Friday, 14 July 2017

Jackman Wetland Aldergrove

June 23 2017 
Jackman Wetlands
 Aldergrove BC.


I can't believe I worked in Langley for well over twenty years and never birded Jackman Wetlands. I've birded Point Pelee, took a train to bird Churchill Manitoba and drove and ferried to St Mary's Ecological Reserve Newfoundland but never Langley's Jackman Wetlands.
Back in the day when I was actively employed by the Langley Times I covered a story about methane gas extraction from the old garbage dump that now makes up part of the Jackman site. On this visit the same machinery lay toppled over and rusting in the bushes. There was little evidence of the thousands of tonnes of garbage that was once dumped there. Presumably the methane and assorted garbage is still percolating underground. Meanwhile my erstwhile birding companion Carlo G pointed out the singing House Wren way up in a tree, I would have probably missed the bird had I birded on my own. Thanks Carlo.

House Wren

The path to Jackman Wetlands was quite birdy but the best action was at the gravel pit ponds where a May and Damsel Fly hatch was in full swing, an important event for the many fledging barn swallows and cedar waxwings eagerly awaiting to be fed.



Barn Swallows


Family Gathering

Jackman Wetlands, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Jun 23, 2017 10:42 AM - 11:13 AM
Protocol: Stationary
21 species

Canada Goose  9
Mallard  1
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Sora  1
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Willow Flycatcher  2
Northwestern Crow  5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  6
Tree Swallow  10
Violet-green Swallow  3
Barn Swallow  10
Swainson's Thrush  2
American Robin  2
Cedar Waxwing  30
Common Yellowthroat  4
Yellow Warbler  1
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Black-headed Grosbeak  2
Red-winged Blackbird  6
House Finch  1
Cedar Waxwing drops a dragonfly.



O Ave  272 St

Afterwards we popped down to nearby 0 Ave and 274, the most southern edge of Aldergrove Regional Park where we found a good selection of birds including Willow Flycatchers, American Goldfinch, Common Yellowthroats, Eurasian-Collared Doves and a marauding Cooper's Hawk.
Cooper's Hawk

Willow Flycatcher

                     By noon it was just too hot to bird and time for an afternoon siesta, who knows what the evening might bring

"It never too late to stop birding"
John Gordon
Langley Cloverdale
BC Canada

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3 comments:

  1. Unknown15 July 2017 at 18:14

    John, Glad you had a good day at Jackman! We live only a few minutes from there and have only just discovered it too! My understanding that the park has only been there for a couple of years.
    There is now a family of Pied-billed Grebes. A single had been reported before, but I think the other parent was on the nest. The 5 young were out earlier this week. They looked to be only days old! Cheers!

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  2. John Gordon16 July 2017 at 20:24

    Hi Robin,
    I didn't have had a chance to go this week but I did see some pictures of the grebe and chicks. Thanks for reading and letting me know about your sightings, enjoy your summer.

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  3. Melissa Hafting17 July 2017 at 03:10

    Good on Carlo for finding the house Wren can't believe how many there are now in the lower mainland my dad has them breeding in his yard this year cheers

    ReplyDelete