The sky was getting brighter by the second as we gathered just before 5am to listen to the dawn chorus. We were just in front of the Nature House at Piper Spit and the birds were in full song. Circling us, three American Robins sang loudly. So loud in fact, it was hard to hear the other birds. Through the din we could hear a Western Warbling Vireo behind us and at least one, perhaps two Song Sparrows and a calling but not singing Swainson’s Thrush. A Black-headed Grosbeak sang tentatively nearer the water. And distantly, we could hear a Pacific Wren, usually the loudest bird in the woods, while a Spotted Towhee sang out there somewhere in the woods. Two folks nearer the lake were lucky enough to hear a MacGillivray’s Warbler. By 5:10 the Robins had quieted down and only the furthest bird still sang. Finally, in the distance, the beautiful flute-like, spiraling song of a Swainson’s Thrush could be heard.

As the sky brightened, we moved off toward the boardwalk to see what we could find on the water. Calling loudly and insistently, a Virginia Rail first attracted our attention. Even though the bird was less than 2 metres off the boardwalk, we could not see it no matter what angle we tried to get on it. Giving up on seeing the Rail, we noticed a male Wood Duck already in eclipse plumage and looking quite unkempt. Red-winged Blackbirds called and flew about us while a couple Brown-headed Cowbirds poked about on the ground for food. Three or four of us who happened to be looking in the right direction saw a Merlin blow by at speed and out of sight in seconds.

Heading east down Brunette Headwaters Trail

Moving off down the trail to the east, we could hear many birds. A Willow Flycatcher, Purple Finches, Swainson’s Thrushes, an Orange Crowned Warbler, and a Western Flycatcher could all be heard a little way down the trail. Soon we came across the first of many Rufous Hummingbirds and Cedar Waxwings. We found many Cedar Waxwings and everyone eventually got a good look at some. We forged ahead clocking many of the same birds. We did see some Swainson’s Thrushes and heard many singing.

A Willow Flycatcher eyes their next meal.

By this point we had split into two groups, some folks unable to move on from a good look at a bird. Both groups separately saw a Pileated Woodpecker fly over and within a hundred metres we had come together again. A male Pileated was soon spotted on a snag. He was busily excavating a nest hole. We watched as he jumped headfirst into the hole and then popped his head out a moment later, chucking out wood chips. We watched this for a while and then a second bird was seen landing on the same snag. So cool.

Three views of a male Pileated Woodpecker at his nest hole.

We continued on east along the trail, finding more Waxwings and Hummingbirds. Eventually we came to an area with more conifers than deciduous trees. A group of Golden-crowned Kinglets were spotted flying off, though a couple stayed long enough for a few people to get a look. We could hear a Black-throated Grey Warbler singing and eventually we spotted him fairly low down, getting good views of this tree top dweller.

On our way back, some folks at the head of the group were lucky enough to see a male Black-headed Grosbeak just above eye level – a stunning bird.

Back at our starting point, we decided the highlights of the walk were the Virginia Rail calling so close to us, the Pileated Woodpecker nest construction, and the clear views of the Black-throated Grey Warbler.

Between us we found 37 species. Our eBird list is here https://ebird.org/checklist/S349534480

Is it a Willow Flycatcher? A Swainson’s Thrush?