Tag: Burnaby Mountain

More birding at Burnaby Mountain

After a meeting at SFU I went birding at Burnaby Mountain, but this time through the residential area. Scanning some trees at the edge of a big parking lot I finally got my first view of the Golden-crowned Kinglet, a tiny 4″ bird who usually resides at the top of trees.

Just when I ruminated, “well, I saw all the birds I had last week on the forest trails except for the Pileated Woodpecker“, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker. It was standing on a large tree stump, close by, splendid as always.

Birding Burnaby Mountain

The Burnaby Mountain forest was quiet most of the time, with the occasional worthwhile sighting.

The first bird I saw was a lovely, tiny rodent.
The second bird was a dazzling Pileated Woodpecker in flight, who perched to allow a novice birder an identification.

As I was trying to ID some sparrows on a tree, handsome Wilson’s Warbler popped-up and said: “Hello! Are you trying to see ME? Here I am!”
These Sparrows were hiding, but I had 3 Savannah Sparrows at Centennial Park.

A Raven called, first from a distance, then getting nearer; he then came flying and landed on a nearby tree and I saw his tail; he saw me, got a little scared and had to leave right away.

Turning from Mel’s trail to Trans Canada trail I encountered a Black Bear!
The bear wished for a quite trail. I made noise. A cyclist showed up and ventured in the reported bear direction, then a couple of hikers. I figured the bear went to seek some privacy elsewhere and continued my walk.

After the bear came a small Coyote, an Eastern Gray Squirrel and a Douglas Squirrel. In some trips the mammals are as good as the birds.

Exploring Burnaby Mountain

I had to return some books to the SFU library which is on top of Burnaby Mountain, so I brought my binoculars and toured around. Signs of woodpeckers but I saw none. Fresh Bear scats right on the edges of campus. But no Bear welcomed me on the trail either.

The best spot of the day was at a small place near UniverCity where there’s access to a river. Some tiny rodent scurry near my feet there. I saw Wilson’s Warbler, American Goldfinch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pine Siskin and some other little birds I couldn’t identify. On the trail itself I hardly saw anything.

An American Robin almost attacked me.
His companion Robin managed to call with two berries in his/her beak.

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