September 6 - Part 2 - Last of Cheam, Sardis Park and Browne Creek Woodlands

I had to split this post in two due to some really weird behavior by the "new and improved" Blogger. After the Kingfisher, another bird flew over. I thought it was a Crow at first, but I've concluded it was a Common Raven, mostly based on the size and the shape of the tail.

Common Raven - Cheam Lake Wetlands, Chilliwack BC

Here's the last two shots from Cheam, a Great Blue Heron and a Water Lilly.

Sardis -  Leucistic Crow and other oddities

From Wikipedia - Leucism is a term used to describe a wide variety of conditions which result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—which causes white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but not the eyes. It is not the same as albinism, which is a complete loss of pigmentation.

Mary-Jean knew of this crow which was residing in Sardis Park. Upon arrival, we spotted the bird immediately, close to where we'd parked.

American Crow (Leucistic) - Sardis Park, Chilliwack BC

There's a nice pond at Sardis Park, and it was full of ducks and geese and possibly a beaver or two.

This duck was quite interesting, it looks like a female Mallard/hybrid.

Mallard (F) - Sardis Park, Chilliwack BC

This Canada Goose is partially leucistic.

Canada Goose  (Leucistic) - Sardis Park, Chilliwack BC

After leaving the park we had to make a detour into Sardis so I could buy some fresh blueberries to take home. In behind the location we saw some animatronic dinosaurs. They may have been testing them for a parade or similar event.

Browne Creek Wetlands

I followed Mary-Jean to this location, just past the turnoff to Cultus Lake, heading towards Yarrow. I'd never visited here before. It wasn't the most successful site of the day, but we did see a few species, starting with this merganser just across a creek from us. It is in non-breeding plumage.

Common Merganser - Browne Creek Wetlands, Chilliwack BC

Nearby was the Turtle putting on a display:

Western Painted Turtle - Browne Creek Wetlands, Chilliwack BC

The last clear shot was the chin of this woodpecker.

Downy Woodpecker - Browne Creek Wetlands, Chilliwack BC

We heard and saw a flock of birds high up in the trees overhead. It was hard to get a clear shot. My best guess is that they were Common Redpolls, a lifer for Mary-Jean, assuming I was correct. The second shot is what convinced me.

Common Redpoll -  - Browne Creek Wetlands, Chilliwack BC - 2020 Bird #109

There is a hint of red on the forehead in this shot.

This is the same shot, brightened up.

And finally, the last thing we saw was this former Wasp nest.

It was an interesting day with good sightings at three different locations.