Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 18, 2012

Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was mostly sunny and warm in the bright sunshine but a little cool in the forest. There was a huge monster tide of 17.3 feet. Near the parking area we saw at least ten Golden-crowned Sparrows feeding under the fence in the snow. A flock of twenty to thirty Black Turnstones flew in looking for the shoreline, but it was limited because of the high tides. They finally settled on the point to feed. Eight Black-bellied Plovers, two Killdeer and two Black Oystercatchers shared the point with the Turnstones. Four Brant, Surf Scoters and Black Scoters flew over the water heading down the Strait. We spotted four Long-tailed Ducks, two Western Grebe, a raft of Common Mergansers as well as a raft of Red-breasted Mergansers further out from shore.

Three birders enjoyed the morning and saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Brant
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter

Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe

Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher
Glaucous-winged Gull Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

There will not be any bird walks on December 25 or January 01, 2013, The Tuesday bird walks will resume on January 08, 2012.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Neil Robins

Parksville