the lagoon. Later, he showed his true blue colours as he landed next to the bank to do some more fishing.

Pensive Great Blue Heron


True Blue, Great Blue Heron	Great Blue Heron Fishing

The Kingfisher entertained us for quite awhile; we stood on the bridge over the lagoon and watched as he studied the depths of the lagoon in search of a tasty morsel. When he was sure of his target, he would dart like an arrow, straight into the water with a great splash; water still flying he would emerge with a flourish of his wings and tail feathers, victorious with a fish grasped firmly in his beak.

Belted Kingfisher Studying Lagoon


Belted Kingfisher, Splash	Victorious Belted Kingfisher

He continued his search for breakfast as we continued our walk further down toward our favourite spot lately….. the Salwein Creek Loop. There we were greeted by a Song Sparrow, peeking from the stems of a blackberry; while in the Salwein Creek three Otter splashed, played and vocalized before heading off into the north lagoon along the far south side looking like synchronized swimmers, diving and resurfacing in a choreographed by nature movement. They wandered and swam along the bank searching through the reeds at the edges for edible tasty items. Finally, finding something completely absorbing, they stopped and dug in the mud at the edge of the bank for a long time.


Song Sparrow	Synchcronized Otter

At the east blind a young Mallard posed regally at the edge of some cattails, absorbing a little morning sun after a nice dip in the lagoon.

Mallard

While we sat on a bench between the east bird blind and the Salwein Creek bridge, a Steller’s Jay performed aerial acrobatics with his prize (a cluster of hazelnuts). Up through two trunks of a dead tree, he landed perfectly, proud of his flight and his big find.


Acrobatic Steller's Jay	Steller's Jay With Hazelnut

Along the Salwein Creek, birds, lots of them, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black Throated Grey Warblers, several other sparrows, warblers, finches and robins, to name a few, gleaned seeds, insects, and berries from the grasses, hardhack and blackberries.


Lincoln’s Sparrow	Lincoln’s Sparrow

Black Throated Grey Warbler

Just as we were ready to leave we spotted our highlight of the day, a wonderful Common Yellowthroat Warbler and it’s young. We watched while the young called and the adult male came readily to it, over and over again, the male Common Yellowthroat visited the young one, encouraging it to follow him and showing the way to food sources.

Common Yellowthroat Warbler

Elated with our day out, we stopped and talked to Walter at the Rotary Interpretive Centre, he was the volunteer at the gift shop for the day and he was full of new information of interest for future reference on our outings.

Have a nice weekend folks, try to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. If you have the time, really try to visit the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, if you want take a picnic lunch, enjoy the day and say hello for us.

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September 6, 2007

Someone commented that we seem to see a lot more birds than most people when we go for our walks and wondered why. Well, we take our time, do not rush, we wear muted colours that blend with the colours of nature and never ever point or make quick movements. At the same time, we do not try to be too stealthy as the birds think that we are sneaking up on them to do harm, acting as naturally and quietly as we can brings the birds out to eat and act naturally themselves. Sometimes it brings them out to observe us.

Our little friend the Flycatcher busy catching bugs, stopped to rest in the sun for a moment, perky and sweet, tilted its head to watch us.

Flycatcher

We have chosen to walk the Salwein Creek Loop twice every day for the past week, as the birds in the forest on the loop draw us back time and time again.
There is so much bird activity at the moment that sometimes when one bird leaves a strategic perch another one immediately takes its place. A Thrush usurped a perch from a Tanager, both slightly silhouetted in the morning sun.


Tanager	Thrush

A Warbling Vireo looked over its shoulder at us and a Black Throated Grey Warbler flitted in to get a snack and peeked at us through the leaves, then turned to continue on its way.


Warbling Vireo	Black Throated Grey Warbler

Black Throated Grey Warbler

A Tanager spent a long time preening on a branch of a Cottonwood tree while a family of Brown Creepers marched up around and around the Cottonwood and other trees nearby.

Tanager Preening


Brown Creeper	Brown Creeper

On the lagoon, one Merganser sleeping, while another preening, paused on a log; then swam off, face down in the water looking for fish, quickly spotted a fish and dived after it.


Merganser Sleeping, Preening	Merganser Sleeping, Pausing

Merganser Fishing	Merganser Diving

A Wood Duck floated by, so bright in the sun, a cavalcade of colour.

Wood Duck Floating

In the morning with the sun, the birds will be up before us, and after awhile we will be up as well and out for our walk in nature.

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September 5, 2007

This week has been busy; our daily walks, not neglected, have turned up some interesting sightings for us. Although it has been said that the Heron leave the reserve for the summer we have been lucky to sight one every time we take a walk.

Great Blue Heron

Today was already quite warm as we walked along near the West Bird Blind and Robins were sunbathing on the gravel paths, giving us looks that said ”Please! Do not interrupt this minute of warmth!”


Robin Sunbathing	Robin Sunbathing

Flickers called and flashed their colours as we wandered around, some eating the berries from the Red Osier Dogwood, some getting insects from the ground and trees.

Flicker

A young Yellow-Rumped Warbler peeked out at us through the leaves and branches in a small tree, its head mottled, still not in adult plumage. A beautiful bird, tiny and quick, gone before we really had a chance to see it clearly.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Cedar Waxwing were, as usual present, with their black masks and bright yellow tail tips and the tiny red barb like tips on their wings were bright and shining.


Cedar Waxwing	Cedar Waxwing

We will see what tomorrow will bring.

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September 3, 2007

The sky was grey, dark and brooding when we arrived at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve this morning. We like to take walks for the fresh air and exercise but it doesn’t hurt to see nature behaving at its best at the same time. We seem to always see the Green Backed Heron first lately and to think that there was a time when we thought that we would never see one. At the lagoon, as we were taking photos of a most obliging male Green Back we were treated to another invasion of the Green Backed Heron kind. As the second one landed, it raised its crest and posed for a second, while behind, the first one got ready to pounce on the intruder. After chasing off the other bird, our obliging male continued to pose for quite awhile, happy that he had done a good job of guarding his territory.

Green Backed Heron - Look Out Behind

After yesterday’s showing of such a variety of birds in the woods on the Salwein Creek Loop, we decided to walk the loop first. Again, the moment we crossed the bridge toward the east bird blind we were treated to an instant vocalization of hundreds of birds. Fall massing for migration is now on. There were warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, downy woodpeckers, chickadees, vireos, robins, sparrows, flickers, wrens, waxwings and this is said with tongue in cheek, a few starlings among others.

Flicker


Tanager	Waxwing

As we made our way down the path, a squirrel hugged a tree and scolded us for disturbing his rest, while a Downy Woodpecker hung upside down on a mossy branch.


Squirrel Scolds	Downy Clings - Yes It Does

The favourite food for all the seed and berry eating birds in the woods today seems to be the berries of the Red Osier Dogwood; they were gobbling them up and eating them like candy. The Dogwood bush across from the east bird blind was full of birds. They hung there, decorating the tree like so many ornaments, their beaks covered in seeds, occasionally looking up at the blind to see what was there. It was a point and shoot kind of day. No matter where you looked, there was a photo of a bird waiting to happen.


Vireo	Robins

Grosbeak	Thrush

While we were getting photos of the birds in the Dogwood bush, a Red-eyed Vireo and a Wren came over beside us to get a closer look and find out what we were up to.


Vireo	Wren

The walk always has to come to an end, but there was time to take a photo of the pretty wild water forget-me-not and jeweled orange impatiens growing at the edge of the Salmon spawning channel, while the Lincoln’s Sparrow peaked around a blade of grass at us and a vibrant red lady bug sat nestled in a wild flower seed head.

Forget-Me-Not & Impatiens


Sparrow	Lady Bug

Then a short visit with Herman, Brenda and Olivier at the Rotary Interpretive Centre before heading home for a very late brunch and sunshine followed us all the way.

If you are in Chilliwack, B.C., go for a walk at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, check out the benches, they are placed around the reserve to sit and have a rest while you are enjoying nature at its best.

A Spot To Rest

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September 2, 2007

Another walk around the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve this morning turned out to be quite eventful for us “twitchers” (Bird Watchers). We were greeted with a Great Blue Heron standing on a post at the edge of the lagoon. He seemed to be surveying his surroundings, lost in thought, meditating.

Great Blue Heron

We decided to walk around the Salwein Creek Loop first this morning and it was a good decision. As we approached the bridge toward the east bird blind, the air came alive with bird’s voices. Most noticeable were the flock of Robins that were diving, flying across our path like arrows and falling from branches too thin to hold them. They were eating berries, chortling, chuckling, laughing (if you can imagine that) and generally making a lot of noise. It is a happy sound, filling the woods with a cacophony of noise. They were a distraction to our viewing causing us to look away from some unknown bird every time one crossed our vision, in the distance we heard the Pileated Woodpecker’s loud voice, calling to its mate. A Flicker shrieked and landed in a tree in front of us, giving us an opportunity to get a beautiful photo. A Downy Woodpecker foraged through the cottonwood and poplar leaves for his breakfast, more likely his lunch for it was already 8:30 A.M.


Flicker	Downy

Bruce spotted a Brown Creeper meandering its way up the trunk of a tree. They are so completely camouflaged and continuously amaze us at their ability to walk straight up the trunks of trees.


Brown Creeper Creeping	Robin Distracting Us

We got around the loop once and stopped on the path back up to the bridge, both of us turned to look back at the trees, the sounds of bird songs, robins chirruping, woodpeckers hammering and calling beckoned us back. We turned simultaneously, looked at each other and smiled as we made our way back into the woods along the path over the bridge.

We were rewarded immediately with a pair of young Grosbeak, more Woodpeckers or the same ones, more Robins, most definitely the same ones, several Sparrows.


Young Grosbeaks	Juvenile Lark Sparrow

After a delightful time in the woods, we came out onto the bridge over Salwein Creek just in time to see a Common Yellowthroat Warbler disappear into the blackberries on the far side of the salmon spawning channel. Other Warblers evaded us in the long grass, their yellow bodies bright in contrast to the greyness of the morning. Just as we were leaving we spotted a young Lazuli Bunting.


Common Yellowthroat Warbler	Juvenile Lazuli Bunting

A nice double loop around the Salwein Creek, and now we are home for the afternoon, watching our resident Rufous “Guard” Hummingbird chase all the other birds out of the yard.

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September 1, 2007

Well, another day comes and with it September. The sky is clear again today, the temperature this morning was cool; at 8 A.M. it was 11.6 C or 53 F depending on your preferences. As we crossed the bridge over the lagoon at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, two Green Backed Heron were landing near the bank. After jockeying for position, they took up strategic fishing spots, making an already lovely landscape come to life.

Green Backed Heron Landing

Further down the path we looked out onto the lagoon and spotted a few young Grebe grouped together. One little fellow seemed to wonder about his friend, who appears to be the cutest of them all.

Grebe

Around the other side of the lagoon, we came across a ‘woolly bear’ caterpillar, shining in the sun, the dew still sparkling on his ‘fur’.

Woolly Bear

A young Mallard floating near a log with an errant tuft of grass growing on it, posed nicely. Not far away were the young Wood Ducks, dabbling in the duck weed on the water.

Mallard

A Cedar Waxwing peeked at us and called to its flock, the yellow of it tail glowed in the sunlight, its mask so crisp and clear.

Cedar Waxwing

At the east bird blind, we saw through the shrubs, a Great Blue Heron grooming itself; when it finished, the elegant bird’s photo produced an eerie effect surrounded by the blurred plants.

Great Blue Heron

At the Salwein Creek loop, warblers flitted through the long grass, the dew still fresh on the leaves. A tiny Sparrow seemed to dance its way around the base of a tree, its crest raised and head tilted listening for insects in the long grass at the base of the tree.


Warbler	Sparrow

As we were leaving, we watched a young Great Blue Heron fly over the lagoon and attempt to land on the top of a young sapling. The branches were too small to hold the big bird; standing in mid air he had seconds to change his mind and take off looking for firmer ground.

Great Blue Heron

We wandered up to the Information Centre, spent a few moments talking to one of the volunteers, they are always so pleasant and they always know what the latest sightings are at the reserve.
We took the dyke road route out of the reserve; one last look showed us a hawk flying over the lagoon.

Hawk

Journal

September, 2007

September 9, 2007

We spotted the Green Backed Heron across the lagoon, fishing from one of its favourite spots.

A Sparrow spent a long time running back and forth on a log over a small pond looking for insects and seeds. Grass overhanging the log; gave it some cover from prying eyes of hawks and photographers.

Chickadees hung from branches, calling dee dee dee while searching for insects and seeds. Grasshoppers sprang out of our way along gravel and grass pathways.

A butterfly landed softly on a red clover and enjoyed a sip of clover nectar.

September 8, 2007

A flycatcher stopped for a second on a Red Osier Dogwood, the berries almost totally picked clean by the migrating birds, while nearby a Steller’s Jay mimicked a hawk with perfect accuracy, so much so that some birds stopped and looked to see where the sound was coming from.

In the Dogwood next to the Rotary Interpretive Centre, a pair of female House Finch stopped, waiting their turn at the Reserve bird feeder. They blended so well with the leaves, that it was difficult to spot them.

Down at the Salwein Creek Loop bridge another mink swam under the bridge out of sight.

September 7, 2007

At the east blind a young Mallard posed regally at the edge of some cattails, absorbing a little morning sun after a nice dip in the lagoon.

While we sat on a bench between the east bird blind and the Salwein Creek bridge, a Steller’s Jay performed aerial acrobatics with his prize (a cluster of hazelnuts). Up through two trunks of a dead tree, he landed perfectly, proud of his flight and his big find.

Along the Salwein Creek, birds, lots of them, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Black Throated Grey Warblers, several other sparrows, warblers, finches and robins, to name a few, gleaned seeds, insects, and berries from the grasses, hardhack and blackberries.

Elated with our day out, we stopped and talked to Walter at the Rotary Interpretive Centre, he was the volunteer at the gift shop for the day and he was full of new information of interest for future reference on our outings.

Have a nice weekend folks, try to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. If you have the time, really try to visit the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, if you want take a picnic lunch, enjoy the day and say hello for us.

September 6, 2007

A Warbling Vireo looked over its shoulder at us and a Black Throated Grey Warbler flitted in to get a snack and peeked at us through the leaves, then turned to continue on its way.

A Tanager spent a long time preening on a branch of a Cottonwood tree while a family of Brown Creepers marched up around and around the Cottonwood and other trees nearby.

On the lagoon, one Merganser sleeping, while another preening, paused on a log; then swam off, face down in the water looking for fish, quickly spotted a fish and dived after it.

A Wood Duck floated by, so bright in the sun, a cavalcade of colour.

In the morning with the sun, the birds will be up before us, and after awhile we will be up as well and out for our walk in nature.

September 5, 2007

This week has been busy; our daily walks, not neglected, have turned up some interesting sightings for us. Although it has been said that the Heron leave the reserve for the summer we have been lucky to sight one every time we take a walk.

Today was already quite warm as we walked along near the West Bird Blind and Robins were sunbathing on the gravel paths, giving us looks that said ”Please! Do not interrupt this minute of warmth!”

Flickers called and flashed their colours as we wandered around, some eating the berries from the Red Osier Dogwood, some getting insects from the ground and trees.

A young Yellow-Rumped Warbler peeked out at us through the leaves and branches in a small tree, its head mottled, still not in adult plumage. A beautiful bird, tiny and quick, gone before we really had a chance to see it clearly.

Cedar Waxwing were, as usual present, with their black masks and bright yellow tail tips and the tiny red barb like tips on their wings were bright and shining.

We will see what tomorrow will bring.

September 3, 2007

As we made our way down the path, a squirrel hugged a tree and scolded us for disturbing his rest, while a Downy Woodpecker hung upside down on a mossy branch.

While we were getting photos of the birds in the Dogwood bush, a Red-eyed Vireo and a Wren came over beside us to get a closer look and find out what we were up to.

Then a short visit with Herman, Brenda and Olivier at the Rotary Interpretive Centre before heading home for a very late brunch and sunshine followed us all the way.

If you are in Chilliwack, B.C., go for a walk at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, check out the benches, they are placed around the reserve to sit and have a rest while you are enjoying nature at its best.

September 2, 2007

Another walk around the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve this morning turned out to be quite eventful for us “twitchers” (Bird Watchers). We were greeted with a Great Blue Heron standing on a post at the edge of the lagoon. He seemed to be surveying his surroundings, lost in thought, meditating.

Bruce spotted a Brown Creeper meandering its way up the trunk of a tree. They are so completely camouflaged and continuously amaze us at their ability to walk straight up the trunks of trees.

We were rewarded immediately with a pair of young Grosbeak, more Woodpeckers or the same ones, more Robins, most definitely the same ones, several Sparrows.

A nice double loop around the Salwein Creek, and now we are home for the afternoon, watching our resident Rufous “Guard” Hummingbird chase all the other birds out of the yard.

September 1, 2007

Further down the path we looked out onto the lagoon and spotted a few young Grebe grouped together. One little fellow seemed to wonder about his friend, who appears to be the cutest of them all.

Around the other side of the lagoon, we came across a ‘woolly bear’ caterpillar, shining in the sun, the dew still sparkling on his ‘fur’.

A young Mallard floating near a log with an errant tuft of grass growing on it, posed nicely. Not far away were the young Wood Ducks, dabbling in the duck weed on the water.

A Cedar Waxwing peeked at us and called to its flock, the yellow of it tail glowed in the sunlight, its mask so crisp and clear.

At the east bird blind, we saw through the shrubs, a Great Blue Heron grooming itself; when it finished, the elegant bird’s photo produced an eerie effect surrounded by the blurred plants.

At the Salwein Creek loop, warblers flitted through the long grass, the dew still fresh on the leaves. A tiny Sparrow seemed to dance its way around the base of a tree, its crest raised and head tilted listening for insects in the long grass at the base of the tree.

As we were leaving, we watched a young Great Blue Heron fly over the lagoon and attempt to land on the top of a young sapling. The branches were too small to hold the big bird; standing in mid air he had seconds to change his mind and take off looking for firmer ground.

We wandered up to the Information Centre, spent a few moments talking to one of the volunteers, they are always so pleasant and they always know what the latest sightings are at the reserve. We took the dyke road route out of the reserve; one last look showed us a hawk flying over the lagoon.

Such a nice start to our September. We are looking forward to sharing more sightings with you.

We wandered up to the Information Centre, spent a few moments talking to one of the volunteers, they are always so pleasant and they always know what the latest sightings are at the reserve.
We took the dyke road route out of the reserve; one last look showed us a hawk flying over the lagoon.