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 20 February 2011

Nanaimo bird report, February 20,2011


Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT


"GO BIRDING—EXPLORE NATURE"


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

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

Sunday February 20, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo . The morning was sunny but there was a stiff wind off the water.
The highlights included seeing a Hutton’s Vireo feeding on an Alder tree.
A Double-crested Cormorant and two Pelagic Cormorants were resting on a close gravel bar giving us great looks at the coloring of both species. We saw several small flocks of Ruby-crowned Kinglets gleaning insects from the Alder Trees-- one gave us views of his ruby crown. We heard a flock of Pine Siskins from high up in the Alder Trees.

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds:
Trumpeter Swans, Canada Goose, Bufflehead, Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebe, Common Goldeneye, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Black Oystercatcher, Pigeon Guillemot, Bald Eagle, Thayer's Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Anna's Hummingbird, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hutton's Vireo, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Pine Siskins.

Saturday February 19:
A Turkey Vulture was spotted over Beban Park in Nanaimo.

Friday February 16:
Two Turkey Vultures were seen soaring above the Chase River Osprey nest near Colliery Dam in Nanaimo.

Over forty Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders along Forest Crescent in Nanaimo.

Thursday February 17:
Six Evening Grosbeaks and fifty Brewers Blackbirds are visiting feeders in the Columbia Beach area.

A Common Loon and two Red-throated Loons were seen at Biggs Park in south Nanaimo.

A Northern Harrier, eight Western Meadowlarks, five Trumpeter Swan and several Northern Pintail were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo

Three Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at Holden Creek in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday February 15:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a stiff wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing thirty-eight Brant Geese fly in and land just off shore. A large flock of Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover and
Black Turnstone were seen right on the tide line. A large flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls,
Thayer's Gulls and several Glaucous-winged Gulls were roosting on a gravel bar near the shore. Several flocks with six to nine Common Murre flew down the Strait of Georgia throughout the morning. We spotted a Pigeon Guillemot, a Marbled Murrelet and a Cassin's Auklet bouncing on the waves further off shore.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Brant, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck,
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser,
Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot,
Marbled Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren,
American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.

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@...

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Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting
Monday February 28, 7.30 pm at Springwood School in Parksville.
Guest Speaker will be Lisa Spaven, coordinator of B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network. She will share her knowledge of the behavioural and environmental aspects of marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and whales.
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Nanoose Field Naturalists Meeting.
Thursday, March 10th, 7 pm in the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
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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 February 22, 2011 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
main parking area off Admiral Tryon Boulavard at about 9:20A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk, February 27, 2011 will be going the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at the Backyard Store at 9:00A.M. or at the viewing platform along highway 19a near Garrett Road at about 9: 30 A.M.
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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

Big Day For The Brant – 2011 Birding Competition

For the 18th year a Big Day competition will be held to crown the teams that can see the most species of birds in one day.
WHERE: Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, BC.
WHEN: Saturday April 9, 2011 from 4:30am to 3:00pm.
WHO: Teams of 3 to 5 in both Green and Motorized Categories. Novice, Intermediate, Experienced & young birders all welcomed.
PRIZES: Awards Presentations immediately following at Deez Bar & Grill, Qualicum Beach.
COST: $10 cash per person at the door.
HOW: TO REGISTER, contact RHYS HARRISON rhysharrison@shaw.ca or (250) 248-5305 with team names, category & experience level.
PROCEEDS: To the BRANT WILDLIFE FESTIVAL.
DETAILS: Instructions, Map, Checklist & Suggested Hotspots will be emailed to Team Members on registration.
EXTRAS:
Space may be limited so register early.
Singles & Couples are encouraged to enter and will be helped to form a team.
Several special prize categories have been added this year.

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