Sunday Bird Walk: Columbia Beach, French Creek, August 31/03, 9:00 a.m.
to 11:20 a.m.

Weather: The temperature was about 18? C with sunny skies. It was very
windy, giving way to choppy seas with white caps. High tide was 13.22
feet at 8:51 a.m.

Observers: Thirty-five Sunday birders

Highlights: The sighting of two Ruddy Turnstones was a first ever for
the Sunday bird walks. We watched as a Western Grebe road the rough
waves, giving us quick looks before disappearing in the rough waters.
One gravel bar held a great number of Western and Least Sandpipers,
while on another we found Black and Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied
Plovers, Ring-billed, Mew, and Bonaparte?s Gulls. Two California Gulls
flew past us. After the walk, a few of us went to French Creek and
sighted two Greater Yellowlegs feeding in the creek . Overhead three
Turkey Vultures circled, riding the thermals.

Number of Species: 33

Common Loon
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture (3)
Canada Goose
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
California Quail
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Black Turnstone
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove)
Belted Kingfisher
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
House Finch
Red Crossbill

Join us for
The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store?s
Annual Raptor Migration Tour
to Victoria & area
on September 25
Contact the store for details
390-3669
e-mail: thebackyard at shaw.ca

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The September 07/03, Sunday bird walk will be going to the Nanaimo
River Estuary.
Meet at the store at 8:30 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road off Cedar
Road
in Cedar at about 9:00 a.m.
PS ?remember to bring mosquito repellent?
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Good birding!
Neil Robins
nmrobins at telus.net
Nanaimo
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada