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President’s Ponderings…
At our last meeting, some members brought in copies of the local paper’s announcement of our very own Deb Jack as Surrey’s Good Citizen of the Year. Not only is she our Conservation Chair and Vice President she is also very busy as the President of Surrey Environmental Partners and volunteering with Metro Vancouver Parks. Deb spends many hours attending seminars, meetings and educating herself on a variety of environmental issues ensuring she is a reliable resource in providing education to others. Congratulations Deb…it’s well deserved.
We also gained some local attention from the piece that local reporter, Dan Ferguson, wrote about our efforts at the Serpentine Wildlife Management Area (affectionately aka, the Serpentine Fen)…pictures and all! As it was mentioned, Viveka followed through with the Songbird ID workshop where we identified more than our usual number of bird species. Although they were not all songbirds, I thought it was a good count given the time of year. The next workshop is planned for September at Blackie’s Spit and will introduce us to the shorebirds of the Pacific Flyway.
I hope some of our members and guests present for the On The Line documentary have managed to get some letters off regarding the Enbridge Pipeline and have entered the draw for those lovely prints that were featured at the meeting. So many letters to write on so many issues…my head is swimming!
If you need a break, Frances reminds me that the Eva Bene Garden at Centennial Park is in bloom and is filling in with colour. Searching out hummingbirds and butterflies can be a relaxing past-time for anyone feeling the pressures of our modern lifestyles and activism. And for those who appreciate a little more adventure for distraction remember to check out the Field Trip Calendar inside the newsletter. These walks/hikes are often fun and informative especially if someone in the group remembers to pack along some nature guides…failing that it’s a good idea to always pack a small camera along with a pen and paper (for when the batteries fail in the camera) to record anything you spy that arouses your curiosity.
I hope we will hear some summer tales in the Fall as you head outside to enjoy the warmth and light that summer brings…keep snapping those pictures. And for those of us who really enjoy surfing the web (do they still use that term?) you might like to keep up to date visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WRSnaturalists.
With warm and sunny wishes,
Liz Walking and walking and walking…… (my personal favourite for field trips are those designated A1ai : )
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2012
President Liz Walker [email protected] 604 591 7899
Vice President Deb Jack [email protected] 604 590 3037
Secretary All Schulze [email protected] 604 536 9253
Treasurer Alice Steffensen [email protected] 604 536 5272
Past President Anne Savenye [email protected] 604 581 0284
DIRECTORS AT LARGE Cath Kyle [email protected] 604 882-2158 Esther Johnson [email protected] 604 596-7262
Frances de Montreuil: 604 535-2642
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Membership Pauline O’Toole [email protected] 604 542-0428
Conservation Deborah Jack [email protected] 604 590-3037
Programs Charles Belotte, [email protected] 604 541-4194
Field Trips Sharon Jones [email protected] 604 535-2204
Education Liz Walker Viveka Ohman
[email protected] [email protected]
604 591-7899 604 531-3401
Newsletter
Vera Manilova [email protected] 604 584-2416z
Publicity Audrey Belotte Doreen Bruce
[email protected] 604 541-4194 604 535-5145
Public Relations Marjorie Needles [email protected] 604 531-7147
Archivist Brian Bjarnason [email protected] 604 531-5069
FBCN Representative Esther Johnson Maggie Hamson
[email protected] [email protected]
604 596-7262 604 536-2877
Sunnyside Acres Advisory Committee
Brian Bjarnason [email protected] 604 531-5069
Young Naturalists' Club Lynn Pollard Anthea Farr
[email protected] [email protected]
604 531-6307 604 576-7731
Green Timbers Advisory Committee
Betty Hall [email protected] 604 581-7507
Boundary Bay Conservation Committee
Nan Ames [email protected] 604 596-4547
Campbell Valley Park Association Wim Vesseur [email protected] 604 534-3447
Social Mai Clark, Esther Johnson, Sharon Jones
[email protected] 604 531-1986
Sunshine Cath Kyle
604 882-2158
Greeter Helga Heine 604 535-3008
All correspondence should be sent to PO Box 75044 RPO White Rock, Surrey, BC V4A 0B1 MEETINGS: Sunnyside Community Hall, 1845 154 Street, SURREY, 2nd Thursday of each month at 7.30 p.m. (except July and August)
MEMBERSHIP FEES: Family $44 Single $32
These fees cover the period January 1 to December 31. Newsletters cannot be issued to members whose dues are not current.
Please advise Membership Chairperson of any change of address or phone number.
Submission deadline for next newsletter is September 1st, 2012
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As of May 1st, 2012 you can follow us on acebook !! Please check it out and click the following link: www.facebook.com/WRSnaturalists.
Even when you are not on Facebook, parts of this page will be accessible to you and the general public.
You will find the trips and meetings with details under “events”, photos of the trips under “photos” etc.
Please give us your feedback, stories and photos to share so we can make it a site from us all for us all…
Make sure that on flyers, etc. is the line: "follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/WRSnaturalists" and the Facebook logo are added to reach out to more people in our communities. And if you are already a Facebook-user, don't forget to like us in order to receive updates.
Tineke, [email protected] Tineke, [email protected]
Nest boxes cleanout 2012
In preparation for the impending arrival of the swallows, the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society organized the annual cleanout of the Tree Swallow and Wood Duck nest boxes at the Serpentine Fen. Members of the White Rock & Surrey, Langley and Delta Naturalists’ Societies led by FOSBS Nest Box Coordinator Gareth Pugh volunteered their time to clean out the boxes and record their findings. Most of the nest boxes showed evidence of nesting by Tree Swallows in the previous Spring, as did most of the Wood Duck nest boxes.
FOSBS wishes to thank all the volunteers for their hard work, and also the Surrey store of Wild Birds Unlimited who donated four replacement nest boxes. Anyone interested in participating in the Nest Box Program can call FOSBS at 604 536 3552.
Gareth Pugh, [email protected]
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Ann Avery, Cath Kyle, Gareth Pugh, Leona Breckenridge, Harry Padden at the Serpentine Fen.
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WRSN’s Raptor Workshop at the Serpentine Wildlife Management Area
Saturday, April 7, 2012
The weather was perfect for our raptor workshop at the Serpentine WMA (‘fen”). We began with a PowerPoint presentation on raptor identification and natural history. Various raptor groups were featured including: buteos, accipiters, falcons vultures, eagles, the northern harrier and local owls. In addition, there was a brief introduction to raptor habitat.
The presentation was followed by a walk through the Wildlife Management area to search for raptors. As soon as we stepped out of the classroom, we watched a ‘classic’ Red-tailed Hawk circling overhead, showing us every detail, (even a red-tail!). Later, we found Northern Harriers and Bald Eagles. A Cooper’s Hawk was also spotted that morning.
We hope to repeat the workshop - perhaps in winter when species like the Rough-legged Hawk, Gyrfalcon and Northern Goshawk are about.
A good time was had by all at the beautiful Serpentine WMA.
Al Grass
A Visit to Princeton
Theo and Else Holzken (She was a past president) and I, recently visited Madelon Schouten at her home in Princeton. It was very hot when we arrived. We welcomed a shady spot in her garden enjoying tea with Madelon and the birds flitting about at her feeders. My offering that night for dinner was chicken pot pie. After dinner we went for a walk around Madelon’s property. I commented about the huge “gopher” holes that we were seeing. Madelon grinned and pointed over to an area where dirt was flying in all directions. The “gopher” was her dog, trying to dig to China via Princeton. What a mess! The next day was picnic day. We headed out to a lake and sat observing birds in a bird blind. One bird observed is still unidentified. After the picnic we cooled off in a delightful little restaurant, in downtown Princeton, for afternoon tea. Thoroughly delightful. Else treated us to an Indonesian meal for dinner. We departed the next day.
I thoroughly enjoyed the visit with Madelon, Elsa and Theo. It has been a few years since we had time to spend together. Madelon is still very busy with the Naturalists and keeping her bird population well fed.
Anne Savenye
The club picnic has been changed to AUGUST 25th at Derby Reach Park. Meeting time is 10 am. Please bring food to share. The food should be finger food for ease of serving. Also bring your own beverages. No alcohol is allowed in the park. We will go for a short LEVEL walk, after which we will gather and go to the picnic area.
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Lights, Camera, Action. Get ready to partake in the WRSN Christmas Photo Contest. The categories are as follows: Flora, Fauna, Fun/Abstract, and Landscape. We had a lot of interest and interesting photos for our first photo contest. So get snapping. Who knows…you may be a winner.
Anne Savenye
Songbird ID Workshop Sunday, May 20th, 2012
Many thanks to Viveka for presenting this workshop as part of our Birding Workshop series. Our group consisted of club members and 5 visitors. She gave us a brief overview of bird watching and listening before we headed out for our walk. Interestingly the first bird to catch our attention was an Olive sided Flycatcher perched atop a tree in the picnic area. Described as a primitive songster it seemed really appropriate. As I managed to get it in view with the scope for us to see it quickly flew off to catch an insect…then it returned as quickly to the same perch. I love it when the birds cooperate so well. As we headed out on the walk we heard the song of what sounded like (as one person described it) a Robin on steroids…or another description was a Robin who had had one too many. This is the song of the Black Headed Grosbeak. One songster that we couldn’t spot but only heard was the White crowned Sparrow. We spied cliff, barn, tree and violet green swallows along with 33 other bird species and although most would not be considered songbirds I always stop for the sound of the Canada Geese honking as they fly overhead!
The next workshop that Viveka will present is scheduled for 8 September at Blackie’s Spit where we will learn the finer points of identifying shorebirds.
Below is the list of birds that we sighted on Sunday, May 20th, 2012
1. Olive Sided Flycatcher 2. Cowbird 3. Black Capped Chickadee 4. Hairy Woodpecker 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Cedar Waxwing 7. Robin 8. Black Headed Grosbeak 9. Crow 10. Savannah Sparrow 11. Song Sparrow 12. White Crowned Sparrow 13. Bald Eagle 14. Red Tailed Hawk 15. Killdeer 16. Spotted Sandpiper 17. Gadwall (parents and ducklings) 18. Mallard 19.Canada Goose
20. Hooded Merganser 21. Common Merganser 22. Norther Shoveler 23. American Coot 24. Cinnamon Teal 25. Blue Winged Teal 26. Pied Billed Grebe 27. Violet Green Swallow 28. Tree Swallow 29. Barn Swallow 30. Cliff Swallow 31. Marsh Wren 32. Common Yellowthroat 33. Red Winged Blackbird 34. Brewer's Blackbird 35. Rock Dove 36. Eurasian Collared Dove 37. Great Blue Heron
A hiking trail or a wildlife habitat? Photo: Wim Vesseur Liz Walker
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Cedar Waxwing and Olive Sided Flycatcher. Photo: Wim Vesseur
Wim Vesseur, Alice Steffensen, Viveka Ohman, Al Schulze & Liz Walker at the Serpentine Fen.
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The beach critters
The photos were taken after our Shorekeeper Training sessions on May 4-6. We have done the survey of the training site west of the boat launch in White Rock and the one at the foot of the Coldicutt Trail. We will be doing another survey later in June at 1001 Steps, 24th Ave. and Blackie Spit.
Sharon Jones
The giant pink star and the blood star pictures were taken on May 7, the leopard doris and the sea lemon, the day after. On May 7, Leona, Sharon and I just went down to Coldicott beach to check things out, as we often do. I went back the following day by myself (sea lemon and leopard dorid). No workshop, we are Coldicott beach junkies.
Mai Clark
Blood Star
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Leopard Dorid
Sea Lemon Nudibranch Leona Breckenridge and Sharon Jones admiring the Giant Pink Star
The beach critters photos: Mai Clark.
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Trip Schedule Summer 2012 (Please phone coordinator)
Month Date Day Time Destination Rating Coordinator
July 4 Wed. 7-9 pm
Fort-to-Fort Trail walk with Langley Nats.
A1ai Anne Gosse
604-888-1787
5 Thurs. 6-9 pm Tour to Mt. View Spotted Owl
facilities with Langley Nats. (see newsletter for details)
A1ai
Anne Gosse 604-888-1787
Joan Taylor 604-888-7261
9 Sun. 9-11am
Serpentine Wildlife Management Area (exploring wetland habitats)
A1ai Meet at parking lot
on 44th Ave. (west of Art Knapps)
11 Wed. 7-9 pm
Campbell Valley Reg. Park walk with Langley Nats.
A1ai Jude & Al Grass 604-538-8774
18 Wed. 7-9 pm
Aldergrove Reg. Park walk with Langley Nats
A1ai Bob Puls
604-856-7534
21 Sat. 9-11 am
Semiahmoo Trail to Elgin Park one way downhill – return arranged
A1ai Al Schulze
604-536-9253
25 Wed. 7-9 pm Houston Trail walk with Langley
Nats. A1ai
Anne Gosse 604-888-1787
Joan Taylor 604-888-7261
26 Thurs. 7:30 am
Manning Park – Heather Meadows with Langley Nats.
(alpine flowers) A1ai
Sheila & Bob Puls 604-856-7534
Aug. 1 Wed.
6:30-8:30 pm
Hi Knoll Park walk with Langley Nats.
A1ai Annabel Griffiths
604-530-2778
1 Wed. 9:30 pm
Moonlight Stroll for Lepidoptera at the Eva Bene Garden.
Weather permitting only. A1ai
Frances de Montreuil 604 535-2642
5 Sun. 9-11 am
Serpentine Wildlife Management Area (exploring wetlands habitats)
A1ai Meet at parking lot
on 44th Ave. (west of Art Knapps)
8 Wed.
6:30-8:30 pm
Bryden Lagoon walk with Langley Nats.
A1ai Annabel Griffiths
604-530-2778
Sept. 5 Wed. 7:30 am
Chain Lakes (Mt. Baker area) Border ID, no fresh fruit/veg
C2biv Vreni Blatter 604-536-7376
8 Sat. 7:30 am De Bouville Slough & Minnekhada
Park with Langley Nats. (Green herons)
A1ai Anne Gosse
604-888-1787
9 Sun. 9-11 am Serpentine Wildlife Management
Area (exploring wetlands habitats) A1ai
Meet at parking lot on 44th Ave. (west of
Art Knapps)
15 Sat. 9-11am Hi Knoll Park A1ai
Lynn Pollard 604-531-6307
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15-16 Sat/Sun
Campbell Valley Country Celebration
19 Wed. 7:30am
Skyline Divide (Mt. Baker area) No fresh fruit/veg
C2biv Sharon Jones 604-535-2204
21 Fri.
9:30am-noon
Blackie Spit (shore birds & wintering songbirds)
A1ai Al Grass
604-538-8774
22 Sat. 10:00 am
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup at Mud Bay Park
A1ai Liz Walker
604-591-7899
Meeting place is Softball City unless otherwise noted. Please phone coordinator prior to trip.
Langley Field Naturalists: Field Trips Schedule July/August/September 2012
July 5th, Thursday eve, 6-9 pm Mountain View Spotted Owl Tour Guided Tour We are invited to visit the no. one Conservation Project in North America at Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Society to view their Spotted Owl Facilities. Our tour will include a film, a discussion regarding the Spotted Owl’s future, a view of a Spotted Owl, and then a visit to the Hatching Room, Incubator Room, and the Mouse Room, plus a visit to the Spotted Owl Facility and perhaps the Science Hut. Please meet at Douglas Cress at 5:30 or at the facility at Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre, 23898 Rawlison, Crescent, Langley. Call Anne 604-888-1787 for info.
July 26th, Thursday. Leaders: Sheila & Bob Puls Meet Langley at 7:30 am or Paintbrush top parking lot at 9:30-10:00 am. B.C. Manning Provincial Park - Paintbrush Nature Trail & View Point Loop in Heather Meadows Botany walk. Come join Sheila and Bob Puls as we wander along the lovely alpine meadow trails. This is the time of the first beautiful alpine blush of flowers that grow in our lovely coastal mountains. Let’s wander and see what special alpine beauties we can discover and enjoy wonderful panoramic views. Bring botany books. Weather permitting only.
28 July, Saturday - the LFN Summer Social at the Grass Shack!
September 8th, Saturday. Leader: Josh Inman De Bouville Slough and Minnekhada Regional Park Meet: Meet at 7:30 in Langley or 8:30 corner of Cedar Dr. & Victoria Dr. Coquitlam. Come join Josh Inman as he leads us through a freshwater marsh and slough within this unique birding spot looking for Green Herons! We will take two cars to shuttle back and forth from park to parking spot. Ph: 888-1787 or 532-0455 to let us know to expect you.
15-16th September, Saturday-Sunday. Campbell Valley Country Celebration!!
Sept 21st, Friday. Leader: Leader Al Grass Blackie Spit Park & Crescent Beach 9:30am – 12 noon Come join Birds on the Bay & Langley Field Naturalist. Blackie Spit is always a good place to see waterfowl, gull, shorebirds and wintering song birds. We will explore the Savenye Environmentally Sensitive Area,
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and stroll along the shores of Crescent Beach in search of birds and sea mammals. Dress warmly. Meet 9:00 Douglas Cres or at the parking lot at Blackie Spit parking lot at the end of McBride Street by the kiosk at 9:30am. Phone: Ph 604-538-8774 or 888-1787
Wednesday Evening Summer Walks
July/August/September 2012
Meet at Douglas Park Rec Center at 7:00 pm for car-pooling. Please call leaders for where to meet at the Rec Center or at designated park & to let them know to expect you. The walks are about two hours long and are open to all Naturalist Clubs & members of the public (adults & children, but no pets please). Please wear suitable walking shoes, light jackets, bring water, binoculars and bug spray. 4th July, Wednesday (eve walk) - Fort-to-Fort Trail - 7:00 till 9:00 pm -
Anne Gosse & Joan Taylor - 888-1787 or 888-7261. 11th July, Wednesday (eve walk) - Campbell Valley Regional Park - 7:00 till 9:00 pm –
Jude and Al Grass - 538-8774 18th July, Wednesday (eve walk) - Aldergrove Regional Park- 7:00 till 9:00 pm –
Bob Puls - 856-7534 25th July, Wednesday (eve walk) - Houston Trail - 7:00 till 9:00 –
Anne Gosse - & Joan Taylor - 888-1787 or 888-7261. 01th August, Wednesday (eve walk) - Hi Knoll Park- 6:30-8:30 pm -
Annabel Griffiths - 530-2778 08th August, Wednesday (eve walk) - Bryden Lagoon - 6:30 till 8:30 pm
Annabel Griffiths - 530-2778
Red Admiral at the Eva Bene Garden.
Photo: Laurence Assoignon. Check out the Moonlight Stroll for Lepidoptera; please see the schedule on page 11.
