14 intrepid birders joined leaders Harvey Dueck and Michelle Baudais for a morning of birding in Ambleside Park. The weather was much better than forecast: calm with no rain until 10:30am and then only a light mist.

The birds were much more cooperative than they had been for the 2024 Christmas Bird Count a few weeks earlier. We found 31 species (eBird checklist) including a female Pileated Woodpecker, two Belted Kingfishers and a flock of pretty Bonaparte’s Gulls. The gulls were part of a dense group on the water near the mouth of the Capilano River. Likely there was a bait ball under the gulls and perhaps under the nearby raft of Surf Scoter.

Surprisingly, we didn’t see any eagles and few small birds were active along the railway tracks. Perhaps they were off somewhere celebrating the holidays.

It was great to see a lot of familiar faces as well as a few new ones. Two participants took advantage of the loaner binoculars so we were glad to have them along. A birding outing is a lot more pleasant with decent optics that show the birds clearly. Thanks to everyone who came for making it a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning!