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 28 February 2017

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, february 28, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk on February 28, 2017 went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was mostly sunny with cloudy periods and calm winds. The surprise sightings of the morning was a Sanderling and a Eurasian Widgeon, feeding along the shoreline at the viewing platform, with Black Turnstones, Killdeer, a Black-bellied Plover and four Black Oystercatchers.  Many Surf Scoters, four Long-tailed Ducks, two Pacific Loons and six Common Loons were seen further off shore.  Four Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead the hatchery, heading down the Island.  We spotted two singing American Dippers on the river at the Fish Hatchery.  A large number of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding on a tree just off the snow covered trails.  A Cooper’s Hawk was seen flying high overhead. A large number of American Robins scurrying about throughout the morning.  A  Varied Thrush was spotted in a tree near the trail.  Three Snow Geese, feeling quite at home in the snowy conditions, flew overhead just above the trees.

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species:
Trumpeter Swan
Snow Geese
Canada Geese
Harlequin Duck
Green-winged Teal
American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Bonaparte Gull
Sanderling
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
 American Dipper
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
  Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
 Varied Thrush
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow 
           
Hooded Merganser:  Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on March 07,2017 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot next to the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
 Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

No comments: