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 3 March 2013

Nanaimo bird report, March 03, 2013

                                 Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT -----” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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, March 03, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was bright and sunny with a strong biting wind. The bird of the morning was a Palm Warbler.  The Palm Warbler is a rare bird for this area and it is the first one we have seen on the bird walks.  Normally it is seen east of the Rockies.  We saw five Western Meadowlarks fly in to a bush giving us great views.  A Northern Harrier flew low over the ground looking for prey.  We spotted two Northern Shrike at the end of the walk.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species:
Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Northern Flicker, Palm Warbler, Steller’s Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren,  American Robin,  Western Meadowlark, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch and Dark-eyed Junco.

Tuesday, February 26:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with strong biting winds and misty rain at the end of the walk. We saw nine Northern Flickers perched throughout the forest during the morning. A Northern Shrike put in several appearances perching in different locations after chasing prey. We spotted two California Gulls roosting on a sand bar near shore in with a huge number of Mew Gulls, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,  Dunlin, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre,
Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird,
European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,
Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Pine Siskin and House Finch.
“Rare Bird Alert- Citrine Wagtail”
The Citrine Wagtail was seen once again in Courtenay on February 26.
Directions to specific location: From Courtenay, cross the 17th St. Bridge
 (Courtenay River). Turn right onto Comox Road (Dyke Rd) until the Pumping Station
on the right hand side of the road. There is a dirt road across the road with a
 For Sale sign on the left. Walk up the dirt road towards the steel chain blocking
vehicle access. The Wagtail has been observed next to the dirt road, at the
furthest brush pile.
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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 March 05, 2013 will be going to Columbia Beach.
We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Turn onto Columbia Drive  from Highway 19A in Columbia Beach(on the ocean side of the highway) and then right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd and go for about 100 yards, just past the mail boxes at about 9:20 a.m.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on March 10, 2013, will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Bowen Road near the Lawn Bowling Green in Nanaimo at about 9:20 A.M.
Good birding
Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C. V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633

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