New birds from the hotel window were Bushtits (several were also found later in the day.) Still raining quite heavily so started our day with a big breakfast in a traditional diner, “Hamburger Mary’s”, whilst walking to Stanley Park. On the way we had our first Black-capped Chickadees and American Robins, as well as the only non-melanistic Grey Squirrel of the day.
Just before the park, on the first beach, we saw Pelagic Cormorants and a single Double-crested Cormorant as well as several Great Blue Herons . At the park we walked the northern side of the Lost Lagoon, noting Mute Swans, Mallards, American Herring Gulls, Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Canada Geese.
We then headed to the Aquarium to avoid the rain, emerging a few hours later when the rain had stopped. After filling with a typical American Hotdog, we began a stroll in an anti-clockwise direction around the edge of the park. We had intended to walk half of it and then cut back through the middle, but missed our exit and ended do the lot, a total of over thirteen miles, the last half of it in hot sunshine. Tired, we had a traditional fish and chips at “Mr Pickwick’s” before walking another mile back to our hotel, along the beach, eventually arriving in the dark. Michelle and Sam were fortunate to see a Mouse sp. on the way.
Additional birds and mammals seen on the walk:
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-throated Grey-warbler – seen by the Totem Poles.
Bald Eagle – the first of many.
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-billed Gull
Harbour Seal – mother with pup at the start of the walk.
“Black” Squirrel
