Tuesday bird walk

Brandt's Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. Twelve birders saw and heard thirty-two species of birds. The surf was up and pounding on the shore on a windy, blustery December morning.

Highlights of the morning included a large flock of over three hundred Dunlin and three Black-bellied Plovers flying inland over us after leaving the large gravel bar. Over one hundred Black Turnstones and about forty Mew Gulls covered the gravel bar. Further off shore several Brandt's Cormorants, Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants flew low over the water. Several rafts of Common Goldeneye, Harlequin Ducks, Pacific Loons, a lone Common Loon and Red-throated Loon were spotted on the choppy waters. We saw eight House Finch perched on a low bush facing into the strong winds head on. One Long-tailed Duck sped past us low over the water heading down the Strait of Georgia.

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.

Twelve birders found the following thirty-two species of birds on December 09, 2008:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Surf Scoter

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-throated Loon

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Mew Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Northwestern Crow

European Starling

Song Sparrow

House Finch