Trip report by Jan Lowcock

Cool, strong winds greeted 23 Nature Vancouver field trips participants who joined Neill and Jan for exploration of the Burnaby Foreshore Park. We began at the foot of Byrne Road and headed west, moving away from the Fraser River, towards a pond and shelter from the breeze. The pond yielded Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Wood Ducks and Gadwall. Adjacent bushes gave us wrens, towhees, Bushtits and sparrows. Yellow-rumped Warblers, kinglets, Northern Flickers and Downy Woodpeckers were spotted at the edges away from the river. The photographers captured a perching male Rufous Hummingbird with it’s flashing, iridescent gorget.

Returning toward the river, we observed a Great Blue Heron feeding on small fish near the shore. We added Green-Winged Teal to our duck list and watched Violet-green Swallows over the log booms.  The sun was perfectly positioned for more photos of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

We returned to the parking lot and a smaller party continued on for a loop of the Estuary area, one kilometre upriver.  Species number 40 on Neill’s list was a singing Purple Finch. An Osprey flew over very near the railway trestle.  

As our eBird list totalled 42 species, the winds eased and the temperature rose for the finish of our walk. Thanks to everyone who came out.