March 16th to 21st 2010
The Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack, B.C., Canada was alive with activity over the last week on our walks.
Red-winged Blackbirds were found around every corner.
Black-capped Chickadees are starting to nest and were also found easily.
Double-crested Cormorants are still visiting; this one was on a log on a dark, rainy day.
A pair of Downy Woodpeckers was found along the Salwein Creek Loop on several days of our walks.
The resident Bald Eagles are nesting now; one always stands guard near the nest while the other sits on the eggs.
Northern Red-shafted Flickers popped out of the tops of stumps and paused to preen, showing the colours hidden when they rest.
We found a clump of Frog’s Eggs on the 16th; we have seen them every day since.
Stumps that have a hollow in the top are sprouting Canada Geese as they start their nesting time.
Pied-billed Grebes were found near the East Bird Blind.
Red-tailed Hawks flew over our heads almost every day.
We are surprised to see more Juncos than we usually have been seeing.
Mallards looked calm and happy in many locations on our walks.
Common Mergansers were easily found on logs, fishing or just paddling past.
A male Hooded Merganser slept quietly in some grass in the slough near the heronry until a pair of mallards woke him up.
The Great Horned Owl was happy on its nest; we watched it turning its eggs for a short time.
A female Purple Finch called to her mate telling us as well where she was.
Ring-necked Ducks paddled past us turning to take a look as they sailed by.
American Robins are very common now. They are a fun bird to photograph.
Song Sparrows danced and sang their way around the edges of the paths that we wandered.
Tree Swallows stopped to look in nest boxes and rest after their search for insects.
We had our first sighting of the season of a Violet-Green Swallow.
Green-winged Teal foraged for food behind the East Bird Blind.
American Wigeon were also found on several days.
Wood Ducks were checking out holes in trees and Wood Duck boxes for nesting sites. It is still a strange feeling to find a duck in a tree.
Coltsfoot, Violets, Oregon Grape and Lonicera are blooming now; we can expect the Rufous Hummingbird that has been visiting the feeder at the Rotary Interpretive Centre to visit the Lonicera soon.
We were walking along when a little Mink tip-toed across the path and stopped in the Salwein Creek. It dived into the water and popped its head up several times, through the matted grasses that grow in the creek, looking for all the world like one of those games with pop up heads. Then it carried on down the stream to pop out onto the shoreline. We enjoyed watching it check out different locations before it dived back into the water out of sight.
We enjoyed visits with Janet, Mike, Val, Marla, Muriel, Alice, Jenny, Bill, Delia, Wayne, Pearl, Walter, Gordon, Scott and Karen. We said a quick hello to Janne from the Chilliwack Field Naturalists; they were going for a walk with Scott on the 20th. We waved to Dawn and the Pathfinders working along the pathway eradicating long blackberry runners from the edges of the paths.
We are not authorities on birds, wildlife, plants, cameras or photography, if you are doing research on any subjects, please refer to a more educational site for advice and double-check whatever you research.
Back To Top
|
