The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum
Beach. The surf was up and the Strait of Georgia was filled with white caps
making for a wild windy morning of birding. We spotted a flock of Dunlin on the
gravel bar at the viewing platform. Further offshore there were Pacific Loons,
Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants
riding the surf. A Northern Shrike entertained us from a short bush near the
road. Nine Black Turnstones were huddled against the wind along the rocky
shore. Trumpeter Swans flew above us, singing as they moved. Hundreds of
Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls, a Herring
Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls gathered and bathed in the fresh
water of the Estuary. One lone Glaucous Gull perched on a gravel bar close to
shore allowing us to study him.
Glaucous Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Twelve birders, including two birders from Alberta, saw and heard the
following thirty-eight species:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Shrike
Dunlin
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
The Tuesday bird walk on November 26 will be going to the Columbia
Beach.
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Hi,
On our way home we saw something on the side of the road. Just north of
Drew Rd. and on the Island Highway (west side) we observed a Sooty Grouse.
I following it for several minutes with it less then ten feet from me. We
turned onto Drew Rd. and went back for more views. It actually walked towards
me and was, at one point only three feet in front of me. It was not afraid of
me.
It seemed like it wanted to cross the road so I herded it with my walking
stick to try to cross. Then it decide to go back to the west ditch. The line
up of cars in both directions were very patient as I directed it back to the
ditch. They must have thought I was taking my chicken for a walk! It did flap
it’s wing ands achieved take-off but only flew maybe five feet.
Just another day in Oceanside,
Rhonda and Paul
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We had a Northern Shrike land on our cherry tree this afternoon in
Parksville.
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
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