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.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 27.



Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo,


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was partly cloudy with strong winds making the Strait of Georgia very choppy. The highlights of the morning included seeing a flock of Dunlin along the tide line. White-winged, Surf and Back Scoters, Pacific and Common Loons, Pigeon Guillemot and Common Mergansers were further offshore. Inland, near the marsh we came across a large mixed flock of songbirds including Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Hutton's Vireo, Varied Thrush and a Townsend's Warbler.

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-four species of birds:
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Dunlin
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Hutton's Vireo
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
Townsend's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 25 October 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, bird alert, October 25, 2009


Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo.


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 this 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 25, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy but the winds were calm. It did start to rain at the end of the morning. The highlights included seeing a Northern Shrike pursuing a Northern Flicker. There were at least two Northern Shrikes perched on a snag, giving us good views. We were fascinated as we observed Shrike chasing prey unsuccessfully three times. We watched a Juvenile Northern Harrier hunting as it flew low over the estuary. A Common Raven gave chase to the Harrier and the Harrier went right back after the Raven until the Raven flew away. The Northern Harrier perched for a long time giving us great views. We could see his mostly rufous coloured body with black wings and disc like face of a owl. There were at least ten Western Meadowlarks perched on trees and flying overhead all through the morning.
Fourteen birders heard and saw the following thirty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle,Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Northern Shrike, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Eurasian Starling, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, Purple Finch, House Finch and Red Crossbills.

Twenty-two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at Holden Creek in south Nanaimo.

A Varied Thrush was seen visiting feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.

Saturday October 24:
One hundred and forty Pacific Loons were seen off shore off Yellowpoint Road in Cedar.

Friday October 23:A Short-eared Owl was seen near the Point at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday October 20:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy but the wind was calm and the water on the Strait of Georgia was like a mirror.
Among the highlights of the morning was a very large feeding ball of gulls and seabirds near the horizon. A raft of Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were seen not far from shore. Three flocks of Northern Pintail flew high overhead heading down the Strait. A large mixed flock of Gulls
including Bonaparte's, Mew, a Ring-billed, California, a Herring, Thayer's and Glaucous-winged Gulls, along with Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were on the gravel bar near the Pebble Beach Townhouses. Four small noisy flocks of Black Oystercatchers flew past us just above the water.
Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher,
Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Red Crossbill.

Sunday October 18:
Two Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders near Cathers Lake in Nanaimo.

A Peregrine Falcon, an American Kestrel and a Bald Eagle were seen at the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Male and female King Parrots and a family of Grey Butcherbirds have been visiting backyard feeders for the past week, along Edith Street North Haven in New South Wales, Australia.

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
Guest speaker, Michele Deakin, local biologist, will give an update on eelgrass beds.
Monday October 26, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Guest Speaker Entemologist Evelyn Stokkink will talk about the life of the Ambrosia Beetle.
Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 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 October 27, 2009 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the main parking area at Rathtrevor Provincial Park.
Please note--there is a parking fee at the Park.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 01 will be going to the Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or behind the Church Camp off Arlington Road and highway 19, at about 9:15A.M.
Please note--daylight savings time ends on November 01 and the clock falls back one hour.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 20, 2009




Bonaparte's Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy but the wind was calm and the water on the Strait of Georgia was like a mirror.
Among the highlights of the morning was a very large feeding ball of gulls and seabirds near the horizon. A raft of Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were seen not far from shore. Three flocks of Northern Pintail flew high overhead heading down the Strait. A large mixed flock of Gulls including Bonaparte's, Mew, a Ring-billed, California, a Herring, Thayer's and Glaucous-winged Gulls, along with Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were on the gravel bar near the Pebble Beach Townhouses. Four small noisey flocks of Black Oystercatchers flew past us just above the water.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Common Raven
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Red Crossbill

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 18 October 2009

Nanaimo bird alert, October 18, 2009



Black Turnstone: Jack Lasure Photo.


The Backyard Wildbird and Nature store 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 this 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 18, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy but calm. The highlights included seeing a Sharp-shinned Hawk chasing a Northern Flicker and a Northern Shrike perched on a short bush near the estuary. Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers flew past near the shoreline heading up the Strait of Georgia. We watched a Peregrine Falcon fly from one perch to another. He perched for a few seconds and then with powerful wind beats, he flew off towards the mainland. We soon lost sight of him over the Strait of Georgia.
Nineteen birders heard and saw the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Killdeer, California Quail, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northern Shrike, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Brewer's Blackbird, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbill and House Sparrow.

Tuesday October 13:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and the winds were calm however a shower finished off the morning. The highlights included seeing Varied Thrush just ahead of us on the trail and in the trees along the trail. We came across about one thousand American Robins in the forest and estuary throughout the morning. There was a Hermit Thrush in the brushes near the trail. A Northern Shrike landed on a bush not thirty feet front us giving us incredible looks. We saw a Peregrine Falcon preening itself in a tall fir tree on the west side of the forest. The Falcon left the perch twice and flew towards the Straight of Georgia only to return to the perch. When he returned for the second time he perched and looked down at us as if he was people watching. We saw a Merlin chasing a Northern Flicker. We spotted a Fox Sparrow gleaning insects from the leaves on a small bush.
Ten birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Wilson's Snipe,Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northern Shrike, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch and Red Crossbill.

Sunday October 11:
One hundred and fourteen Pacific Loons were seen off Yellow Point in Cedar.

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
Guest speaker, Michele Deakin, local biologist, will give an update on eelgrass beds.
Monday October 26, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 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 October 20, 2009 will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the parking area off Admiral Tyron Boulevard
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 25 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or the end of Raines Road at about 9:30A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, October 13, 2009



Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and the winds were calm however a shower finished off the morning. The highlights included seeing Varied Thrush just ahead of us on the trail and in the trees along the trail. We came across about one thousand American Robins in the forest and estuary throughout the morning. There was a Hermit Thrush in the brushes near the trail. A Northern Shrike landed on a bush not thirty feet front us giving us incredible looks. We saw a Peregrine Falcon preening itself in a tall fir tree on the west side of the forest. The Falcon left the perch twice and flew towards the Straight of Georgia only to return to the perch. When he returned for the second time he perched and looked down at us as if he was people watching. We saw a Merlin chasing a Northern Flicker. We spotted a Fox Sparrow gleaning insects from the leaves on a small bush.

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wilson's Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch House
Finch
Red Crossbill

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 11 October 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island bird alert, October 11, 2009


Juvenile Northern Shrike at the Nanaimo River Estuary: Bruce Whittington Photo.

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 this 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 11, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny but a strong cool wind from the east kept us moving to find shelter. The highlights of the morning included seeing two small flock of Pacific Loons. Their silver heads and necks caught and held our attention for the morning. A large number of Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and a few Brant's Cormorants flew down the Strait of Georgia. An Eurasian Collared Dover flew past and over the tops of the tall trees heading east. We watched a flock of Red Crossbills singing and eating at the top of a tall fir tree.
Nine birders heard and saw the following twenty-nine species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Surf Scoter, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brant's Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Eurasian Collared Dove, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbills.

A Northern Harrier, an immature Northern Shrike and two Western Meadowlarks were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Friday October 09:
A juvenile Rough-legged Hawk was seen along Rena Road in Nanoose Bay

Thursday October 08:
A White-throated Sparrow was seen at French Creek from the Columbia Beach side.

Tuesday October 06:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
The morning was sunny and warm--a perfect day for birding. The highlights included the sighting of a Common Murre, five species of Gulls--Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls. Harlequin Ducks entertained us not far from shore. A raft of Pacific Loons, a
Western Grebe, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were spotted offshore
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species of birds.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Seven Pectoral Sandpipers and over one hundred Wood Ducks were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Over two hundred Pacific Loons were seen on Northwest Bay.

Sunday October 04:
A Northern Harrier being harassed by a Raven was seen over Wren 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
Guest speaker, Michele Deakin, local biologist, will give an update on eelgrass beds.
Monday October 26, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 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 October 13, 2009 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville,
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the end of Shelly Road at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 18 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or the end of Shelly Road at about 9:30A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Friday 9 October 2009

White-throated Sparrow




White-throated Sparrow: John Purves Photo.



A White-throated Sparrow was seen yesterday October 08 at French Creek.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 06, 2009


Harlequin Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
The morning was sunny and warm--a perfect day for birding. The highlights included the sighting of a Common Murre, five species of Gulls--Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls. Harlequin Ducks entertained us not far from shore. A raft of Pacific Loons, a Western Grebe, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were spotted offshore.

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species of birds.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 4 October 2009

Nanaimo bird alert, October 04, 2009



Prairie Warbler: Guy Monty 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 this 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 04, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny and very comfortable. The big surprise of the morning was the sighting of four Pectoral Sandpipers and a Wilson's Snipe on top of the vegetation in the marsh near the Millstone river. A Red-tailed Hawk circled over us looking for thermos. We saw several Yellow-rumped Warblers throughout the morning.
Twenty-three birders, including two birders, Terry and Gary, visiting from Tennessee, heard and saw the following Thirty-seven species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, House Finch and House Sparrows.

Thursday October 01:
"Rare bird alert"--Prairie Warbler" A Prairie Warbler has been seen in a backyard in Tofino since September 28 and was seen again today. The Prairie Warbler is usually found in the eastern and southeastern United States and winters in the West Indies.

A Western Grebe was spotted off shore from Shorewood Drive in Parksville.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen near Dolphin Lake off Rockhamption Road in Nanoose Bay.

A raft of Surf Scoters and a Common Loon were seen on the Strait of Georgia off Madrona Point.

Mew Gulls and two Pacific Loons were seen on the Strait of Georgia off Brickyard Community Park in Nanoose Bay.

Wednesday September 30:
An Orange-crowned Warbler was seen at Neck Point in Nanaimo.

Dark-eyed Juncos have been seen at Columbia Beach and in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 29:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with rain causing the bird walk to be cut short. However, we did managed to find twenty-three species of birds during the short time that we were out. We saw Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Black Oystercatchers, a Song Sparrow and Savannah Sparrows at the viewing tower off Highway 19A. At the Estuary we saw a large numbers of Gulls and American Wigeon before the rain began pelting down.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-three species.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill

Monday September 28:
Twenty-five Sandhill Cranes were seen and heard flying over Woodgrove Mall in Nanaimo.

Three Lincoln's Sparrows, European Starlings and a Pileated Woodpecker were seen in a garden in the San Pareil area of Parksville.

Monday September 07:
A white Common Raven was spotted along Highway 19 between Qualicum Beach and the Horne Lake turnoff.

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
Guest Speaker Geologist Dr. John Gunton
will review various earth events that have
affected this area over the ages.
Thursday October 08, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
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Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday October 26, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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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.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 06, 2009 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or the viewing tower at highway 19a and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on October 11 will be going to the Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at Neck Point Park at about 9:20 A.M.
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Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com