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 here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Thursday 28 February 2008

WEDNESDAY BIRD WALK, FEBRUARY 27, 2008

PELAGIC CORMORANT: RALPH HOCKEN PHOTO

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Seven birders found forty-two species of birds. Among the highlights were the sightings of fifteen different flocks of Common Murres, with fifty to sixty Murres in each flock, heading down the Strait of Georgia. A flock of about one thousand Dunlin made a brief appearance for us all to have a look at them and two Black Oystercatchers stopped on the tide line about twenty feet from us. The Brant Geese are beginning to arrive. We saw about two hundred of them during the morning walk.

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.


We saw the following forty-two species:
Brant
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

Tuesday 26 February 2008

THE HERRING SPAWN HAS BEGUN AT PARKSVILLE--FRENCH CREEK

Thousands of seabirds in Parksville Bay

From Soriel Road looking over Parksville Bay thousands upon thousands of Gulls, Black, White-winged and Surf Scoters, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Long-tailed Ducks can be seen. The water near the shore has turned aqua-blue and the Herring Spawn is on.
The sight is awesome--the yearly natural phenomenon has begun again!!!!

Sunday 24 February 2008

Sunday bird walk, February 24, 2008












Long-tailed Duck at Deep Bay: Ralph Hocken Photo.


To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday February 24:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Among
the highlights were the sighting of three Red-tailed Hawks soaring in the sky. Three birders spotted and photographed a Northern Shrike perched on a bush. We saw several Rudy-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets hawking insects on low bushes.
Twenty-one birders found the following forty-three species:
Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, American Coots, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Shrike, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Saturday February 23:
Two Rufous Hummingbirds have been visiting feeders since February 14th along Valleyview Drive off of Aulds Road in north Nanaimo.
Townsend's Solitaire was seen at Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.
A Chipping Sparrow was visiting feeders along Honeysuckle Terrace in Nanaimo.
A Eurasian Widgeon and a Ring-billed Gull were spotted at the Little Qualicum River Estuary.
Friday February 22:
A gray phase Gyrfalcon was seen along Woodley Range in north Ladysmith.
Wednesday February 20:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of at least fifty Long-tailed Ducks--many as close as five feet from the shore. A large flock of Dunlin greeted us as we arrived, flying in a large cloud near a gravel bar. There were large flocks of Pacific Loons, White-winged Scoters, Surf Scoters, Horned and Red-necked Grebes further off shore. We stopped at Nile Creek on the way back and saw about three thousand Thayer’s Gulls along with two California Gulls and a few Mew Gulls roosting along the tide-line. There was a huge raft of an estimated ten thousand Western Grebes and at least two Clark’s Grebes a little further out on the Strait. Hugh rafts of Common Murres were seen bobbing further off shore.
Eight birders found the following forty-one species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Dunlin, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and Red Crossbill

Tuesday February 19:
One of several Anna's Hummingbirds visiting feeders was seen gathering cattail fluff in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo. At the same location eight to ten Pine Siskins are visiting feeders.
Monday February 18:
A Rufous Hummingbird is coming to feeders in the 100 block of Sandpiper Place in Nanaimo.
Sunday February 17:
A Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Dark-eyed Junco, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Northwestern Crow, Pine Siskin, Common and Barrows Goldeneye, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Common, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, Red Necked Grebe, Common Loon, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Mallard, American Widgeon, Bufflehead, Belted Kingfisher, Harlequin, Spotted Towhee and Northern Flicker.
Surf Scoter, Glaucous Winged Gulls, Canada Geese, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones were seen at Parksville Bay in Parksville.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
***********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday March 13, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday March 24, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Wednesday Bird Walk on February 27, 2008 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay
Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:10 A.M.--- Please note that there is a parking charge at Rathtrevor.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 02, 2008 will be going to Nanoose Estuary
.
We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area behind the Church Camp on Nanoose Beach Road off Highway 19 and Arlington Road
at about 9:20 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Thursday 21 February 2008

Clark's Grebe seen at Nile Creek on February 20, 2008

Two CLARK'S GREBES were seen in with a huge raft of an estimated five thousand to six thousand Western Grebes at Nile Creek. About three thousand Thayer’s Gulls along with two California Gulls and a few Mew Gulls were roosting along the tide-line. Hugh rafts of Common Murres were seen bobbing further off shore.

Wednesday bird walk---Deep Bay














Surf Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo


The Wednesday Bird Walk went to
Deep Bay. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of at least fifty Long-tailed Ducks--many as close as five feet from the shore.

A large flock of Dunlin greeted us as we arrived, flying in a large cloud near a gravel bar. There were large flocks of Pacific Loons, White-winged Scoters, Surf Scoters, Horned and Red-necked Grebes further off shore. We stopped at Nile Creek on the way back and saw about three thousand Thayer’s Gulls along with two California Gulls and a few Mew Gulls roosting along the tide-line. There was a huge raft of an estimated five thousand to six thousand Western Grebes and at least two Clark’s Grebes a little further out on the Strait. Hugh rafts of Common Murres were seen bobbing further off shore.

Eight birders found the following forty-one species:

Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Dunlin, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and Red Crossbill.

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.


Wednesday 20 February 2008

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD


A male Rufous Hummingbird was reported today and was first seen on Monday February 18th. The hummingbird was seen in north Nanaimo on Sand Piper Place, which is off of Fillenger Crescent.
There was also a sighting of a Rufous Hummingbird in Nanaimo on last wekkends Great Backyard Bird Count.
Spring is near!
Good birding Colin.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Nanaimo bird alert, February 20, 2008












Marsh Wren at Buttertubs Marsh: Ralph Hocken Photo.


To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029
Check out the Audubon site for the Christmas Bird Count results.
http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday February 17:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Among
the highlights were the sighting of a Lincoln's Sparrow along the trail ,in the bushes near the Viewing Tower, several flocks of Common Murres and two Brandt Geese flying by above the ocean.
Twenty-four birders found the following fifty-seven species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Black Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Lincoln's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Saturday February 16:

A slate colored Fox Sparrow, an interior species (morph), was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Friday February 15:
A Golden Eagle was observed perching for several hours on a snag in Coombs.
Thursday February 14:
Three Killdeer were seen on the Beach at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith.

A Ring-necked Pheasant and a Wilson's Snipe were seen at the Nanoose Estuary.

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was seen at the Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in
Nanaimo.
Wednesday February 13:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman
River Estuary in Parksville. Among the highlights was the sighting of an Eurasian Wigeon in with a flock of Green-wing Teal in the tall grasses. A Bewick’s Wren was singing as he perched in a high bush. A male Purple Finch was singing in a
nearby tree and a little further on a Song Sparrow was singing from a perch. Spring must be near! An Iceland Gull put in a quick appearance. We all had a good look at a Merlin who flew into the top of a Fir Tree.
Fourteen birders found fifty-two species.
Canada Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Common Loon, Horned Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Iceland Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's
Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

A Turkey Vulture (the first sighting of the year) was seen over the 2700 block of
Barnes Road in Cedar.

A Bewick's Wren, eight Trumpeter Swans and American Widgeon were seen in
fields adjacent to Cottonwood Meadows Golf course in Cassidy.

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen along Graham Road in Yellow Point.
Tuesday February 12.
A Short-eared Owl was spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Sunday February 10:
A Townsend's Solitaire was feeding on pyracantha berries in a backyard and a
pair of Trumpeter Swans were seen flying west quite low over the 2100 block of Wren Place in Nanaimo.

At least ten Bald Eagles were seen in the trees surrounding the compost plant
near the Ferry Terminal at Duke Point.
Saturday February 09:
A Barred Owl was heard calling in the 800 block of Harewood Mines Road in
Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

A Great Horned Owl called from Nanaimo Lakes Road in
Nanaimo.

Thursday February 07:
A Barred Owl was seen along Big Whale Lookout in Nanaimo.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
***********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday February 14, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday February 18, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Wednesday Bird Walk on February 20, 2008 will be going to Deep Bay.
We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay
Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:30 A.M.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on February 24, 2008 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in
Nanaimo.
We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot off Bowen Road
on Buttertubs Drive at about 9:20 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Thursday 14 February 2008

Wednesday bird walk







Spotted Towhee: Ralph Hocken Photo.



The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the
Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Among the highlights was the sighting of an Eurasian Wigeon in with a flock of Green-wing Teal in the tall grasses. A Bewick’s Wren was singing as he perched in a high bush. A male Purple Finch was singing in a nearby tree and a little further on a Song Sparrow was singing from a perch. Spring must be near! An Iceland Gull put in a quick appearance. We all had a good look at a Merlin who flew into the top of a Fir Tree.

Fourteen birders found the following fifty-two species.

Canada Goose

Brant

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

California Quail

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer's Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Sunday 10 February 2008

Nanaimo bird alert

Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo

To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029
Check out the Audubon site for the Christmas Bird Count results.
http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday February 10:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Rhinoceros Auklet roosting on the water, just past the Neck. He did at one point raise his head to give us great looks at his yellow bill. Three flocks of Common Murres sped past just above the water and several Red Crossbills perched on the high Fir Trees in the park, in full plumage.
Twenty birders found the following forty-six species:
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Brandts' Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Canada Goose, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, European Starling, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Red Crossbills, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskins.
Saturday February 09:
Two Yellow-rumped Warblers were spotted at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.
Over fifty Trumpeter Swans were seen at the Ugly Dwarf Meadows in Nanoose Bay.
Friday February 08:
Five Cedar Waxwings made a brief stop in a back yard in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.
Thursday February 07:
Looking over Northwest Bay from Madonna Point towards Mistaken Island a
flock of 200 to 300 Common Murres was seen. In with the Murres was a possible Thick-billed Murre. They were observed again from Cotter Point at Beachcomber looking towards the Ballenas Islands. A large flock of Pacific Loons and Marbled Murrelets were swimming and diving near the Murres.
The following forty species made for a great morning of birding:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter,
White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Varied
Thrush, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Wednesday February 06:
The Wednesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. Among the highlights was the sighting of several Long-tailed Ducks, large rafts of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters,Black Scoters and a Brandt's Cormorant out from shore. At the gravel bar at Pebble Beach were Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull and Glaucous-winged Gull.
Five birders found the following forty-nine species:
Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Monday February 04:
A pair of Anna's Hummingbirds are coming to feeders in the 4600 block of Lost
Lake Road in Nanaimo.
An American Kestrel was seen on the hydo lines along Haslam Road north of
Cassidy Airport.
Sunday February 03:
A Townsend's Warbler was spotted visiting suet feeders and Pileated
Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Chestnut-sided Chickadees, Varied Thrushes, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Spotted Towhees are visiting feeders along Ventura Drive in Nanaimo.
A Common Merganser was seen diving off the crabbing pier on the waterfront in
Nanaimo.
A murder of twenty Northwestern Crows was spotted mobbing a Peregrine
Falcon over the Protection Island Ferry Dock in Nanaimo.
Dark-eyed Juncos, a large flock of Bushtits, House Finch, Spotted Towhees, male and female Anna's Hummingbirds, Northern Flickers, Chestnut-backed
Chickadees and nine California Quail are visiting feeders in the 3300 block of Barrington Road in Nanaimo.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
***********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday February 14, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday February 25, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Wednesday Bird Walk on February 13, 2008 will be going to the Englishman River Estuary Plummer Road side. We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on February 16, 2008 will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.
We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about
9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Friday 8 February 2008

Murres at Cotter Point, Beachcomer, February 07.

Common Murres

Looking over Northwest Bay from Madonna Point, a flock of 200 to 300 Common Murres was seen. In with the Murres was a possible Thick-billed Murre. They were observed again from Cotter's Point at Beachcomber looking towards the Ballenas Island. A large flock of Pacific Loons and Marbled Murrelets were swimming and diving near the Murres.
The following forty species made for a great morning of birding:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Sunday 3 February 2008

Sunday bird walk

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029
Check out the Audubon site for the Christmas Bird Count results.
http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date and location of your sighting.

Sunday February 03:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Among the highlights was the sighting of a Peregrine Falcon flying and then perching on the top of an Oak Tree, a Lincoln's Sparrow perched on a log and a Western Gull in with a flock of Glaucous-winged Gulls.
Twenty-two birders saw the following thirty-one species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Glaucous-winged Gull,
Western Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Lincoln's Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Saturday February 02:
RARE BIRD ALERT--An unconfirmed sighting of a Red-naped Sapsucker in a yard along Whitney Road near Beban Park in Nanaimo.
A Snow Goose was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese and Northern
Pintails in the 5100 block of Benton Page Road in Cassidy.
A large flock of American Robins were seen feeding on a Holly Tree along
Mexicana Road in Nanaimo.

Friday February 01:
128 Trumpeter Swans were seen in a field on Cedar Road near Hill Road in the Cedar area.

Thursday January 31:
A Lincoln's Sparrow was seen at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Wednesday January 30:
The Wednesday bird walk went to Englishman River Estuary Shelly Road side .
Among the highlights were the sighting of a light phase Peregrine Falcon perched at the top of a Fir Tree. A Herring Gull was perched on a root in the estuary. We saw many flocks of Pine Siskins and a great number of Dark-eyed Juncos. Red Crossbills dropped down from the high Fir Trees to give us close looks at both the male and female of the species.
Four birders found the following forty-six species:
Canada Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

A Red-winged Blackbird was observed singing from the top of a Fir Tree in
Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday January 29:

A juvenile Northern Goshawk and Anna's Hummingbird were seen on Scarlet Hill
Road in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.

Monday January 28:
Brown Creepers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bewick's Wrens, House Finch, Varied Thrush, Song Sparrows, Pine Siskins and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting a yard along Clematis Place in Nanaimo.
An Anna's Hummingbird was seen at feeders along Andrea Crescent in Lantzville.

Sunday January 27:
An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting feeders along Taluswood Place in north
Nanaimo.
Greater Scaup, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergangers, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Spotted Sandpiper, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch were seen along the waterfront in Lantzville.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
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The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday February 14, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
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Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday February 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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Everyone is welcome to join us on the Sunday & Wednesday Bird Walks. We leave at 9 a.m. and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo on Sundays and around the Oceanside area on Wednesday.
++++++++++++++++++
The Wednesday Bird Walk on February 06, 2008 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at the Parksville Visitor Centre at Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road, near Craig Bay in Parksville, at 9:00 AM
or the vacant lot along Admiral Tryon Blvd. Road at about 9:15 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on February 10, 2008 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Neck Point Park off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 a.m.
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Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo