Campbell Valley Regional Park, BC

  I visited the Campbell Valley Regional Park, near Langley, for the first time and it was a complete delight.  It is beautiful and the wild birds seem to have little fear of humans.  I would recommend this as an outing to those who love nature, but have mobility problems.  In my opinion, the river loop trail, which is 2.3 km (about 1.5 miles), can be negotiated in a wheel chair.  There are also many benches where it is nice to listen to the bird song in the forest canopy and watch the birds foraging nearby.

Little River Loop Trail

The park is transected by the Little Campbell River.  The north entrance (off 16th Avenue) is built around the loop trail.  It is probably a second growth forest with some mature and old growth trees.  The south entrance of the park is off 8th Avenue and is part of the Rowlatt Heritage Site (a historic farm site), with meadows surrounded by forest remnants.

  

Little Campbell River

The Little Campbell River is a meandering stream, mostly hidden by grasses and willows this time of year.  There were Purple Martins flying over the water.  Nearer the stream, itself, were dragonflies.  

The understory of the forest is a lush, riparian habitat.

Nootka Rose

The understory is rich with Vine Maple, sapling Big Leaf Maples, and Alders.

The upper canopy layers are dominated by towering Cottonwoods, Douglas Firs, Red Cedars, and Western Hemlocks.

As I walked along the trail, I heard many calls of Swainson's Thrush, Robins, Black-Capped Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, and many others.

Douglas Squirrel.  These little guys will get right in your face.  They expect food.

Black-Headed Grosbeak

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Black-Capped Chickadee.  

As I continued to come upon unafraid birds, it became apparent that they are being fed sunflower seeds.  The shells of sunflower seeds are scattered all along the 2.3 km of the trail.  

Song Sparrow

The south entrance of Campbell Valley Regional Park (off 8th Avenue) has a completely different feel.  There is a pond that reminds me of a small Japanese Garden or of Monet's Giverny.  It is planted with flowers for attracting butterflies.  There are meadowlands and an historic farm.  

Lorquin's Admiral: Limenitis lorquini

This butterfly's hosts are willow and cottonwood.  It is a feisty insect and will even defend its territory against birds.

The pond is host to two turtles and at least (judging by the croaking) six large bullfrogs.  

Rowlatt Heritage Site

Historic Farm

Barn Swallows Insect Hunting

I will be returning to Campbell Valley Regional Park.  I want to see it in the other seasons.  I hope that I have convinced you to look into this gem of a nature reserve.

Tree Quiz: Do you know trees by their bark?

Most of us are able to recognize our local trees by their leaves.  In the fall and winter, suddenly these same trees look unrecognizable.  It's possible, however, to know your trees all year round, if you know them by their bark.  As I walk my neighborhood or nearby park, I try to name all the trees.
This has given me a baseline for the ecology of the region.

Your bird watching will also improve immensely when you note the trees where the birds were found.  Writing in your field journal, "I saw a Purple Finch calling," doesn't say much.  How about, "Purple Finch made alarm calls 5 meters up the Red Cedar in the back yard.  He flies down, out-of-sight."  Now check your journal for past entries where Purple Finches appear.  You'll get a better idea where to find them in the future. (Also check for the local Sharp-Shinned Hawk that scared the finch.)

Here is a little quiz.  See if you can identify the trees by their bark.  Answers will be at the end of the blog.

1. Hint - Found in California

2. Northwest Native

3.  Northwest Native

4. Northwest Native

5. European Origin

6. Northwest Native; favorite of lumber industry

7. Northwest Native, traditional tree of the Salish Peoples

8. Northwest Native

9. Northwest Native

10. Northwest Native, a pioneer species

Hopefully you had some fun and the clues helped.

Answers:  1. Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 2. Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) 3. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)  4. Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis  5. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)  6. Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)  7. Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) 8. Big-Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)  9. Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)  10. Red Alder (Alnus rubra)