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 29 December 2010

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT DECEMBER 29/2010


Snow Bunting: John Purves Photo.


*************************************************************************************
"HAPPY NEW YEAR"
FROM ALL OF US AT THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD STORE
COLIN, DENISE, CAROL, CARLO, PAM, NATALIE, NEIL & MARILYNNE
************************************************************************************
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Wednesday December 29, 2010:
A pair of Eurasian Collared Doves and four Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in a yard along Tulsa Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 28:
A Snow Bunting was seen at the point at Deep Bay.

Seven Trumpeter Swans were spotted flying over Meridian Way in Parksville.

A Varied Thrush is visiting suet feeders on an apartment balcony along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.


Snow Bunting at Deep Bay: John Purves Photo.

Monday December 27:
A female Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen in a backyard in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo and four Trumpeter Swans and a Bald Eagle were seen flying over the yard.

Sunday December 26:
Large numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhees, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, four Varied Thrush and sixteen Evening Grosbeaks were visiting feeders in a backyard along the 600 block of Lancewood Avenue in upper Lantzville.

Wednesday December 22:
A Barred Owl was seen and photographed at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 21:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach, The morning was cloudy and the wind off the water was very strong. The tide was high. We saw a flock of twenty Brant Geese flying high overhead and seven Brant flying low over the water--all heading down the Strait of Georgia.
Rafts of Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebe's, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants were seen not far offshore bouncing on the hugh waves.
Nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species of birds:
Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull,California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and House Sparrow.

Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Sunday December 19:
A Snow Bunting was seen and photographed at Deep Bay near the point.

Two Anna's Hummingbirds and a Sharp-shinned Hawk are visiting a backyard
in the 800 block of Patrick Drive in Parksville.

Twelve Varied Thrush, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a Downy Woodpecker, Six Northern Flickers, six Steller's Jays, Chestnut Chickadees, Bushtits, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, House Finch, Song Sparrows, Pine Siskins, Bewicks Wren and Sharp-shinned Hawk are visiting feeders in the 2700 block of Lintlaw Road in Nanaimo

Fifteen Evening Grosbeaks, a Fox Sparrow, a flock of American Goldfinch, a Bewick's Wren, Dark-eyed Juncos, several Northern Flickers, Steller's Jay, a Pileated Woodpecker, Anna's Hummingbirds and House Finch are visiting feeders on a third floor balcony in the apartments behind the Firehall at 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
**********************************
NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010
FOR DETAIL CONTACT thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 250-390-3669
************************************
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 January 04, 2011 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking area at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9: 15 A.M.--"Please note there is a parking fee at Rathtrevor Park"!
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walks will be going to Nanoose Bay on January 09, 2011,
We will meet at the Backyard Store at 9:00A.M. or the parking area behind the Church Camp (off Nanoose Beach Road and Highway 19) at about 9:20 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.36621
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,December 21, 2010


Harlequin Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach, The morning was cloudy and the wind off the water was very strong. The tide was high. We saw a flock of twenty Brant Geese flying high overhead and seven Brant flying low over the water--all heading down the Strait of Georgia.
Rafts of Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebe's, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants were seen not far offshore bouncing on the hugh waves.

Nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species of birds:
Brant
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rock Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 19 December 2010

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT DECEMBER 19 /2010



Evening Grosbeak: Photo by Malcolm.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM ALL OF US AT THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD STORE
COLIN, DENISE, CAROL, CARLO, PAM, NATALIE, NEIL & MARILYNNE
*************************************************************************************
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

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

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday December 19, 2010:
The Sunday bird walk was cancelled this week, because of the drippy weather.

"Correction"-- We Id'ed a bird as a Nashville Warbler on December 04. After examining a new photo of the bird, we determined that it is actually a MacGillivray's Warbler. He is still visiting suet feeders in a backyard in the Maple Glen Estates in Parksville.

Friday December 17:
Thirty-six Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders along Lakeside Drive in the Cinnabar Valley area of south Nanaimo.

Wednesday December 15:
Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders along Killarney Place in Nanaimo.

An Bald Eagle was spotted building a nest on the water side of highway 19a near the mini-golf course in Parksville.

Friday December 10:
200 Snow Geese were spotted flying over the 1400 block of Dawson Road in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday December 14:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side. The morning was cloudy and quite cool with a breeze off the water. Among the highlights was the sighting of twelve Brant Geese, California Gulls, Common Loon, Black Turnstone's and a Western Gull near the meeting spot at Parksville Bay. We saw a Hermit Thrush on the trail near a large conifer tree. A large mixed flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they moved along the ground feeding. We spotted three Gadwall and three Eurasian Wigeon on the estuary.
Twelve birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Brant, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard,
Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker,
Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, 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.

Monday December 13:
Three Common Mergansers and three pairs of Ring-necked Ducks were seen on the Brookwood Beaver Pond near Brookwood Drive in north Nanaimo.

Six Varied Thrush and Two Fox Sparrows were seen visiting feeders in a yard at Brookwood Drive and Woodwinds Street in north 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
**********************************
NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010
FOR DETAIL CONTACT thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 250-390-3669
************************************
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 December 21, 2010. will be going to Columbia Beach We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tyron Bld. (turn at Columbia Drive on the ocean side of Highway 19A opposite Windsor Plywood, follow Columbia Drive until you come to Admiral Tyron Bld, turn right go about 100 yards and turn left unto the parking area) at about 9: 15 A.M.
This is the last Tuesday bird walk for 2010.

The Tuesday bird walks will resume on January 04, 2011.( We will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville)
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walks will resume on January 09, 2011( We will be going to Nanoose Bay)
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.36621
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,December 14, 2010


Eurasian Wigeon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side. The morning was cloudy and quite cool with a breeze off the water. Among the highlights was the sighting of twelve Brant Geese, California Gulls, Common Loon, Black Turnstone's and a Western Gull near the meeting spot at Parksville Bay. We saw a Hermit Thrush on the trail near a large conifer tree. A large mixed flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets kept us entertained as they moved along the ground feeding. We spotted three Gadwall and three Eurasian Wigeon on the estuary.

Twelve birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose
Brant
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 13 December 2010

Peru trip report


Paradise Tanager in Peru: Photo from the internet.

Hi birders,
I have enclosed the list of 431 species of birds that Marilynne and I saw on our birding trip to Peru, from November 06 to November 27, 2010.

001 Bartlett's Tinamou
002 Speckled Chachalaca
003 Andean Guan
004 Spix'a Guan
005 Blue-throated Piping-Guan
006 Horned Screamer
007 Andean Duck
008 Orinco Goose
009 Muscovy Duck
010 Torrent Duck
011 Speckled Teal
012 Yellow-billed Teal
013 White-cheeked Teal
014 Puna Teal
015 Cinnamon Teal
016 Brazilian Teal
017 Humbodt Penquin
018 White-tufted Grebe
019 Pied-billed Grebe
020 Silvery Grebe
021 Wood Stork
022 Jabiru
023 Puna Ibis
024 Green Ibis
025 Roseate Spoonbill
026 Little Blue Heron
027 Snowy Egret
028 Capped Heron
029 Cocoi Heron
030 Great Egret
031 Cattle Egret
032 Amami Heron
033 Black-crowned Night-Heron
034 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
035 Fasciated Tiger-Heron
036 Rufescent Tiger-Heron
037 Peruvan Pelican
038 Peruvan Booby
039 Neotropic Cormorant
040 Guanay Cormorant
041 Red-legged Cormorant
042 Anhinga
043 Black Vulture
044 Turkey Vulture
045 Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
046 King Vulture
047 Osprey
048 Swallow-tailed Kite
049 White-tailed Kite
050 Snail Kite
051 Slender-billed Kite
052 Double-toothed Kite
053 Plumbeous Kite
054 Slate-colored Hawk
055 Great Black-Hawk
056 Harris Hawk
057 Black-collared Hawk
058 Roadside Hawk
059 Broad-winged Hawk
060 Black Caracara
061 Red-throated Caracara
062 Mountian Caracara
063 Laughing Falcon
064 American Kestrel
065 Bat Falcon
066 Peregrine Falcon
067 Sunbittern
068 Sungrebe
069 Rufous-sided Crake
070 Gray-breasted Crake
071 Plumbeous Crake
072 Purple Gallinule
073 Azure Gallinule
074 Common Gallinule
075 Andean Coot
076 Limpkin
077 Peruvian Thick-knee
078 American Oystercatcher
079 Blackish Oystercatcher
080 Black-necked Stilt
081 Gray Plover
082 Killdeer
083 Pied Lapwing
084 Southern Lapwing
085 Andean Lapwing
086 Wattled Jacana
087 Whimbrel
088 Greater Yellowlegs
089 Lesser Yellowlegs
090 Spotted Sandpiper
091 Ruddy Turnstone
092 Surfbird
093 Western Sandpiper
094 Least Sandpiper
095 Belcher's Gull
096 Gray Gull
097 Kelp Gull
098 Gray-hooded Gull
099 Andean Gull
100 Franklin's Gull
101 Large-billed Tern
102 Elegant Tern
103 Yellow-billed Tern
104 Inca Tern
105 Black Skimmer
106 Spot-winged Pigeon
107 Band-tailed Pigeon
108 Pale-vented Pigeon
109 Plumbeous Pigeon
110 Ruddy Pigeon
111 Eared Pigeon
112 West Peruvian Dove
113 Ruddy Ground-Dove
114 Croaking Ground-Dove
115 White-tipped Dove
116 Gray-fronted Dove
117 Rock Pigeon
118 Blue-and-yellow Macaw
119 Scarlet Macaw
120 Red-and-green Macaw
121 Chestnut-fronted Macaw
122 Red-bellied Macaw
123 White-eyed parakeet
124 Dusky-headed Parakeet
125 Rock Parakeet
126 Cobalt-winged Parakeet
127 Tui Parakeet
128 Orange-cheeked Parrot
129 Blue-headed Parrot
130 Yellow-crowned Amazon
131 Scaly-naped Amazon
132 Mealy Amazon
133 Squirrel Cuckoo
134 Little Cuckoo
135 Hoatzin
136 Greater Ani
137 Smooth-billed Ani
138 Rufescent Screech-Owl
139 White-collared Swift
140 Neotropical Palm-Swift
141 Rufous-breasted Hermit
142 Green Hermit
143 Longtailed Hermit
144 White-beared Hermit
145 Koepcke's Hermit
146 Buff-tailed Sicklebill
147 Gray-breasted Sabrewing
148 White-necked Jacobin
149 Sparkling Violet-ear
150 Violet-headed Hummingbird
151 Rufous-creasted Coquette
152 Wire-creasted Thorntail
153 Blue-tailed Emerald
154 Fork-tailed Woodnymph
155 Golden-tailed Sapphire
156 Many-spotted Hummingbird
157 Green-and-white Hummingbird(E)
158 White-bellied Hummingbird
159 Sapphire-spangled Emerald
160 Speckled Hummingbird
161 Gould's Jewelfront
162 Violet-fronted Brilliant
163 Giant Hummingbird
164 Shinning Sunbeam
165 White-tufted Sunbeam(E)
166 Great Sapphirewing
167 Violet-throated Starfrontlet
168 Chestnut-breasted Coronet
169 Amethyst-throated Sunangel
170 Booted Racket-tail
171 Black-tailed Trainbearer
172 Green-tailed Trainbearer
173 Scaled Metaltail
174 Greenish Puffleg
175 Tyrian Metaltail
176 Long-tailed Syph
177 Bearded Mountaineer(E)
178 Wedge-billed Hummingbird
179 Peruvian Sheartail
170 Amethyst Woodstar
181 White-bellied Woodstar
182 Golden-headed Quetzal
183 Masked Trogon
184 Ringed Kingfisher
185 Amazon Kingfisher
186 Green Kingfisher
187 Highland Motmot
188 Purus Jacamar
189 White-throated Jacamar
190 Bluish-fronted Jacamar
191 Striolated Puffbird
192 Black-streaked Puffbird
193 Black-fronted Nunbird
194 Swallow-winged Puffbird
195 Versicolored Barbet
196 Blue-banded Toucanet
197 Chestnut-eared Aracari
198 Channel-billed Toucan
199 White-throated Toucan
200 Rufous-breasted Piculet
201 Fine-barred Piculet(E)
202 Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
203 Little Woodpecker
204 Golden-olive Woodpecker
205 Spot-breasted Woodpecker
206 Andean Flicker
207 Cream-colored Woodpecker
208 Rufous-headed Woodpecker
209 Red-necked Woodpecker
210 Crimson-creasted Woodpecker
211 Slender-billed Miner
212 Bar-winged Cinclodes
213 Pale-legged Hornero
214 Puna Thistletail
215 Azara's Spinetail
216 marcapata Spinetail
217 Speckled Spinetail
218 Rust-fronted Canastero
219 Streak-throated Canastero
220 Streak-fronted Thornbird
221 Wren-like Rushbird
222 Pearled Treerunner
223 Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper
224 Streaked Tuftedcheek
225 Montane Foliage-gleaner
226 Streaked Xenops
227 Straight-billed Woodcreeper
228 Osculated Woodcreeper
229 Buff-throated Woodcreeper
230 Olive-backed Woodcreeper
231 Lineated Woodcreeper
232 Bamboo Antshrike
233 Barred Antshrike
234 Pygmy Antwren
235 Stripe-chested Antwren
235 Blackish Antwren
236 Silvered Antbird
237 White-lined Antbird
238 Plumbeous Antbird
239 Black-throated Antbird
240 Red-and-white Antpitta(E)
241 Trilling Tapaculo
242 Streak-necked Flycatcher
243 Inca Flycatcher(E)
244 Slaty-capped Flycatcher
245 Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant
246 Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher
247 Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher
248 Black-backed Tody-flycatcher
249 Sclater's Tyrannulet
250 Bolivian Tyrannulet
251 Southern beardless-Tyrannulet
252 Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
253 Forest Elaenia
254 White-crested Elaenia
255 Mottle-backed Elaenia
256 Sierran Elaenia
257 White-throated Tyrannulet
258 Torrent Tyrannulet
259 Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant
260 Tufted Tit-Tyrant
261 Many-colored Rush-Tyrant
262 Marble-faced Bristle-tryant
263 Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet
264 Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant
265 Rufous-tailed Flatbill
266 Gray-crowned Flycatcher
267 Cinnmon Flycatcher
268 Smoke-colored Flycatcher
269 Western Wood-Pewee
270 Black Phoebe
271 Vermilion Flycatcher
272 White-browed Chat-tyrant
273 Drab Water-Tyrant
274 Rufous-webbed Tyrant
275 Little Ground-Tyrant
276 Rufous-naped Groung-Tyrant
277 Short-crested Flycatcher
288 Tropical Kingbird
289 Eastern Kingbird
290 Sulphury Flycatcher
291 Boat-billed Flycatcher
292 Lemon-browed Flycatcher
293 Golden-crowned Flycatcher
294 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
295 Rust-margined Flycatcher
296 Social Flycatcher
297 Gray-capped Flycatcher
298 Piratic Flycatcher
299 Lesser Kiskadee
300 Great Kiskadee
301 Red-crested Coyinga
302 Band-tailed fruiteated
303 barred Fruiteater
304 White-browed Purpletuft
305 Amazonian Umbrellabird
306 Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
307 Band-tailed Manakin
308 White-beared Manakin
309 Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin
310 White-winged Becard
311 Pink-throated Becard
312 Red-eyed Vireo
313 White-collard Jay
314 Purplish Jay
315 Violaceous Jay
316 White-winged Swallow
317 brown-bellied Swallow
318 Blue-and-white Swallow
319 Pale-footed Swallow
320 White-banded Swallow
321 Southern Rough-winged Swallow
322 Barn Swallow
324 Black-capped Donacobius
325 Gray-mantled Wren
326 Fulvous Wren
326 Inca Wren(E)
327 House Wren
328 Mountain Wren
329 Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
330 Long-tailed Mockingbird
331 Swainson`s Thrush
332 Chiguanco Thrush
333 Great Thrush
334 Glossy-black Thrush
335 Black-billed Thrush
336 White-capped Dipper
337 Thick-billed Euphonia
338 Golden-billed Euphonia
339 Orange-bellied Euphonia
340 Blue-naped Chorophonia
341 Hooded Siskin
342 Olivaceous Siskin
343 Tropical Parula
344 Blackburnian Warbler
345 Slate-throated Whitestart
346 Spectacled Whitestart
347 Two-banded Warbler
348 Citrine Warbler
349 Russet-crowned Warbler
350 Three-striped Warbler
351 Creasted Oropendola
352 Dusky-green Oropendola
353 Russet-backed Oropendola
354 Olive Oropendola
355 Yellow-rumped Cacique
356 Orange-backed Troupial
357 Pale-eyed Blackbird
358 Scrub Blackbird
359 Red-breasted Blackbird
360 Giant Cowbird
361 Rufous-collared Sparrow
362 Yellow-browed Sparrow
363 Pectoral Sparrow
364 Grey-eared brush-Finch
365 Chestnut-capped brush-Finch
366 Red-capped Cardinal
367 Common Bush-Tanager
368 Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager
369 Yellow-throated Bush-tanager
370 Oleaginous Hemispingus
371 Black-eared Hemispingus
372 Drab Hemispingus
373 Rust-and-yellow Tanager
374 Slaty Tanager
375 Masked Crimson Tanager
376 Silver-beaked Tanager
377 Blue-gray Tanager
378 Palm Tanager
379 Blue-capped Tanager
380 Blue-and-yellow Tanager
381 Hooded Mountain Tanager
382 Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager
383 Yellow-throated Tanager
384 Golden-collared Tanager
385 Orange-eared Tanager
386 Turquoise Tanager
387 Paradise Tanager
388 Green-and-gold Tanager
389 Golden Tanager
390 Saffron-crowned Tanager
391 Yellow-bellied Tanager
392 Spotted Tanager
393 Bay-headed Tanager
394 Golden-naped Tanager
395 Blue-necked Tanager
396 Masked Tanager
397 Beryl-spangled Tanager
398 Blue-and-black Tanager
399 Opal-crowned Tanager
400 Swallow-Tanager
401 Rusty Flower-piercer
402 Moustached Flower-piercer
403 Black-throated Flower-piercer
404 Deep-blue Flower-piercer
405 Maskec Flower-piercer
406 Chestnut-vented Conebill
407 Cinereous Conebill
408 Capped Conebill
409 Black-faced Dacnis
410 Yellow-bellied Dacnis
411 Blue Dacnis
412 Green Honeycreeper
413 Peruvian Sierra-Finch
414 Mourning Sierra-Finch
415 Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
416 Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch
417 Chestnut-breasted Mountian-Finch(E)
418 Saffron Finch
419 Blue-black Grassquit
420 Black-and-white Seedeater
421 Double-collared Seedeater
422 Chestnut-throated Seedeater
423 Black-billed Seed-Finch
424 Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch
425 Band-tailed Seedeater
426 Plain-colored Seedeater
427 Paramo Seedeater
428 Lined Seedeater
429 Buff-throated Saltator
430 Grayish Saltator
431 Golden-billed Saltator


Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 12 December 2010

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT DECEMBER 12 /2010


Greater White-fronted Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.
NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday December 12, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
There was light rain and it was quite cool but the winds were calm. The highlights of the morning included seeing a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Canada Goose just overhead. We saw a Virginia Rail come out of the weeds, giving us great close looks at him. We saw and heard a flock of twelve Common Redpolls in a Alder Bush not far from us.
Five birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, Doubled-crested Cormorant, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Ringed-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, Glaucous-winged Gull, Virginia Rail,Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Belted Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch and House Sparrows.

Saturday December 11:
A Mute Swan was spotted near Newcastle Island at Bate Point across from the Yacht Club in Nanaimo.

"Rare Bird Alert-Harris Sparrow"
A Harris Sparrow has been visiting feeders along Green Lake Crescent in north Nanaimo.
Sunday December 12:
An Anna's Hummingbird has been observed in a yard for the first time in the 4300 block of Alderwood Drive in Port Alberni.

Friday December 10:
Twenty-four Pine Siskins are visiting feeders in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Thursday December 09:
A White-throated Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow, a Townsend's Warbler and three Golden-crowned Sparrows are visiting feeders in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo.

Wednesday December 08:
Ten Evening Grosbeaks were seen near Stewart Road and Drake Street in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 07:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was windy with lots of rain. The surf was up and pounding on the shore--it was a winter storm in the making for sure! The highlights of the morning included a large number of Long-tailed Ducks just off the Point and a large mixed flock of Black Turnstones and Dunlin just along the shoreline.
Five hardy, cold, wet birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee and White-crowned Sparrow.

Monday December 06:
Eight Evening Grosbeaks were seen in a backyard along Cosgrove Crescent in north Nanaimo.

Saturday December 03:
Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders in the 6900 block of Lancewood Drive in upper Lantzville.

Sunday November 14:
"Rare Bird Alert--Smew"
While doing the Coastal Survey a SMEW drake was spotted off of Downes Point Hornby Island.


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
**********************************

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR 2010.....

NANOOSE/LANTZVILLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2010.
FOR DETAILS CONTACT rhysharrison@shaw.ca
or call Rhys Harrison at 250-248-5305
**********************************
PARKVILLE/QUALICUM BEACH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
SUNDAY DECEMBER 19, 2010
saninerr@shaw.ca
or call Sandra Gray at 250-248-5565
***********************************
NANAIMO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010
FOR DETAIL CONTACT thebackyard@shaw.ca
or call The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 250-390-3669
************************************
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 December 14, 2010. will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road, on the ocean side of Highway 19A at about 9: 10 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 19, 2010 will be going to Nanoose Bay
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot behind the Church Camp at about 9:20 A.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

"Rare bird aler--Smew"

November 14: 2010
"Rare bird alert-Smew"
"While doing the Coastal Survey my partner and myself spotted a SMEW drake off of Downes Point Hornby Island on November 14th 2010. Whoo!"

The bird store received this report today, December 12, 2010.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk,December 07, 2010


Long-tailed Duck; Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was windy with lots of rain. The surf was up and pounding on the shore--it was a winter storm in the making for sure! The highlights of the morning included a large number of Long-tailed Ducks just off the Point and a large mixed flock of Black Turnstones and Dunlin just along the shoreline.

Five hardy, cold, wet birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck,
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon,
Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Varied Thrush,
European Starling, Spotted Towhee and White-crowned Sparrow.

Monday 6 December 2010

Nanaimo bird report, December 05, 2010


Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday December 05, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo
The morning was clear and quite cool but the winds off the Strait of Georgia were calm.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds:
Mallard, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Marbled Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Common Murre, Great Blue Heron, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwest Crow, Steller's Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Song Sparrow.

Saturday December 04:
A MacGillivray's Warbler is visiting feeders in a backyard in the Maple Glen Estates near Chestnut and Hirst in Parksville.

"Rare Bird Alert-Harris Sparrow"
A Harris Sparrow has been visiting feeders along Green Lake Crescent in north Nanaimo.

A Lincoln's Sparrow is visiting a backyard in the in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo.

Friday December 03:
"Rare Bird Alert-Northern Mockingbird"
A Northern Mockingbird seen in Nanaimo near the corner of Doumont Road and Eyelash Road. The bird was first seen Thursday morning about 9:00 am and then again at 11:35 am on a fence post in a farm field. If traveling on Doumont Road from Metral Drive the bird was located in a field just past Eyelash Road on the right side with some farm equipment.

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 meeting.
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
at 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.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 07, 2010. will be going to Deep Bay
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:35 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 11, 2010 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
We will meet at The Backyard 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

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

Photos from Peru


An Andean Potoo along the Manu Road in Peru




The Macaw Lek along the Manu Reserve in Peru.

Photos from Peru



Planes, Trains, Boats and Automobiles....In November Neil and Marilynne traveled from Vancouver, to Lima, Peru by plane; from Lima to Cusco by plane; from Cusco to Manu by bus and from Manu to Puerto Maldonado by boat; up to Machu Picchu by train and then back to Cusco and Lima by plane and then Home! A trip of a life-time with 477 new species of birds to make it even more memorable!

Friday 3 December 2010

RARE BIRD ALERT: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

Just received a report of a Northern Mockingbird seen in Nanaimo near the corner of Doumont Road and Eyelash Road. The bird was first seen Thursday morning about 9:00 am and then again at 11:35 am on a fence post in a farm field. If traveling on Doumont Road from Metral Drive the bird was located in a field just past Eyelash Road on the right side with some farm equipment.
Please report any further sightings to the store.
Good birding.

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Tuesday bird walk, November 23,2010


Harlequin Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

There were 3 hardy birders for the Tuesday bird walk to Rathtrevor Park. The morning was cold, but with some sun and only a small breeze on the water. Highlights were seeing Trumpeter Swans flying overhead, several Varied Thrush and also several Winter Wrens.


The following 41 species were identified:
Trumpeter Swans
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Green-winged Teal
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Northern Pintail
Long-tailed Duck
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Cooper's Hawk
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter (Pacific) Wren
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Starling


Until next week,
Rhonda Fleming

Tuesday bird walk, November 16,2010


Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday birdwalk to Little Qualicum River Estuary was fairly sunny with a slight breeze. A couple of highlights were sighting over 40 Trumpeter Swans and 25+ Eagles at the mouth of the Little Qualicum River. A Clark's Grebe was also sighted.
14 birders saw or heard the following 44 species:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Black Bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch
Robin


Next Tuesday's (Nov 22nd) bird walk will be to Rathtrevor Provincial Park.


Until then, good birding
Rhonda Fleming

Tuesday bird walk November 09, 2010


Black-bellied Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo


In Neil's absence I've volunteered to send you the Tuesday Birdwalk counts so you can post them on your blogspot and disburse to the email listing.
Also, Paul and I went to Deep Bay Sunday (Nov. 7/10) and were lucky enough to site a Snow Bunting flitting around the grass and sand by the point.


Snow Geese were still sited at the Parksville Community Park.
The morning was cool and rainy with some high wind gusts, keeping most birds hunkered down out of sight. However, we did get a really great view of a Red-tailed Hawk as it sat perched atop an old log.
With John Purves as our guide, 8 hardy birders saw or heard the following 30 birds:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed hawk
Dunlin
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Thayer's Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Bushtit


Next Tuesday Birdwalk is to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.




Until next week - good birding.
Rhonda Fleming

Monday 22 November 2010

Greetings from Peru!

Hi Birders..

The birding is hot here, as we expected, and us two birders are hot and sticky. Neil has added at least 400 Lifers to his list--his favorite to date is the Bat Falcon that he saw while we were cruising down the Rio Madre de Dios in a Long Boat. Marilynne was impressed with the sighting of hundreds of Inca Terns. See you all in a couple of weeks with lots of tales of our adventure in the very rugged country. Neil & Marilynne

Monday 15 November 2010

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT NOVEMBER 14/2010

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

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

Sunday November 14, 2010:

RARE BIRD ALERT:
American Tree Sparrow
was seen Sunday Morning at the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side in front of the viewing stand, feeding with a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville at the
Shelly Road.
The morning was cloudy but very nice as there was no wind. The highlights including seeing American Tree Sparrow by the viewing platform, female Evening Grosbeak in the top of a Maple tree and a Eurasian Widgeon in the estuary.
Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species of birds.
American Wigeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Buffhead, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Common
Goldeneye, Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser,
Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue
Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Thayer's
Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Barred Owl, Anna's
Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Belted Kingfisher,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, Varied
Thrush, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Bushtits, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Evening
Grosbeak.

Friday November 12:
A Mute Swan was seen on the beach in front of the boardwalk at the Parksville
Community Park along with the six Snow Geese.

Thursday November 11:
Northern Goshawk was seen at Park Ridge Place in Qualicum Beach.

Wednesday November 10:
Merlin, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlarks and a Northern Shrike were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary.

Tuesday November 9:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River
Estuary. The morning was cool and rainy with some high wind gusts, keeping most birds hunkered down out of sight. However, we did get a really great view of a Red-tailed Hawk as it sat perched atop an old log.
With John Purves as our guide, 8 hardy birders saw or heard the following 30 birds:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed hawk
Dunlin
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Thayer's Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Bushtit

Sunday November 7:
A Snow Bunting was seen flitting about the grass and sand by the point in Deep
Bay.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary. It was a beautiful day
and only a couple of hunters. 15 birders saw and heard the following 30 species.
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Great Blue Heron
Pied-billed Grebe
Mallard
Common Merganser
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Ring-billed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Bewick's Wren
Northern Shrike
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
Purple Finch

Tuesday November 2:
Ring-necked Pheasant and 4 Snow Geese were seen at the Cottonwood Golf
Course in Cassidy.

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
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Monday, November 22nd at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School Parksville. Speaker Dr. John Gunton will return to present
Part 2 of his talk "Geohazards of the Georgia Basin". Visitors and new members
welcome. More information at 250-752-7588.
********************************
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 November 16, 2010. will be going to the Little
Qualicum River Estuary.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front
of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the viewing platform on Hwy 19A and
Garret Road about 9:20 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 21, 2010 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh
in Nanaimo.
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at the
end of Buttertubs Drive (off Bowen Road).
*******************************************************
Good birding
Colin Bartlett

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walks, for November, 2010


Tuesday birders: Peter Dunn Photo.

**************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 09, 2010 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M.
*******************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 16, 2010. will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the viewing platform at highway 19a and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 A.M.
**************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 23, 2010. will be going to the Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:20 A.M. (Please note there is a parking fee at the Park)
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 30, 2010 Will be going to Deep Bay.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:35 A.M.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 02, 2010


Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and quite warm. The winds and seas were calm. The highlights included seeing eight Snow Geese at Parksville Bay before the walk. A Hutton's Vireo and a Warbling Vireo were gleaning insects on a tree just off the trail along the river.
We spotted a Gadwall, a Common Goldeneye and a Eurasian Wigeon in with a large flock of American Wigeon near the shoreline. A Cooper's Hawk was perched in a tall conifer tree along the river. A Short-eared Owl flew over the estuary and quickly disappeared. We watched as a Western Meadowlark perched on a bush near the trail and then flew onto an open meadow to join three other Western Meadowlarks that were perched on the root of a log. We had great looks at them as they posed for us. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on a bush.

Twenty-six birders saw and heard the following sixty-four species of birds:
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Californian Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Short-eared Owl
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
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
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch

Monday 1 November 2010

Canvasback Duck, Northern Shoveler at Morningstar Ponds

Hi birders,

I went out birding with John Purves this afternoon, we went to the Morningstar Ponds, near French Creek,we saw-- Canada Goose,American Wigeon, Mallard, a
Northern Shoveler, a Canvasback, several Ring-necked Duck, two Greater Scaup, Bufflehead ,Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, a Redtailed Hawk. We saw the other birds on the following list at Pebble Beach.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Californian Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 31 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 31, 2010


Surfbird: Ryan Cathers Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 31, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo
The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds. The highlights including seeing several flocks of Bonaparte's Gull flying down the Strait of Georgia. We spotted several Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets low in the bushes near the trail. There was one Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from the tree branches.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds.
Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet,Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Saturday October 30:
Two Trumpeter Swans were seen flying low over the Cat Stream near Beacon Hill Road in Nanaimo.

Friday October 29:
Six Snow Geese were seen resting on the grass at the far end of the Park, near the last parking area, at Parksville Bay.

Wednesday October 27:
"Rare bird alert-Palm Warbler:
A Palm Warbler was spotted along the east end of the Parksville wetlands off Lodgepole Avenue in Parksville. The Palm Warbler is normally found east of the Rocky Mountains.

Wilson's Snipe was seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo.

A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

A Wilson's Snipe was spotted in a front yard along Lost Lake Road in north Nanaimo.

Six Snow Geese were seen in with the Gulls on the grass at Parksville Bay in Parksville.

Tuesday October 26:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The surf was up and there was light rain and strong winds off the Strait of Georgia with us all morning. The highlights included seeing an Eared Grebe moving on the big waves offshore. We saw several flocks of Long-tailed Ducks moving in groups of four and five down the Strait of Georgia. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls California Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were claiming the Pebble Beach gravel bar as the tide receded. Several flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls playfully flew past.
Sixteen birders was and heard the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs,
Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull,
Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch and House Finch.

A Varied Thrush, a Merlin, Steller's Jays, Northern Flicker, House Finches, Spotted Towhees, and Dark-eyed Juncos were seen in a yard near the corner of Rupert Road & Memorial Avenue in Qualicum Beach.

Monday October 25:
A Ruddy Duck was seen near the north-east corner of Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. If you start at the northern parking lot off Buttertubs, take the path to the left until it straightens out then look along the southern end of that first small bay. It was resting among the floating vegetation about 5-10 feet from the reeds.

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 meeting.
Karen Barry will share the results of the Coastal Waterbird Survey and the Beached Bird Survey.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Monday, November 22 at 7.30 pm
at 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.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 02, 2010. will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19A at about 9:10 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 07, 2010 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at the end of Raines Road in South Nanaimo at about 9:30 A.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 29 October 2010

The Snow Geese are still at the bay


Snow goose at Parksville Bay: Bill Panke Photo

Hi birders,

Marilynne and I were at Parksville Bay today October 29, 2010 and saw the six Snow Geese near the last parking area on the grass side of the park, they were resting peacefully.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Thursday 28 October 2010

Snow Geese


Snow Goose: Bill Panke Photo.

Hi birders,

John Purves and Bill Panke both saw six Snow Geese on the grass at Parksville Bay in Parksville on October 27, 2010.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 26,2010


Eared Grebe; John Purves Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The surf was up and there was light rain and strong winds off the Strait of Georgia with us all morning. The highlights included seeing an Eared Grebe moving on the big waves offshore. We saw several flocks of Long-tailed Ducks moving in groups of four and five down the Strait of Georgia. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls
California Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were claiming the Pebble Beach gravel bar as the tide receded. Several flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls playfully flew past.

Sixteen birders was and heard the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 24 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 24, 2010


Bufflehead: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 24, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in
Parksville.
The morning was cloudy with heavy rain showers and a strong wind off the Strait
of Georgia. The highlights including seeing fourteen Buffhead and several Dunlin
and Green-winged Teal on the mudflats. A small flock of Sanderling flew over
heading down the island.
Fifteen hardy but wet birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of
birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Buffhead, Greater Scaup, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter,
Harlequin Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Horned
Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant,
Double-crested Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Dunlin, Sanderling,
Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern
Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, Varied Thrush, European
Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird and House Finch.

Saturday, October 23:
Over ninety Greater White-fronted Geese, sixty Cackling Geese and three hundred
Green-winged Teal were seen at Holden Creek.

Two Northern Harriers, a Northern Shrike, a Wilson's Snipe and a flock of Cedar
Waxwings were heard and seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday October 19:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The
morning was sunny and warm with a light breeze off the water.
The big surprise of the morning was hearing and seeing a Common Nighthawk as we
walked through the campground. We saw several Pacific Loons on the Strait of
Georgia, but one of them was in full breeding plumage--it was a secular sight.
One lone Black Turnstone circled and landed near the shoreline. We watched a
Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the bushes next to us as
they moved about quickly, gleaning insects.
Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged
Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon,
Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California
Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Nighthawk, Northern Flicker,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing,
Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple
Finch and House Finch.

Monday October 18:
A Varied Thrush was spotted in the 2700 block of Neyland Road in Nanaimo.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird
please
call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ 250-390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Speaker Elke Wind takes us into the world of amphibians with "Why did the Toad
Cross the Road?"
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School.
Parksville.
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
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 26, 2010. will be going to Columbia Beach.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in
front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral
Tryon Blvd. (Turn onto Columbia Drive from Highway 19A, across from Windsor
Plywood. Turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd. & go about 100 yards-- turn left
to the parking area)
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 31, 2010 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at
Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road.
*******************************************************
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

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 19,2010


Glaucous-winged Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The
morning was sunny and warm with a light breeze off the water.
The big surprise of the morning was hearing and seeing a Common Nighthawk as we
walked through the campground. We saw several Pacific Loons on the Strait of
Georgia, but one of them was in full breeding plumage--it was a spectular sight.
One lone Black Turnstone circled and landed near the shoreline. We watched a
Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the bushes next to us as
they moved about quickly, gleaning insects.

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Nighthawk
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 17 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 17, 2010


Anna's Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

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

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 17, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay.
The morning was clear with calm winds and seas.
The highlights of the morning included seeing a large migrating flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. We saw five Greater White-fronted Geese resting on the grass. A Junco with a mostly white head put in a quick appearance feeding on the ground in front of us. A large raft of Pacific Loon were far offshore. A Northern Shrike flew onto the beach near us and picked up some prey before flying away.
Eighteen birders, including three exchange students from Japan, saw and heard the following forty-seven species of birds:
Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Berwick's Wren, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.

Saturday October 16:
A male Anna's Hummingbird, giving a spectacular display of his red head is visiting feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.

A Northern Pygmy Owl has been seen for the last number of days near the
Millstream River at Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

A Snow Goose was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese at the Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday October 12:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
The morning was cloudy and cool with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.
The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of an immature Northern Harrier standing in the tall grasses. We watched the Harrier for about fifteen minutes before the he flew up and started hunting low over the field. We saw several migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers low down in the bushes. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched in a tree giving us good views. We watched as six Northern Flickers landed in a snag close to the trail--a few of the large number of Northern Flickers that we saw throughout the morning . A Greater Yellowlegs landed not far from us, calling out and giving us great views. We spotted a mixed flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in a low bush not far from us.
Eleven Birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species
Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, American Wigeon
Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Hooded Merganser,
Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, , Western Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Barred Owl, Black-bellied Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Sunday October 10:
Four Snow Geese were spotted flying towards the Nanaimo River Estuary heading west over the Nanaimo River.

Friday October 08:
A flock of American Pipit's were seen on a front lawn in the Brookwood and Colborne area of north 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 Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Speaker Elke Wind takes us into the world of amphibians with "Why did the Toad Cross the Road?"
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School.
Parksville.
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
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 19, 2010. will be going to the Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:20 A.M. (Please note there is a parking fee at the Park)
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 24, 2010 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

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