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Our June Bird Walk was led again this year by Don Burton. Aside from a couple of notable late migrants at the end of he walk, all the birds we found were summer or year round residents. We first headed north in the park to check the wooded areas. Bird activity was generally low there, but we managed to find both Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos along with Downey Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. We looped over by the Power House to check on the Cooper’s Hawks. The nest is now very difficult to see, but some of us managed to see the adult female, as well as glimpses of the young in the nest.
In the harbour area, the Red-Necked Grebes were courting and guarding their nest. Overhead, we found 5 of the 6 possible swallow species (we only missed Bank), as well as both Common and Caspian Terns.
We searched the lake unsuccessfully for the Brant that had been present the day before, but did find a pair of Long-tailed Ducks. They are common winter residents, but by June, they should be in the Arctic.
Along the shore we found a pair of Spotted Sandpipers trying to distract us away from their chicks. At the southern headland there were a pair of Dunlin: two more birds that should be in the Arctic tundra by now.
Although the birds weren’t exactly plentiful, we managed to tally 42 species for the morning.
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