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.

Friday 31 October 2008

Tuesday bird walk, October 28, 2008















Surf Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach.

Seventeen birders saw and heard thirty-nine species of birds during a beautiful sunny fall morning.
Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of one Long-tailed Duck, a large raft of Surf Scoters and White-wing Scoters and several Black Scoters who entertained us with their singing throughout the morning. We spotted a Merlin chasing some song birds and a Cooper's Hawk put in a brief appearance. Several Pacific Loons, still in breeding plumage, with gorgeous silver necks and heads, were bobbing in the water. Four Dunlin, two Black-bellied Plovers, several Black Oystercatchers and a Killdeer were seen near the gravel bar. Large flocks of Harlequin Ducks flew past us and landed on the water within our viewing range.


Seventeen birders found the following thirty-nine species of birds on October 28, 2008:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Cooper's Hawk
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch

Sunday 26 October 2008

Nanaimo bird alert, October 26, 2008















Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.



The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching
with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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


Sunday, October 26, 2008:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Among the highlights was the sighting of two Short-eared Owls hunting just above the grasses. We had six sightings of Northern Shrike hunting and perching for a short periods and were fascinated by a female Northern Harrier flying just above the ground.
Twenty-two birders found the following thirty-eight species of birds:
Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-wing Teal, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike, Wilson's Snipe, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Purple Finch, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinch, House Finch.

Five Trumpeter Swans were seen heading north-west over Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

Two Anna's Hummingbirds are feeding along Valecourt Avenue in Courtney.

Saturday October 25:
"Rare Bird Alert-Cassin's Finch"
A female Cassin's Finch was seen at a bird feeder and a immature White-throated Sparrow was spotted in the same area at Jordon River.

A Redhead Duck and several Mallards were see at the Goodridge Peninsula in Sooke.


Friday October 24:
A Pine Grosbeak was seen along Ermineskin Avenue in Parksville.


Thursday October 23:
A Bufflehead and a Wilson's Snipe were seen at Englishman River in Parksville.

Several Red-throated Loons were seen off Sebastion Road in Lantzville.

Two Pileated Woodpeckers and a male Anna's Hummingbird have been visiting feeders along Denford Place in Nanaimo.

A Dunlin was seen at French Creek.


Wednesday October 22:
A Brown-headed Cowbird was seen along Ermineskin Avenue in Parksville.
A Northern Harrier, Northern Shrike and a Peregrine Falcon were seen at Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parkville

50 American Widgeons, 20 Ring-neck Ducks, one Common Merganser, one Bald Eagle and several Mallards were seen at Cottle Lake in Nanaimo.


Tuesday October 21:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville. Eleven birders saw and heard fifty-four species of birds during a sunny fall morning. It turned out to be a great morning to observe raptors in the area. We saw a Short-eared Owl flying east high over the estuary. There was a Peregrine Falcon perched in a conifer tree and we watched it through the spotting scopes for about five minutes. As we were watching some Northern Pintails fly over the Estuary another Short-eared Owl flew in low to the ground and began hunting over the fields. A Red-tailed Hawk flew over us. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew out and quickly back into the bushes along the trail. A Wilson's Snipe made a quick appearance and disappeared into the bushes. There were big flocks of Bushtits and Pine Siskins flying about though out the walk. Pacific Loons, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were bobbing in the water.
Twelve birders found the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Wilson's Snipe, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Short-eared Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, 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, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch.

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders along Gulfview Drive in Nanaimo.


Sunday October 19:
Long-tailed Ducks were seen offshore at Deep 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 October 27, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday November 13, 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
Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
*****************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on Tuesday October 28 will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, meet near the Concession Building
at 9 A.M. or at the end parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20 A.M. (from Highway 19A, north of the French Creek Bridge follow Columbia Drive turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd. about one hundred yards turn left to the parking area..)
***************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 02, 2008 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary In Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Bird Store in Nanaimo at 9:00 A.M. or at the Viewing Tower in Qualicum Beach at highway 19a and Garrett Road at about 9:30 A.M.
***************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Tuesday bird walk, Parksville/Qualicum Beach














Short-eared Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.




The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville. Eleven birders saw and heard fifty-four species of birds during a sunny fall morning. It turned out to be a great morning to observe raptors in the area. We saw
a Short-eared Owl flying east high over the estuary. There was a Peregrine Falcon perched in a conifer tree and we watched it through the spotting scopes for about five minutes. As we were watching some Northern Pintails fly over the Estuary another Short-eared Owl flew in low to the ground and began hunting over the fields. A Red-tailed Hawk flew over us. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew out and quickly back into the bushes along the trail. A Wilson's Snipe made a quick appearance and disappeared into the bushes. There were big flocks of Bushtits and Pine Siskins flying about though out the walk. Pacific Loons, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were bobbing in the water.

Twelve birders found the following fifty four species of birds on October 21, 2008:
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Wilson's Snipe
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Short-eared Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller's Jay
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
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

Sunday 19 October 2008

Nanaimo bird alert















Pacific White sided Dolphins at Neck Point: Janie Agar Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday, October 19, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Among the highlights was the sightings of about sixty Pacific White sided Dolphins who spent the entire morning just off the point, moving back and forth feeding and displaying. We had a Yellow-billed Loon come in close to shore, a Horned Lark who landed on the Point to give us great looks and over two hundred Black Turnstones who lifted from the rocks in a large cloud as a Merlin flew past.
Twenty-nine birders found the following forty-seven species of birds:
Mallard, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Yellow-billed Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Brant's Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Black Turnstones, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Thayer's Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, American Pipit, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finch.

Saturday October 18:
A Pileated Woodpecker was seen at a suet feeder in the Harlequin Crescent in Nanoose Bay.


Friday October 17:
Thirteen Brown Pelicans were seen at Port Renfrew.
Over three hundred Pine Siskins and six White-winged Crossbills were spotted in the top of Cedar Trees in Errington.
California Quail, two Steller's Jays, three Northern Flickers and a Silver Pheasant were seen in the 5200 block of Fillinger Crescent in Nanaimo.

Wednesday October 15:
A Varied Thrush was seen in the 3600 block of Uplands Drive in Nanaimo.
An Anna's Hummingbird was seen along Long Lake Road in Yellowpoint.

Tuesday October 14:
Twelve Greater-White fronted Geese were seen at Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.

Monday October 13:
A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.

Sunday October 12:
Fifty-two Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at Columbia Beach.

Saturday October 11:
A Northern Pygmy Owl was seen along Nanaimo Lakes Road in south Nanaimo.

Twelve Hooded Mergangers and two Harlequin Ducks were seen on the east side of Protection Island, south of Smugglers Park.


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 October 27, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday November 13, 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 Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
*****************************************
PLEASE NOTE: ***The Wednesday Morning Birdwalks are now the Tuesday Bird Walks.***
The Tuesday Bird Walks will resume on October 21. Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M.
*********************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on Tuesday October 21 will be going to The Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, meet near the Concession Building at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road off the Oceanside of Highway 19A.
***************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 26, 2008 will be going to 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

Sunday 12 October 2008

Nanaimo bird alert













Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching
with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday, October 12, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay.
Among the highlights were the sightings of a Northern Shrike, two Merlin, a
Red-tailed Hawk, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, and a Ring-necked Pheasant.
Seventeen birders found the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, Black
Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brant's Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Belted Kingfisher, European Starling, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Song Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.
A Northern Harrier, Northern Shrike, a Western Meadowlark and two Lincoln's Sparrows were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.


Friday October 10:
A hugh flock of Northwestern Crows, thirty birds wide and streaming past for
fifteen minutes heading towards Nanoose Bay, was seen from the top Groveland Drive and Dickson Road in north Nanaimo, at about 6:00 P.M.
Over fifty Greater White-fronted Geese were seen on a newly plowed and seeded field on the Brannen Lake side of Doumont Road in north Nanaimo.
A Snow Goose was seen in with the Canada Geese on the grass at Parksville Beach Community Park.


Thursday October 09:
A Townsend's Warbler was spotted in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in
Nanaimo.
A Greater White-fronted Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese at the Parksville Bay Community Park.


Wednesday October 08:
A flock of fourteen Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada Geese, fifteen
Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Greater Yellowlegs, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull's and Glaucous-winged Gull's were seen at Cowichan Bay near the Estuary.
A flock of over fifty Greater White-fronted Geese were seen over Columbia Beach.
A Sandhill Crane was spotted at the Nanaimo Dump from Cedar Road in south Nanaimo.


Monday October 06:
A Northern Harrier and a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying
over the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.
A Great Horned Owl and a Fox Sparrow were seen alone Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.


Sunday October 05:
An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting feeders in the 700 block of Doehle Avenue 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
***********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday October 27, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday November 13, 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
Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
*****************************************
PLEASE NOTE: ***The Wednesday Morning Birdwalks are now the Tuesday Bird
Walks.***
The Tuesday Bird Walks will resume on October 21. Meet at the Parksville Beach
Community Park at 9 A.M.
*********************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 19, 2008 will be going to Neck Point Park in
Nanaimo.
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.
***************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on Tuesday October 21 will be going to The Englishman
River Estuary, Shelly Road in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, please park near the Concession Building
at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road off the Oceanside of Highway 19A at about 9:15 A M.
***************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Sunday 5 October 2008

Nanaimo bird alert













To enlarge-click on photo



Pink-footed Shearwater at Swiftsure Bank off Bamfield--September 28/08-Mike Ashbee Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029
Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
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
Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting.

Sunday, October 05, 2008:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
Among the highlights was the sightings of a Hermit Thrush, an Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker and several Northern Flickers.
Twenty-two birders found the following thirty-one species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeons, Band-tailed Pigeons, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crown Kinglet, European Starlings, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos,
Purple Finch and Pine Siskin.
An Evening Grosbeak was spotted at feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.
A White-throated Sparrow, a Merlin, a Northern Harrier, a Ring-necked Pheasant and fifteen Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.
Saturday October 04:
"Rare Bird Alert--White-breasted Nuthatch"
A White-breasted Nuthatch was seen visiting feeders along Stevenson Point Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday October 02:
One Yellow Warbler and four California Quail were seen in the backyard in the 2500 block Glenayr Drive, in Nanaimo.
400 to 500 Pacific Loons and 100 Red-necked Grebes were seen off shore at French Creek.
An American Dipper was spotted at the base of the upper dam at the Colliery Dam in Nanaimo.
Ruffed Grouse were seen at Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

Monday September 29:
Two Great Horned Owls were seen and heard along Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.

Sunday September 28:
A Barred Owl was heard calling and Red Crossbills were seen in the 800 Block of Harwood Mines Road in Nanaimo.

Fifteen Flesh-footed Shearwaters, two Short-tailed Shearwaters, eight Buller's
Shearwaters, thousands of Sooty Shearwaters, thousands upon thousands of Pink-footed Shearwaters, two Northern Fulmars, two South Polar Skuas, ten Pomarine Jaegers, three Red-necked Phalaropes, six Bonaparte's Gulls, thousands of California Gulls, hundreds of Heermann's Gulls, several Herring Gulls and hundreds of Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen on a Pelagic tour that went from Sooke to offshore of Bamfield at the Swiftsure Bank. The Herring fish had pushed the Krill to the surface and as a result there were at least three hundred thousand pelagic birds as well as fourteen Humpback Whales in a massive feeding frenzy.
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 October 09, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Guest Speaker-- Ian Gartshore:
"Use wind power to reduce electrical consumption at home".
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday October 27, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
*****************************************
PLEASE NOTE: ***The Wednesday Morning Birdwalks are now the Tuesday Bird Walks.***
The Tuesday Bird Walks will resume on October 21. Meet at the Parksville Beach
Community Park at 9 A.M.
*********************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 12, 2008 will be going to Nanoose Bay.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the Parking area behind the Church Camp (off Highway 19 and Arlington Road) at about 9:20 A.M.
***************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Wednesday 1 October 2008

BULLER'S SHEARWATER








Click on photo to enlarge.

Buller's Shearwater at Swiftsure Banks off Bamfield--September 28/08:
Mike Ashbee Photo.

Fifteen Flesh-footed Shearwaters, two Short-tailed Shearwaters, eight Buller's Shearwaters, thousands of Sooty Shearwaters, thousands upon thousands of Pink-footed Shearwaters, two Northern Fulmars, two South Polar Skuas, ten Pomarine Jaegers, three Red-necked Phalaropes, six Bonaparte's Gulls, thousands of California Gulls, hundreds of Heermann's Gulls, several Herring Gulls and hundreds of Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen on a Pelagic tour that went from Sooke to offshore of Bamfield at the Swiftsure Banks.
The Herring fish had pushed the Krill to the surface and as a result there were at least one hundred thousand pelagic birds and fourteen Humpback Whales seen in a massive feeding frenzy