Parksville/Qualicum Beach

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk February 06, 2018:

Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in  Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds—and no rain!  We watched as a Yellow-billed Loon was swimming and diving off shore along the Strait of Georgia for a good portion of the morning.  There were many flocks of Pacific Loons, Common Loons and Brant Geese heading up the Strait. Large flocks of Harlequin Ducks, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters, Wing-winged Scoters and Black Scoters  were spotted not far from shore. A Large flock of Western Grebes were seen further off shore.  A small flock of Brant Geese were right along the shore line. As a grand finale at the end the walk, two Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead heading down the island. 

Yellow-billed Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Seattle, North Vancouver and Red Deer saw and heard the following thirty-five species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Brant

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

Wing-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Long-tailed Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Yellow-billed Loon

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Western Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Murre

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Trumpeter Swans: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)  early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk will  on February 13, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (from Highway 19A turn onto Columbia Road and turn right at the tee intersection.  Go about one hundred feet along Admiral Tryon Blvd. to the parking lot on the left) at about 9:20 am.

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

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com