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.

Sunday 30 March 2008

Pileated Woodpecker: 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 birdstore blog.
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday March 30:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The outstanding
highlight of the morning was the sighting of three Virginia Rails and we heard the call of a Sora. We saw several Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree and Violet-green Swallows hawking insects and three Turkey Vultures soaring high in the sky.
Seventeen birders found the following forty species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, a Pied-billed
Grebe, Wood Duck, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coot, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Brown Creepers, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.
A Pileated Woodpecker is visiting suet feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo

Saturday March 29:

A Rufous Hummingbird, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, two Pileated Woodpeckers, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, California Quail, Pine Siskins are frequenting a yard along Lancewood Avenue in Lantzville and two Barred Owls are calling at night.
Over 5,000 Barrow's Goldeneye's in two hugh rafts were seen just outside Boat Harbour south of Cedar.

Wednesday March 26:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Ten
birders found forty-five species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of our first Turkey Vulture of the season. We saw steady streams of Black, Surf, White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. There were approximately six hundred Brant Geese feasting on the eel grass along the tide line. A large raft of Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far from shore. There were
several Red Crossbills on the beach just in front of us and Golden-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they hawked insects on the low bushes along the forest trails.
Ten birders found the following forty-four species:
Brant, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted
Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.
A Pileated Woodpecker is visiting suet feeders along Pheasant Terrace in Nanaimo.

Tuesday March 25:
A partial Albino American Robin was seen at Deep Bay.

Monday March 24:
Over fifty Violet-green Swallows, a Northern Shrike, a Greater Yellowlegs and
seven Western Meadowlarks were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Both Anna's and Rufous Hummingbirds are coming to feeders in the 4600 block of Lost Lake Road in Nanaimo.

Saturday March 22:
A Rufous Hummingbird has returned to feeders along Gary Oaks Drive in
Nanoose Bay.

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
***********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday March 31, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday April 17, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
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 April 02, 2008 will be going to the Englishman
River Estuary, Plummer Road side 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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on April 06, 2008, will be going to the Nanaimo River
Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A. M.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Wednesday 26 March 2008

WEDNESDAY BIRD WALK, MARCH 26, 2008

Bonapart's Gull: John Purves Photo.

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Ten birders found forty-five species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of the first Turkey Vulture of the season. We saw steady streams of Black, Surf, White-winged Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. A large raft of Red-breasted Mergangers and Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far from shore. We saw several Red-crossbills on the beach in front of us and Golden-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they moved very quickly and hawked insects on the low bushes along the forest trails.

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.

Ten birders found the following forty-five species
Brant
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickade
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Monday 24 March 2008

Nanaimo bird alert, March 24, 2008

Rufous Hummingbird: 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 birdstore blog.
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday March 23:
A Rufous Hummingbird and a Golden-crowned Sparrow were seen along Morrell
Circle in Nanaimo.
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders in the 200 Block of Dawkins
Lane in Nanaimo.

Saturday March 22:
An Orange-crowned Warbler and a flock of Bushtits were seen at Transfer Beach
Park in Ladysmith.
Two Cackling Geese were seen along Doole Road in Yellow Point.
A Great-horned Owl was heard calling near Jack's Point in Cedar.
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders in the 7000 block of Aulds
Road in Nanaimo.
Two Turkey Vultures were seen flying above Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

Thursday March 20:
An Albino American Robin was seen with other American Robins on a lawn in
French Creek.

Wednesday March 19:
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen feeding on a Western Red Cedar at the top of
Summit Drive on Long Lake Heights in Nanaimo.

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach near French Creek. Twelve
birders found forty-three species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of two flocks of Trumpeter Swans flying up the Strait of Georgia and one Pigeon Guillemot with a small flock of Common Murres heading down the Strait. A large raft of Surf Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Pacific Loons and Brandt’s, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants were seen in the choppy water not far from shore. We spotted several Western Gulls in with the thousands of gulls on the gravel bars near shore.
Twelve birders found the following forty-three species.
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common
Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, American Robin, European Starling,
White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

Tuesday March 18:
A Brown Pelican was spotted at the Ladysmith Harbour flying west over the
Highway in Ladysmith.
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen along Fawcett Road in Cedar.
A Western Screech Owl was heard calling at McGregor Marsh in north Nanaimo.

Monday March 17:
A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen along Ermineskin Avenue in Parksville.
A Rufous Hummingbird was visiting feeders in the 2800 block of Shady Mile
Way in Nanaimo.
An immature Glaucous Gull was spotted at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

Sunday March 16:
A Townsend's Solitare was seen feeding on Mountain Ash berries at Fairwinds in
Nanoose Bay.
A low flying Turkey Vulture was seen over a home at Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.
Three Hooded Mergangers were seen at Buttertubs Marsh 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

***********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday March 31, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday April 17, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
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 March 26, 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 main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 A.M.
Please note there is a parking fee at Rathtrevor Provincial Park.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 30, 2008, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in
Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot off Bowen Road at about 9:20 A. M.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Wednesday 19 March 2008

*****The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store: ****** ***********EASTER HOLIDAY HOURS.*****

EASTER HOLIDAY HOURS


FRIDAY------- - March 21------ - CLOSED

SATURDAY ----March 22-------- 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

SUNDAY -------March 23 --------CLOSED

MONDAY ------March 24 ---------9:30 am to 5:30 pm


THERE WILL BE NO BIRD WALK ON SUNDAY

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Wednesday Bird Walk, March 19, 2008

Pigeon Guillemot: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Wednesday Bird Walk went to
Columbia Beach near French Creek. Twelve birders found forty-three species of birds. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of two flocks of Trumpeter Swans flying up the Strait of Georgia and one Pigeon Guillemot with a small flock of Common Murres heading down the Strait. A large raft of Surf Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Pacific Loons and Brandt’s, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants were seen in the choppy water not far from shore. We spotted several Western Gulls in with the thousands of gulls on the gravel bars near shore.

Twelve birders found the following forty-three species.

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Bonaparte's Gull

Mew Gull

Ring-billed Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Western Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Rock Pigeon

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

American Robin

European Starling

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

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.

Sunday 16 March 2008

NANAIMO BIRD ALERT, MARCH 16, 2008

Brandt's Cormorant: 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 birdstore blog.
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday March 16:
Violet-green Swallows were seen over Diver Lake in Nanaimo.
Twenty Trumpeter Swans were seen in the near fields of the Ugly Dwarf Meadows in Nanoose Bay.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Twenty-four birders found the following fifty-four species: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Brandt's, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, Mallard, Surf Black and White-winged Scoters, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Bald Eagle, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Anna's Hummingbird, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Rock Pigeon, California Quail, Silver Pheasant,Common Raven, Northwestern
Crow, Varied Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.
Saturday March 15:
A Northern Elephant Seal was spotted off Neck Point in Nanaimo,
Two Greater Yellowlegs and a pair of Wood Ducks were seen at French Creek.
Friday March 14:
Large rafts of seabirds including Brandt Geese, Bufflehead, Surf, White-winged and Black
Scoters, Pelagic, Double-crested and Brandt's Cormorant, sixty Bald Eagles and thousands of Gulls were seen off Boat Harbour south of Cedar.
Thursday March 13:
Two Canvasback Ducks were seen on Quamichan Lake in Duncan.
Wednesday March 12:
A Western Screech Owl was heard calling near the main marsh at McGregor
Marsh in north Nanaimo.
Yellow-rumped Warblers, Marsh Wrens, Tree Swallows and a Turkey Vulture were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum
Beach. Eleven birders found fifty-one species of birds. There were huge rafts of thousands of sea ducks, including Brant Geese, Greater Scaup, 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 and Common Loon off the Viewing Tower in Qualicum Beach. Another great highlight of the morning was the sighting of approximately two hundred Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows hawking insects just above the Little Qualicum River. A true sign that spring is just around the corner.
Eleven birders found the following fifty-one species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, 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, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird and Purple Finch.
Tuesday March 11:
Rufous Hummingbird are coming to feeders along Forest Crescent in Nanaimo and the Yellowpoint area of Cedar.
Barn Owls were seen in the Yelllowpoint area of Cedar.
Monday March 10:
One Evening Grosbeak was seen in with a flock of Pine Siskins in the woods near
the Coombs Country Market in Coombs.
Several Trumpeter Swans were seen flying over Parksville.
Sunday March 09:
A male Rufous Hummingbird was visiting feeders along Walton Heath Place 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
***********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday March 31, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday April 10, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
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 March 12, 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 A.M.
or at the parking area on Admiral Tyron Boulevard off Columbia Drive in French Creek at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************
There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on March 23, 2008. Happy Easter.
The Sunday bird walks will resume on March 30.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Friday 14 March 2008

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER

Black-throated Blue Warbler along Cross Road in Nanoose Bay: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Black-throated Blue Warbler has left Nanoose Bay. This Warbler was
first seen on December 16, 2007 and has visited the suet feeders until
February 17, 2008. Many thanks to Dudley and Linda Freeman for
opening their yard to many birders. WOW the Warbler was a great find
for this area...

Wednesday 12 March 2008

Wednesday bird walk, March 12, 2008

Long-tailed Duck: Photo by Ralph Hocken

The Wednesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Eleven birders found fifty-one species of birds. Off
the Viewing Tower in Qualicum Beach there were huge rafts of thousands of sea ducks, including Brant Geese, Greater Scaup, 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 and Common Loon. Another great highlight of the morning was the sighting of approximately two hundred Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows hawking insects just above the Little Qualicum River. A true sign that spring is just around the corner.
Eleven birders found the following fifty-one species.
Canada Goose
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
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
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch

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.

Sunday 9 March 2008

NANAIMO BIRD ALERT, MARCH 09, 2008

Violet-green Swallow: 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 birdstore blog.
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday March 09:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. Among
the highlights were the sighting of at least 30,000 seabirds off shore at the Viewing Tower in Qualicum Beach. At the Little Qualicum River Estuary we estimated that we saw over 40,000 seabirds fly by for about thirty minutes. There were White-winged and Surf, Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Brandt's, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants. Off shore we spotted approximately 2,000 Common Murres. Just past the sand bar on the water, there was a flock of at least 1,000 Red-breasted Mergangers. The herring spawn last week certainly attracted the seabirds to the area!
Twenty-four birders found the following fifty-four species:
Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Brandt's, Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, Canada Goose, Brant, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf, Black and White-winged Scoters, Buffhead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck,
American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser, Common
Merganser, Common Murre, Bald Eagle, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Thayer's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, American Robin, European Starling, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.
Three Snow Geese were seen above Highway 19A and Resort Way in Parksville.
Twenty-four Snow Geese were seen flying over south Nanaimo.

Saturday March 08:

An Orange-crowned Warbler has been visiting feeders since January 08, 2008, at
MacLeary Street and Bowen Road in Nanaimo.
Four Violet-green Swallows were seen over Cathers Lake in Nanaimo.
A Rufous Hummingbird is visiting feeders along Kenwill Drive in north Nanaimo.
Two large flocks of Trumpeter Swans and a Turkey Vulture were seen over
Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.
A Violet-green Swallow and Steller's Jays were seen along Morrell Circle.
Barred Owls were calling and a pair of Pine Siskins were collecting dog hair near
Colliery Dam Park in the 800 block of Harewood Mines Road in Nanaimo.
Friday March 07:
At least twenty Violet-green Swallows were spotted flying above the ponds at
Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
A Townsend's Warbler was heard calling from the tops of fir trees, along with
Red crossbills and flocks of Pine Siskins in the Harewood Plains just south of Harewood Mines Road in Nanaimo.
Monday March 03:
A Chukar was seen in the 700 block of Primrose Street in Qualicum Beach.
A White-throated Sparrow is visiting feeders in the 100 block of Green Lake
Crescent in Nanaimo.
Thursday February 28:
Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Gomerich Road and Scottown in south
Wellington.
Wednesday March 05:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River, Shelly Road side in
Parksville. Thirteen birders found fifty-two species of birds. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of several Red Crossbills, some within close view just ahead of us on the path. A pair of Barred Owls entertained us a couple of times during the morning walk with their very loud calls sounding like "Who Cooks for You-Who Cooks for You". Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets kept our eyes constantly moving as they
continually hawked insects from the trees. We watched as a Red-breasted Sapsucker tapped into a tall Popular Tree, seeking sap.
We saw the following fifty-two species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common
Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin .
Tuesday February 26:
In Parksville from Soriel Road, looking over Parksville Bay, thousands upon
thousands of Gulls, Black, White-winged and Surf Scoters, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, 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 February 24:
Two Barred Owls were heard talking and calling in the 800 block of Harewood
Mines Road at Colliery Dam Park 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 March 13, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday March 31, 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 March 12, 2008 will be going to the Little Qualicum
River Estuary, in Qualicum Beach. 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 Viewing Tower at highway 19a and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 16, 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 about 9:20 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Wednesday 5 March 2008

WEDNESDAY BIRD WALK, MARCH 05, 2008

Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River, Shelly Road side in Parksville. Thirteen birders found fifty-two species of birds. Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of several Red Crossbills, some within close view just ahead of us on the path. A pair of Barred Owls entertained us a couple of times during the morning walk with their very loud calls sounding like "Who Cooks for You-Who Cooks for You". Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets kept our eyes constantly moving as they continually hawked insects from the trees. We watched as a Red-breasted Sapsucker tapped into a tall Popular Tree, seeking sap.

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 fifty-two species:
Canada Goose
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Sunday 2 March 2008

NANAIMO BIRD ALERT, MARCH 02, 2008

Brant at Parksville: 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 birdstore blog.
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday March 02:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay Estuary. Among the highlights were
the sighting of three Red-tailed Hawks soaring in the sky. We had the unusual sightings of a Ring-billed Gull, California Gull and an Eurasian Wigeon on the estuary.
Twelve birders braved the cool spring winds off the bay and found the following forty-four species:
Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf, Black and White-winged Scoters, Buffhead, Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe,
American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.
Fourteen Trumpeter Swans were seen in the far fields at the Ugly Dwarf Meadows at Nanoose Bay.

Saturday March 01:
Large rafts of seabirds, including Black, Surf and White-winged Scoter, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, Greater Scaup, Pelagic Cormorant and Common and Barrow's Golden-eye, were seen looking over Parksville Bay from Doehle Avenue in Parksville.
A White-throated Sparrow is visiting a yard along Green Lake Crescent in north Nanaimo.
Friday February 29:
About 300 Brant were seen along the beach at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in
Parksville.
Wednesday February 27:
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.
Seven birders found 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 and American Goldfinch.
Tuesday February 26:
In Parksville, from Soriel Road overlooking Parksville Bay, thousands upon thousands of Gulls, Black, White-winged and Surf Scoters, Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, 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 February 24:
Two Barred Owls were heard talking and calling in the 800 block of Harewood Mines Road at Colliery Dam Park 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 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 March 05, 2008 will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side 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 end of Shelly Road at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 09, 2008 will be going to Little Qualicum River Estuary. We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Viewing Tower near Garrett Road and
Highway 19A at about 9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo