Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, May 20, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm, albeit a little cool in the forest.

We had excellent looks at two Northern Rough-winged Swallows as they moved from the trees to their nest in the river bank. They picked up nesting material from the gravel just in front of us near the river and made their way into the nest hole. A female Black-headed Grosbeak was also gathering nesting material from the river bank and flying off only to return to get more material. Nesting time is here!!  We were entertained by the Black-headed Grosbeaks and Warbling Vireos singing throughout the morning.

     

                                                 Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-three birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Pacific Loon

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Surf Scoter

Belted Kingfisher

California Quail

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Cedar Waxwing

Hermit Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

 

 Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk on May 27, 2014 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville