Twenty two members and two guests participated in this walk to start the new year. We started at Garry Point Park, at the South West corner of Richmond, and walked first around the park and then along Richmond West Dyke to Williams Road and back to Steveston for lunch at Shady Island Sea Food and Bar.

After a couple of days of torrential rain, first day of 2020 turned out be sunny and mild. Due to a high tide most of the marsh was covered with water so we did not see a wide variety of birds that feed in the intertidal area. Snow geese were either resting on higher ground or flying around. It was nice to see and hear a large flock of them flying and calling, first towards north and then back again.

Other notable sightings were two Eurasian Wigeons, a Merlin, couple of Trumpeter Swans and Hooded Mergansers, apart from the usuals such as Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and Great Blue Herons.