I participated in the Brant Festival's Big Day yesterday and I was certainly glad that this event was continued this year after being removed to a lack of competitors.  I was not out to win this event, but rather just to get out and enjoy birding around Parksville and Qualicum.  Our team, which consisted of Dave Riedel, my dad, and myself, finished the day with 97 species.  This is not a bad total considering our later start and our more relaxed attitude.  Our highlights included:

1 Townsend's Warbler at Legacy Marsh

1 Lincoln's Sparrow near the ugly dwarf fields

1 Glaucous Gull near the Englishmen River Estuary

1 Northern Shrike at the Englishmen River Estuary

At the wrap-up there were lots of entertaining stories from the other groups and lots of laughs shared.  It is always nice to see members of the Vancouver Island birding community that haven't seen for a while or others you have never met.  It was promised that the event would be back next year, so I hope I will be able to come out and participate in this wonderful event again.