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