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 13 September 2016

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, September 13, 2016

The Tuesday birdwalk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach.  The morning was sunny with calm winds. A large number of Surf Scoters, a White-winged Scoter, a Black Scoter, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were seen from the viewing platform. The winter seabird colony are returning!  Killdeer were numerous throughout the morning.  We watched a Peregrine Falcon swoop down and lift a flock of Gulls off of the gravel bar and then catch a thermal and fly away. We spotted another Peregrine Falcon perched near the top of a tall conifer tree, giving us great views.  A Cooper’s Hawk was perched in a tall snag on the estuary. We watched as a Merlin caught a Barn Swallow high over the estuary. 
                                                 Peregrine Falcon, Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Green-wing Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Cooper’s Hawk
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Barn Swallow
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Savannah Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch 

The Tuesday birdwalk on September 20, 2016 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park parking lot near the Lions Club Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville 

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot

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