Wednesday bird walk, April 02, 2008

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Nine birders found forty-six species of birds. Among the highlights of the morning was the sighting of a three male Rufous Hummingbirds perched on a near by bush. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Finch, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Towhees and California Quail serenaded us throughout the morning with courting songs--a true sign that spring is here! A female Red Crossbill landed on a hydro pole along the road and we watched as she ate insects from the pole.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area is on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. Participants meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road in Parksville at 9:00 A.M. Snow, 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 and Nature Store at (250) 390-3669.
Nine birders found the following forty-six species:
Canada Goose
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
California Quail
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow