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.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September, 27,2011



















Pigeon Guillemot: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Hi birders,

The Tuesday Birdwalk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was mosty cloudy with a little rain and the winds were mostly calm. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of three flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese. Three of the Greater White-fronted Geese flew so low over us that we could see their speckled bellies. They circled around us as if they were going to land but they changed their minds and continued to fly into the eastern sky. A flock of forty Greater White-fronted Geese flew past high overhead heading straight south. We spotted a Common Murre, two Pigeon Guillemots and a Marbled Murrelet riding the waves on the water.

Twenty-five birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species:
Greater White-fronted Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Eurasian collared-Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 25 September 2011

Nanaimo bird report, September 25, 2011




















Pink-footed Shearwater: 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 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

We are happy to report that Ann Thompson is home from the hospital. We look forward to having you join us on the birdwalks soon, Ann.

Sunday September 25:
The Sunday bird walk went to French Creek. The bird walk was cut short by the windy, wet weather.
Seven birders saw and heard the following eight species.
Mallard, Common Merganser, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared-dove, House Finch and Rock Pigeons.

Wednesday September 21:
Three Broad-winged Hawks, six Red-winged Hawks, over three hundred Turkey Vultures, two Peregrine Falcons, Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks were seen at Rocky Point near Victoria.

A family of Purple Martins was seen near the nest boxes at the foot of Jacks Road in Lantzville.

Tuesday September 20:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm but a little chilly in the forest. The winds were calm and the water on the Strait of Georgia was smooth like glass. The highlight of the morning was spotting a Parasitic Jaeger who was harassing a Glaucous-winged Gull. The Jaeger stopped to rest on the water giving us all good long looks at him through the scopes. After about ten minutes and fairly close to shore, the Jaeger chased another Gull putting on a spectacular display for us.
Twenty-four birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese, American Wigeon, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Parasitic Jaeger, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow ,
Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, American Pipit, McGillivray’s Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Monday September 19:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Semipalmated Plover, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch and American Goldfinch were seen at the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Monday September 12:
Eighteen Turkey Vultures, one Bald Eagle, eleven Sharp-shinned Hawks, one Cooper's Hawk, one Red-tailed Hawk, one American Kestrel, one Merlin, ninety-five Sandhill Cranes, twenty Vaux's Swift, one Rufous Hummingbird, one Anna's Hummingbird, six Violet-green Swallows,
sixty Red-necked Phalarope, one Common Loon, ninety-eight Band-tailed Pigeons, nine American Pipits, twelve Cedar Waxwings, eleven Yellow-rumped Warblers, four Red Crossbills, twenty-six American Goldfinch and twenty-two Pine Siskin were seen from the Beechey Head lookout at East Sooke Regional Park on the southwest end of Vancouver island.

Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, September 26 at 7:30 pm.
General Meeting @ Springwood Middle School, Parksville

Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
Thursday, October 13 at 7 pm.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay.
****************************************************
Everyone is invited 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 September 27 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off Highway 19a,and then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.)
***************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 02 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20A.M.

Sunday September 18:

Ucluelet Pelagic Trip Results:

On Sunday, 96 birders, including six birders from our area, and biologists board the M.V. Frances Barkley and we left the Government Warf at 7 am. We made a quick stop at one of the fish processing plants to take on 1600 pounds of Hake for attracting seabirds. The water in Ucluelet harbour was calm, there was no rain and just a light breeze. We motored out of the harbour and meet the open ocean, and then all hell broke loose. Three meter swells were coming in from multiple directions; we were going to see pelagic seabirds, but first the Pacific was going to test our resolve for the first hour of the trip. Once we got past the ground swell the water started to flatten out considerably and around 25 km from shore the sailing was quite comfortable. The trip would definitely been cancelled if not for the size and seaworthiness of the Frances Barkley and her crew.
Mike Boyd and I took turns throwing Hake bits to the gulls as soon as we left the dock and we were escorted out to the 37 km mark by a cloud of hunger California Gulls. Once we were past 30 km from shore, we started to pour small amounts of shark oil that had been given to me from Tom Plath. This oil really brought in the Northern Fulmars, Shearwaters and Black-footed Albatross. I had also prepared blocks of frozen shrimp and sardines that were thrown overboard and slowly released small bits of food. All of the chumming really paid off and we were able to draw in large numbers of pelagic birds often with in meters of the ship.
Michelle Force, Russell Cannings and others manned the handheld radios and worked hard to share what was being seen on each of the decks. We had allot of very good birders on the ship and they were all really great about spotting birds and letting everyone on board know where the birds were. I would like to thank everyone for contributing to the success of the trip. I would also like to thank Neil Robins for helping to spread the word about the trip via the Nanaimo bird alert.

I had great time and I finally saw a Skua! For many people this was their first pelagic trip and it was wonderful to hear so many people saying that they had gotten 9, 10 or 11 lifers that day. There were many smiling birders on the ship.

WildResearch is considering doing another pelagic.
Check the WildResearch website-- www.wildresearch.ca

There are likely other sightings that were made that I am unaware, but here is the list.
Black-footed Albatross: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Birds seen Offshore:

Tufted Puffin- 1. Flew right over the ship- a real crowd pleaser.
Pigeon Guillemot- common near shore.
Cassin's Auklet- 2.
Buller's Shearwater- 6. These birds came in at 32 km, checked out the ship and then left.
Sooty Shearwater- 100's. First birds were seen within 1 km of shore and became come by 5 kms from shore.
Pink-footed Shearwater- 100's, first ones were seen at 15 km and this species was near the ship for the rest of the day.
Short-tailed Shearwater- 4. Possibly more around, but at least 4 were positively identified.
Black-footed Albatross- 8- 10 landed within 70m of the ship with another 12- 20 fly bys within 200m of the ship; most were seen at 30- 37 km from shore.
Northern Fulmar- 100s, we started seeing them close to shore and their numbers kept building as we travelled off shore. We saw all of the colour morphs, and had a least fifty at all times on the water next to the ship for 3 hours at the 37 km mark.
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel-10-12. First seen at 37 km.
Leach's Storm-Petrel- 1.
Red-necked Phalarope- 10- 12. Seen close to the ship.
Red Phalarope- 2. Seen on the way back.
South Polar Skua- 10- 13, a surprisingly large number of this species from the 20 km to 37 km.
Pomarine Jaeger- 18, a handful came in close to the ship.
Long-tailed Jaeger- 1, fly by.
Parasitic Jaeger- 5. Surprisingly few Parasitic.
California Gull- 1,000s,
Glaucous-winged Gull- numerous inshore, relatively scarce offshore.
Thayer's Gull- 5.
Herring Gull- 5-10.
Sabine's Gull- 30 pasted in front of the ship between 27-37 km.
Black-legged Kittiwake- 1. Adult fly by.
Northern Pintail- 50, 4 different flocks flying well offshore, with the
Green-winged Teal and the Mallard.
Green-winged Teal-1.
Mallard- 1.

On shore or within a 5 km of shore:
Common Murre- 75. Most were within 10 km of shore.
Rhinoceros Auklet- 40. Most were within 10 km of shore.
Pigeon Guillemot- common near shore.
Pacific Loon- 8.
Common Loon- 1
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon- 1, departing from Ucluelet.
Northwestern Crow
Belted Kingfisher- 1.
Surfbird
Black Turnstone
White-winged Scoter- 6-8.
Surf Scoter- 2-4.
Pelagic Cormorant- 15-20.
Brant's Cormorant 18-20.
Double-crested Cormorant- 10.

Marine Mammals:
Stellar's Sealion- 4, in Ucluelet harbour
Humpback Whale- 6-8, at about 30 km, we watch them for 20 min on the way out and
saw them again on the way in to port.

And... one Sunfish.
And not a single Heermann's Gull or any passerines offshore.

Thanks,
Paul Levesque
Vancouver

Good birding
Neil Robins


THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Pelagic bird trip, September 18, 2011























Northern Fulmar: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hello,

On Sunday, 96 birders and biologists board the M.V. Frances Barkley and we left
the Government Warf at 7 am. We made a quick stop at one of the fish processing
plants to take on 1600 pounds of Hake for attracting seabirds. The water in
Ucluelet harbour was calm, there was no rain and just a light breeze. We motored
out of the harbour and meet the open ocean, and then all hell broke loose. Three
meter swells were coming in from multiple directions; we were going to see
pelagic seabirds, but first the Pacific was going to test our resolve for the
first hour of the trip. Once we got past the ground swell the water started to
flatten out considerably and around 25 km from shore the sailing was quite
comfortable. The trip would definitely been cancelled if not for the size and
seaworthiness of the Frances Barkley and her crew.

Mike Boyd and I took turns throwing Hake bits to the gulls as soon as we left
the dock and we were escorted out to the 37 km mark by a cloud of hunger
California Gulls. Once we were past 30 km from shore, we started to pour small
amounts of shark oil that had been given to me from Tom Plath. This oil really
brought in the Northern Fulmars, Shearwaters and Black-footed Albatross. I had
also prepared blocks of frozen shrimp and sardines that were thrown overboard
and slowly released small bits of food. All of the chumming really paid off and
we were able to draw in large numbers of pelagic birds often with in meters of
the ship.

Michelle Force, Russell Cannings and others manned the handheld radios and
worked hard to share what was being seen on each of the decks. We had allot of
very good birders on the ship and they were all really great about spotting
birds and letting everyone on board know where the birds were. I would like to
thank everyone for contributing to the success of the trip. I would also like to
thank Neil Robins for helping to spread the word about the trip via the Nanaimo
bird alert.

I had great time and I finally saw a Skua! For many people this was their first
pelagic trip and it was wonderful to hear so many people saying that they had
gotten 9, 10 or 11 lifers that day. There were many smiling birders on the ship.

WildResearch is considering doing another pelagic, and I will keep the
BCBirdingVanIsland group informed.

There are likely other sightings that were made that I am unaware, but here is
the list.

Birds seen Offshore:

Tufted Puffin- 1. Flew right over the ship- a real crowd pleaser.
Pigeon Guillemot- common near shore.
Cassin's Auklet- 2.
Buller's Shearwater- 6. These birds came in at 32 km, checked out the ship and
then left.
Sooty Shearwater- 100's. First birds were seen within 1 km of shore and became
come by 5 kms from shore.
Pink-footed Shearwater- 100's, first ones were seen at 15 km and this species
was near the ship for the rest of the day.
Short-tailed Shearwater- 4. Possibly more around, but at least 4 were positively
identified.
Black-footed Albatross- 8- 10 landed within 70m of the ship with another 12- 20
fly bys within 200m of the ship; most were seen at 30- 37 km from shore.
Northern Fulmar- 100s, we started seeing them close to shore and their numbers
kept building as we travelled off shore. We saw all of the colour morphs, and
had a least fifty at all times on the water next to the ship for 3 hours at the
37 km mark.
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel-10-12. First seen at 37 km.
Leach's Storm-Petrel- 1.
Red-necked Phalarope- 10- 12. Seen close to the ship.
Red Phalarope- 2. Seen on the way back.
South Polar Skua- 10- 13, a surprisingly large number of this species from the
20 km to 37 km.
Pomarine Jaeger- 18, a handful came in close to the ship.
Long-tailed Jaeger- 1, fly by.
Parasitic Jaeger- 5. Surprisingly few Parasitic.
California Gull- 1,000s,
Glaucous-winged Gull- numerous inshore, relatively scarce offshore.
Thayer's Gull- 5.
Herring Gull- 5-10.
Sabine's Gull- 30 pasted in front of the ship between 27-37 km.
Black-legged Kittiwake- 1. Adult fly by.
Northern Pintail- 50, 4 different flocks flying well offshore, with the
Green-winged Teal and the Mallard.
Green-winged Teal-1.
Mallard- 1.

On shore or within a 5 km of shore:
Common Murre- 75. Most were within 10 km of shore.
Rhinoceros Auklet- 40. Most were within 10 km of shore.
Pigeon Guillemot- common near shore.
Pacific Loon- 8.
Common Loon- 1
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon- 1, departing from Ucluelet.
Northwestern Crow
Belted Kingfisher- 1.
Surfbird
Black Turnstone
White-winged Scoter- 6-8.
Surf Scoter- 2-4.
Pelagic Cormorant- 15-20.
Brant's Cormorant 18-20.
Double-crested Cormorant- 10.

Marine Mammals:
Stellar's Sealion- 4, in Ucluelet harbour
Humpback Whale- 6-8, at about 30 km, we watch them for 20 min on the way out and
saw them again on the way in to port.

And... one Sunfish.
And not a single Heermann's Gull or any passerines offshore.

Thanks,
Paul Levesque
Vancouver

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Englishman River birding




















Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

I had the good fortune to go birding with three birders from Maine on Monday. We went to the mud flats along the Englishman River Estuary in San Pariel, where we saw two Semipalmated Plover and several species of ducks. We then went to the Strait of Georgia off Marine Drive and found Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, a Double-crested Cormorant, California Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls, a Pigeon Guillemot and a Marbled Murrelet. The forest area off Mills Road near the Englishman River Estuary produced Northern Flickers, Northwestern Crows, Common Ravens, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, American Robins, Spotted Towhee and close views of a perched Savannah Sparrow, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

We saw and heard the following twenty-eight species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Semipalmated Plover
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September, 20,2011




















Parasitic Jaeger: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm but a little chilly in the forest. The winds were calm and the water on the Strait of Georgia was smooth like glass. The highlight of the morning was spotting a Parasitic Jaeger who was harassing a Glaucous-winged Gull. The Jaeger stopped to rest on the water giving us all good long looks at him through the scopes. After about ten minutes and fairly close to shore, the Jaeger chased another Gull putting on a spectacular display for us.

Twenty-four birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Merlin
Greater Yellowlegs
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
MacGillivray's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 19 September 2011

Nanaimo bird report, September 19, 2011




















American Pipit: 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 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Monday September 19, 2011:
Two flocks of Sandhill Cranes were seen flying south over the Yellow Point area of Cedar.

Sunday September 18:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The beginning of the walk was cool and wet but it warmed up as the morning progressed. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of an American Bittern flying over the marsh and then landing and standing in the reeds, giving us a quick look at it. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was spotted chasing a Red-tailed Hawk.
Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Mallards, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, American Bittern, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black Swift, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Thirty-two Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.

Friday September 16:
Twenty-two Sandhill Cranes were spotted flying over Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Thursday September 15:
A Great Horned Owl, a Barred Owl, and two Pygmy Owls were seen at Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

American Pipits were seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

A possible Wandering Tattler was reported on Lost Beach at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Wednesday September 14:
American Pipits were spotted at Pipers Lagoon.

Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over Country Club Mall in Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 13:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy but very pleasant with calm winds. We saw four Common Loons just offshore giving us good views. They were also singing---a nice treat! Two Marbled Murrelet, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, a Double-crested Cormorant and a Pelagic Cormorant were offshore. Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were spotted flying over the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Semipalmated Plover, several Killdeer as well as Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers were on the mud flats as the tide was going out.
A special thanks to Bahar Bilgen from Turkey for joining us for the last two Tuesday bird walks. It was a pleasure having you join us, Bahar.
Twenty-six birders including Bahar and Marie from Illinois and Robyn from Australia saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:

Canada Geese, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer,
Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill and American Goldfinch.
*******************************************
Arrowsmith Naturalist Meeting
Monday, September 26 at 7:30 pm.
General Meeting @ Springwood Middle School, Parksville
********************************************
Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
Thursday, October 13 at 7 pm.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay.
****************************************************
Everyone is invited 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 September 20 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 A.M.

******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 25 will be going to French Creek. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. in Columbia Beach, 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
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 13, 2011




















Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy but very pleasant with calm winds. We saw four Common Loons just offshore giving us good views. They were also singing---a nice treat! Two
Marbled Murrelet, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, a Double-crested Cormorant and a Pelagic Cormorant were offshore. Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were spotted flying over the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Semipalmated Plover, several Killdeer as well as Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers were on the mud flats as the tide was going out.
A special thanks to Bahar Bilgen from Turkey for joining us for the last two Tuesday bird walks. It was a pleasure having you join us, Bahar.
Twenty-six birders including Bahar and Marie from Illinois and Robyn from Australia saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 11 September 2011

Nanaimo bird report, September 11, 2011




















Yellow-rumped Warbler; 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 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday September 11, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to the newly opened Moorecroft Regional District Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm with a breeze off the Strait of Georgia. We saw and heard all five species of woodpeckers from the island---Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker and Red-breasted Sapsucker. Several Brown Creepers entertained us throughout the morning. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers were spotted high up in the trees.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species of birds: Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and Red Crossbill.

Tuesday September 06:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm with a strong breeze off the Strait of Georgia.
We spotted a Black-throated Gray Warbler in with a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees in the trees near the trail. There were a large number of Lincoln's Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows and Cedar Waxwings along the edge of the meadows. Two young Western Tanagers gave us good looks from the low bushes along the trail. Ten Evening Grosbeaks flew over us at end of the walk.
Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Turkey, Chicago and Victoria saw and heard the following thirty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Killdeer, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Eurasian Collared Dove, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Evening Grosbeak.

A Great Horned Owl was seen at 8:00 P.M. in the 1300 block of Pilot Way in Nanoose Bay.

A Wilson's Warbler was seen at the end of Brookwood Drive in north Nanaimo.

A Marsh Wren was seen at Brookwood Marsh in north Nanaimo.

Sunday September 04:
A juvenile Parasitic Jaeger was spotted at Deep Bay harassing Bonaparte’s Gulls before settling on the water for about five minutes and then flying off.

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Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
October 13 at 7 P.M.
@ The Library Centre along Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay.
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Everyone is invited 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 September 13 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood drive at about 9:10 A.M.

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The Sunday Bird Walk on September 18 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh 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
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 06, 2011




















Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm with a strong breeze off the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Black-throated Gray Warbler in with a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees in the trees near the trail. There was a large number of Lincoln's Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows and Cedar Waxwings along the edge of the meadows. Two young Western Tanagers gave us good looks from the low bushes along the trail. Ten Evening Grosbeaks flew over us at end of the walk.

Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Victoria, Chicago and Turkey saw and heard the following thirty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Killdeer
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Eurasian Collared Dove
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 4 September 2011

Nanaimo bird report, September 04, 2011



















Semipalmated Plover: 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 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Sunday September 04, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. We saw a Baird’s Sandpiper, and three Semipalmated Plover’s on the mudflats as the tide was coming in. Several Willow Flycatchers were fly catching as we looked over the bushes throughout the morning. A Bonaparte’s Gull, three Common Loons and two Red-necked Grebes were on the Strait of Georgia.
Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Merlin, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Bonaparte’s Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Monday August 29:
The Early birders went to the newly opened Moorecroft Regional District Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm with a breeze off the Strait of Georgia. We saw and heard several Brown Creepers throughout the morning. A flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets as well as a Hutton's Vireo entertained us as they moved through the bushes not far from us. We watched a Warbling Vireo, Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpecker feeding on bushes at the Beaver Pond.

Nine birders saw and heard the following twenty-eight species of birds:
Canada Geese, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Eurasian Collared Dove, Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling and Red Crossbill.

A male Pileated Woodpecker was seen feeding at a backyard suet feeder in the Departure Bay/Rock City area of Nanaimo.

Sunday August 28:
Twenty to thirty Horned Grebes were seen on the Strait of Georgia at Qualicum Bay.

Forty-one Common Nighthawks and two Eurasian Collared Doves were seen over the Paradise Mini Golf course in Parksville.



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Nanoose Naturalists Meeting
September 8 at 7 P.M.
The Library Centre on Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay.
Guest speaker -Tim Clemont
Topic--Restoration of the Englishman River Estuary
****************************************************
Everyone is invited 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 September 06 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (the ocean side of Shelly Road off Highway 19a) at about 9:10 A.M.

******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 11 will be going to Moorecroft Regional District Park in Nanoose Bay. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at Moorecroft Regional District Park that is at the end of Stewart Road, off Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay, 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
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com


“Pelagic birding trip in September”

WildResearch, a Vancouver base non-profit, is pleased to be offering a pelagic birding trip departing from Ucluelet on the Sunday the 18th September 2011. The ship we will be using is the M.V. Frances Barkley, a 39m (128ft), 300 ton coastal freighter. The cost per person is $200 for WildResearch members.

For details visit: www.wildresearch.ca