Submitted by Neill Vanhinsberg.

Fifteen folks came out on a cool, showery morning to Queen Elizabeth Park and for a change no one was playing pickleball in the adjacent courts. Most of the participants were quite new to birding and we handed out 6 pairs of loaner binoculars which were much appreciated.

We headed off first to a Jack pine that has been recently frequented by a Red-breasted Sapsucker. No bird but there was plenty of evidence of sapsuckers enjoying the sap of the tree in the past and recently. The first birds we spotted were a flock of Bushtits near the mini-golf office and a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging in some trees along the golf course fence line. Perhaps not the easiest birds to start practicing your binocular skills on. As we headed down the hill along the path by the lawn bowling area we heard a Varied Thrush singing. We caught up with the bird about 200m away below the restaurant singing from the top of a tall cedar. Most of the group were able to get a glimpse before it flew down into another tree. It was remarked on how loud the song was and how far it carried. We continued along, spying some American Wigeons grazing on the grass by the little quarry duck pond and were treated to the explosive song of a Pacific Wren. As we headed back to our starting point a Pacific Wren popped out for us to see. In the shade of the cedars, we didn’t get great views but one certainly got the impression that they are active little dynamos. As we neared the end of our walk a Fox Sparrow, some Song Sparrows and Spotted Towhees were seen foraging in the rose garden. The last bird to make an appearance was a male Anna’s Hummingbird. We didn’t keep a list for this walk. Maybe the next one! Thanks to everyone who attended.