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Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 15, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm giving us a great morning of birding. The highlights included seeing a flock of over one thousand Pacific Loons stretching in a very long line offshore. Over two hundred Western Grebes gave us great views further offshore. Many Common Loons were not far from shore. We saw thirty Bonaparte's Gulls in with the mixed flock of gulls.  There were Black Scoters not far from shore. A season of Killdeer were bathing in the estuary. We spotted a Western Meadowlark at the top of a tall conifer tree. A dark-phased Red-tailed Hawk perched on top a conifer tree giving us good view
                                Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, American Robin, , Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow,  Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch. 
                               Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on October 22, 2013 will be going to Columbia Beach. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

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