Young Birder Trip to Manning Park (July 2025)
Young Birders at Manning Park - Photo: Sandra Palbiski
We had a great trip to Manning Park on July 20th with 11 youth present. One child who had signed up was ill.
We took the large rental 8 seater suv from Richmond with a second pick up stop in Chilliwack. We met 3 children at Manning Park as well. On the drive up we had an Osprey and some Evening Grosbeaks, on the side of the road, near Sumalla Grove. We also had a Mule Deer on the side of the road!
The kids were all excited and hyped for the trip, despite the early start. We arrived at Lightning Lake and Sandra and Julia showed us a flock of 12 Evening Grosbeaks that they had found near the pit toilets.
Evening Grosbeaks at Lightning Lake at E.C. Manning Park, BC. - Photo: Raymond Liu
Male Evening Grosbeak at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
Evening Grosbeaks at Manning Park - Photo: Toby Ye
The youth delighted in them but delighted just as much, if not more, in the Columbian Ground Squirrels, that were running all over. There seemed to be more of them than ever this year. Luckily we didn’t witness any of them cannibalizing each other, as they tend to do with their young, sometimes.
Columbian Ground Squirrel at Lightning Lake at Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu
Columbian Ground Squirrel at Manning Park - Photo: Bentley Colwill
We saw a Spotted Sandpiper, several Barn Swallows and a Common Loon stealing fish from fishermen. There was also a Ring-billed Gull and some Canada Geese.
After meeting up with all participants we drove over to Spruce Bay Beach to go for a walk. We had Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets and got Mountain, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees and Olive-sided Flycatchers and Western Flycatchers. We also had Varied, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes and Pacific Wrens singing. There were many Evening Grosbeaks calling. We also had Townsend’s, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers singing and a couple Lincoln and Chipping Sparrows.
Townsend’s Warbler at Lightning Lake at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
Yellow-rumped Warbler at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
Lincoln’s Sparrow at Manning Park - Photo: Paul Jacques
When we got to the Rainbow Bridge we had a Belted Kingfisher flying around calling and a female Barrow’s Goldeneye. We also had 3 Common Loons (2 adults and their very large chick).
Female Barrow’s Goldeneye at Lightning Lake - Photo: Heather T.
The weather was beautiful and very hot, when we were at the lake and the green hues of the lake were brilliant to witness.
Beautiful and peaceful Lightning Lake in Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu
Lightning Lake at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
On our way out, we had a Western Tanager, Warbling Vireo and lots of Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches. We next headed to Strawberry Flats and ate our packed lunches.
As we were eating lunch at the warming hut (that was not turned on of course), Bentley spotted a Rufous Hummingbird. Sandra and Julia spotted a rare for the area White-breasted Nuthatch with some Red-breasteds! Naomi’s sharp ears picked up a Sooty Grouse hooting.
We set out on the trail and headed down towards Skyline Trail. Paul spotted some Black Swifts flying overhead. There were lots of beautiful flowers out and wild strawberries, in the aptly named “Strawberry Flats.” The youth were also seeing lovely butterflies such as the Silvery Blue and the rare Hoffmann’s Checkerspot.
Columbia Tiger Lily at Strawberry Flats - Photo: Toby Ye
Western Columbine at Strawberry Flats, Manning Park - Photo: Toby Ye
Field Crescent butterfly at Strawberry Flats - Photo: Bentley Colwill
Hoffmann’s Checkerspot at Strawberry Flats - Photo: Bentley Colwill
The Silvery Blue Butterfly at Strawberry Flats at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
On our walk, we also had a Bald Eagle and Cooper’s Hawk fly over. We were surprised not to see an American Three-toed Woodpecker on the walk but as we got to base of the ski hill, we had a Hammond’s Flycatcher, putting on a show and Alaina spotted a male Lazuli Bunting! The male was singing and flying around. It is the first time I have seen that species in the park. We also had a male MacGillivray’s Warbler, Pine Siskins and a loud Olive-sided Flycatcher calling; at this very birdy spot on the trail.
Hammond’s Flycatcher at Strawberry Flats - Photo: Paul Jacques
Hammond’s Flycatcher at Strawberry Flats in Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
Pine Siskin posing for the youth at Strawberry Flats at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
We then headed back out and had a pair of beautiful Western Tanagers that were flycatching and all 3 thrush species. We also saw Juncos, Cedar Waxwings, Rufous Hummingbirds and more Mountain and Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We shockingly did not see any Canada Jays here!
Male Western Tanager at Strawberry Flats in Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
Mountain Chickadee at Strawberry Flats at Manning Park - Photo: Heather T.
When we got back to our car we had a weird bug on our car! It turned out to be a Whitespotted Sawyer Beetle. Unfortunately, we noticed many of the trees there had turned red and were dying and it is because of a Hemlock Looper Moth and a White-spotted Sawyer Beetle infestation. So although the bug looks cool they are doing a lot of significant damage both the larvae and adults are killing the trees by eating the bark. It was quite sad to see just how many trees were damaged and dying in the park.
Whitespotted Sawyer Beetle at Manning Park - Photo: Toby Ye
We next drove up the road to Cascade Lookout. On the route up, Paul spotted a male Sooty Grouse strutting and hooting on the side of the road.
Male Sooty Grouse at Strawberry Flats at Manning Park, BC - Photo: Toby Ye
As we continued up the road, we got to the lookout, where all we saw were Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels and Yellow-Pine Chimpmunks. We did not see any Clark’s Nutcrackers which are normally there. We figured they must be nesting and not interested in people’s handouts since they have cached food and are probably feeding the young insects.
Road beneath us as we looked down from Cascade Lookout - Photo: Raymond Liu
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel at Cascade Lookout at Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu
Yellow-pine Chipmunk at Cascade Lookout at Manning Park, BC - Photo: Heather T.
Raymond kept us cheery though, as he talked about his fabulous recent trip to China and all the endemics he saw there and Heather told us about her awesome science summer camp and love of rocks. Naomi and Raymond talked about their birding camps at Alberta’s Beaverhill and Ontario’s Long Point. The youth have an exciting summer ahead!
We continued the drive up towards the end of the road at Alpine Meadows and the Heather Trail admiring the beauty all the way up.
The drive up is lovely to Alpine Meadows and the Heather Trail at Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu
Manning Park is a beautiful place - Photo: Heather T.
We walked around the top loop of the Heather Trail and Luis and Cole spotted a male Cassin’s Finch right on the trail. Sadly, it took off pretty quickly so that no one was able to snag a photo.
As we continued on, Leo spotted a group of Sooty Grouse, clucking softly on the trail. It was a hen with her chick. As we were watching them, two more young came bounding out, running as fast as their little legs could take them, as they crossed the path and jumped up high in front of us! It was a great sight, which the youth just loved.
Sooty Grouse hen at Alpine Meadows on the Heather Trail with arctic lupines at Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu
1 of 3 Sooty Grouse chicks on the Heather Trail at Manning Park - Photo: Leo J.
Sooty Grouse Hen at Manning Park - Photo: Leo J.
Many wildflowers were out in bloom from Indian Paintbrush to Mountain Indian Paintbrush, Arctic Lupines, Engelmenn’s Aster and Western Pasque Flowers everywhere. We also had a White Bog Orchid, Western Rattlesnake Plaintain and a brilliant Metallic Fir Borer.
Western Pasque Flowers filled the alpine meadows at the Heather Trail at Manning Park - Photo: Raymond Liu.
White Bog Orchid at Manning Park - Photo: Toby Ye
Metallic fir borer at Manning Park - Photo: Toby Ye
Young Birders on the Heather Trail at Alpine Meadows at Manning Park - Photo: Sandra Palbiski
As we continued on the trail, we had a few more Sooty Grouse hooting and some Mountain Chickadees calling and Hermit Thrushes singing their ethereal songs. We also saw 2 Canada Jays (finally!) scolding and harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. It was lovely to watch the Red-tailed, as it tried to hunt some rodents. The jays sadly were not interested in us or our peanuts because of this. We had 3 Turkey Vultures flying overhead. We also spotted a lovelt Edith’s Checkerspot butterfly.
Edith’s Checkerspot at Alpine Meadows at Manning Park - Photo: Bentley Colwill
It is here where we ended the trip and said our goodbyes to some who drove. The rest of us did a little walk around Lightning Lake hoping to find a American Three-toed Woodpecker nest that was given to us but by the time we got out of the car we were pelted by pouring rain and hail, so of course didn’t see it. We did see Red Crossbills on the road, as we exited however, which was a new species for our trip!
Regardless, it was a fantastic trip and we all had fun! We stopped at Limbert Rd in Agassiz on the way home to see if we could hear or see the Alder Flycatcher but came up empty. We did see a Mourning Dove and Willow Flycatcher though!
We had a nice dinner at Wendy’s and dropped off the Chilliwack birders before making our final stop in Richmond. Thanks to all the youth who came out and the parent drivers, who helped to make it a spectacular and fun trip!
Young Birders on the Heather Trail at Manning Park, BC - Photo: Sandra Palbiski
