Dry conditions with a mix of sun and cloud greeted the Nature Vancouver Birding field trip at Iona Beach Regional Park on September 28. Fifteen birders joined Neill Vanhinsberg and Jan Lowcock for a morning outing covering the accessible outer ponds, adjacent beach area and woodland trails. We identified 31 species including the Glossy/White-faced Ibis which had been reported previously by Neill. Our quest for the Gray Catbird, seen on each of the previous two days, wasn’t successful, but we tried! There were an impressive number of Double- crested Cormorants in several large flying flocks, almost 700 in total. The wind picked up near the end of our walk as we were treated to good views of Savannah Sparrows and a female Anna’s Hummingbird.

Thanks to everyone who came out for adapting to a route change at the start, due to the locked park gate. We were rewarded with a sighting of the Ibis.