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 9 June 2015

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 09, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm but cool in the forest. We heard and then saw a Black-throated Gray Warbler feeding high up in the tall trees. A Cassin’s Vireo swooped down giving great views. Black-headed Grosbeaks, Warbling Vireos, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Western Tanagers were singing throughout the morning.  A female Western Tanager landed in a short bush near us. We spotted a Northern Shrike high up in a tree--a very unusual sighting for this time of the year.  A female Hooded Merganser with four little chicks was swimming and diving on the Beaver Pond—an awesome sighting!  A Wilson’s Warbler was heard high up in the conifer trees. We had close views of a Western Wood-Pewee perched on a snag over the trail.  A Hammond’s Flycatcher flew into the same location giving us more close looks.  Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures circled high over head for a good part of the morning. Three Turkey Vultures came into our view as they dropped down from the sky just above us. 

                                                                                                     Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Hooded Merganser
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Northern Shrike
 Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
 California Quail
 Band-tailed Pigeon
 Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
 Willow Flycatcher
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
Black Swift
 Violet-green Swallow
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
 American Robin
European Starling
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Black-throated Gray Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo 
 Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
 Chipping Sparrow
 Song Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
 Black-headed Grosbeak
 Purple Finch
 House Finch
  American Goldfinch
 
                                                            Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 16, 2015 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.
 
                                                                   Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

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