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 by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 13 February 2011

Nanaimo bird report, February 13, 2011


Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken photo.

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

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

"Rare Bird Alert- Northern Mockingbird"
The Northern Mockingbird is still along Dumont Road near Eyelash Road in
Nanaimo.

"Rare Bird Alert-Grey Catbird"
A Grey Catbird is still visiting a backyard suet feeder in North Nanaimo.

Sunday February 13, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning started out clear and
sunny but ended up cloudy with a stiff wind off the water. The
highlights included seeing a Northern Shrike perched on a short shrub. Three
Eurasian Wigeon were spotted in with a flock of American Wigeon feeding in the
estuary. We spotted a large flock of Surf Scoters, White-winged and two Black
Scoters further off shore.

Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter ,White-winged Scoter, Black
Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted
Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pelagic
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California
Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,
Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow,
Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch.

"AN EARLY SIGHTING"
An Osprey was seen flying low over Jade Avenue in north Nanaimo and then headed
straight north.

Saturday February 12:
"Rare Bird Alert- Northern Mockingbird"
The Northern Mockingbird is still along Dumont Road near Eyelash Road in
Nanaimo.

"Rare Bird Alert-Grey Catbird"
A Grey Catbird is still visiting a backyard suet feeder in North Nanaimo.

Over forty Evening Grosbeaks were seen in the Cinnabar Valley in south Nanaimo.

Friday February 11:
An American Kestral was seen in a field near the Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar.

A Northern Pygmy Owl was heard calling near Lancashire Avenue and Northfield
Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday February 10:
Two Northern Harriers were spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south
Nanaimo.

Tuesday February 08:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy and the wind
was calm. The highlights included seeing a large flock of Northern Pintail
resting near shore on the estuary. Two Eurasian Wigeon were feeding with a
flock of American Wigeon. A pair of Barrow's Goldeneye were spotted further out
on the Bay. Five Black Oystercatchers flew in and started feeding along the
tide line.

Fifteen birders saw thirty species of birds.
Trumpeter Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter,
White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye,
Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon,
Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black
Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

A female Anna's Hummingbird was observed gathering cattail fluff for nesting
material and a Lincoln's Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow and Townsend's
Warbler were seen in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay 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@...

**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting
Monday February 28, 7.30 pm at Springwood School in Parksville.

Nanoose Field Naturalists Meeting.
Thursday, March 10th, 7 pm in 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 February 15, 2011 will be going to 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 at about 9:20A.M. Please note there is a parking
fee at Rathtrevor Park.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk, February 20, 2011 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo.
We will meet at the Backyard Store at 9:00A.M. or at the parking lot at Neck
Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9: 20 A.M.
*******************************************************

Good birding
Neil Robins

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

"GO BIRDING—EXPLORE NATURE"

"LINKS"

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/

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