Hi All

The 6 mi loop is along a series of dikes between the N & S Alouette
(appropriately named) rivers in Pitt Meadows BC

A big change has occurred in the number of Spring arrivals since I was
last out on Saturday.

The most noteworthy was the sighting of a Bullock's Oriole and a Western
Tanager within 20 ft of each other. The bushes alongside some areas of
the dike were swarming with Wilson's Warblers and another rush of
Yellow-rumped Warblers.

The skies overhead were filled with Barn swallows which was a nice sight
considering that they were in short supply last week.

I also watched a Bald Eagle dive on a couple Buffleheads and then chase
them directly towards me along the river. This eagle is one of the pair
that have a nest in the area which appeared to be still active when I
rode by it although I could only see one of the adults on the nest.

Not far from the eagle's nest there was an Osprey that was not having
very good luck with it's fishing.

The Municipality was busy ripping out most of the tall bushes on the
outside shoulder of the dikes. This was supposed to be for the purpose
of digging out Muskrat burrows but it was wrecking a lot of bird habitat
at the same time.

All in all, it was still a good day now that the spring arrivals have
finally started to show up en masse.

Good birding all

Roger Craik
Maple Ridge BC
east of Vancouver
next to Pitt Meadows