July 4 - Another visit to Cheam Wetlands and Great Blue Heron Reserve

Once again, I had a late afternoon tee time at Chilliwack Golf course and took the opportunity to meet Mary-Jean at Cheam in the morning. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to charge her camera batteries the night before, so she had only an hour or so of camera life.

Cheam Wetlands Regional Park

We started by scanning the lake, where I captured this Wood Duck. The item in front of him is a rock, but it looks like a giant acorn in the shot.


Wood Duck - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

Nearby were a flock of Mallards dabbling on the lake.


Mallards - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

A Turkey Vulture was soaring overhead, I'd seen my first of the year as I drove into the Park. This was probably the same bird.


Turkey Vulture - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC - 2020 Bird #102



One of my better shots of the day was of this colourful female Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird (F) - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

I'd seen my first Cowbird of the year the previous week. There were a couple more today. These both look like males, perhaps father and son?

Brown-headed Cowbird - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

I'd seen my first Eastern Kingbird of 2020 here last week, but only had one poor photo. Today, I had a few better shots.  It is tough to get great photos of this species unless they are close and the light is good. Today's shots are somewhat better.

Eastern Kingbird - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

This next one shows the distinctive tail pattern. Unfortunately the bird is a bit out of focus.

We briefly saw a common Warbler and once again, the shot was not great. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

Here's a better shot of a slower moving target.

Western Painted Turtle - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

When the Cedar Waxwings appear, the photography gets easier.

Cedar Waxwing - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

We were on a roll now as a Yellow Warbler put in a brief appearance.

Yellow Warbler - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

My last shot at Cheam was one of the best, a small unidentified Frog.

Frog (sp)  - Cheam Lake Regional Park, Chilliwack BC

Great Blue Heron Reserve

I didn't have too much time to spend here, but there were a few highlights. This turtle looks very similar to the one we saw at Cheam. But this is a better photo.

Western Painted Turtle - Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack BC

There were also Cedar Waxwings here. I like the interaction in this shot. I am not sure if this was a parent/child interaction or maybe male/female.

Cedar Waxwings - Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack BC

There were a few other birds around, here's a Chickadee.

Black-capped Chickadee - Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack BC

And next was a Downy Woodpecker.

Downy Woodpecker - Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack BC

And finally the bird the Reserve is named after:

Great Blue Heron - Great Blue Heron Reserve, Chilliwack BC

That was the and of birding for the day., I was off to the nearby Chilliwack Golf Course, where birds and birdies were both scarce.