The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Tuesday bird walk, November 11, 2008













Black Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover and Black Turnstone: Jack Lasure Photo.



The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary, in Qualicum Beach.

Eight birders saw and heard forty-four species of birds on a mostly sunny fall morning.

Highlights of the morning included the sighting of over two hundred Bald Eagles perched in the conifer trees around the Estuary and along the River. We saw at least one hundred Trumpeter Swans near the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. Throughout the morning, the Swans left in groups of six or eight and flew right over us as they left the Estuary. We spotted a rare Little Gull among the Bonaparte's, Mew and Thayer's Gulls near the mouth of the River. Further out on the water were large flocks of Black, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Common Mergansers and Harlequin Ducks. Dozens of Harbour Seals and Sea Lions were resting in the water past the Gravel Bar--likely after having a grand feast on the abundant Chum Salmon in the Strait.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the playground at 9 a.m. Rain and/or heavy winds will deter us--but we will plan a walk for every week. Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. For the weekly location of the birdwalk, please call Neil Robins at 250-954-1928 or The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 1-888-249-4145.

Eight birders found the following forty-four species of birds on November 11, 2008:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Little Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch

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