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.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Nanaimo bird report, August 25, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“EXPLORE NATURE-- GO BIRDING”


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 August 25, 2013:  
The Sunday bird walk went to West Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and warm. A very special thanks to Eric Demers and the banders of the Vancouver Island University for a very informative demonstration of bird banding this morning. at the West Buttertubs Marsh area in Nanaimo.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following nineteen species:

Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Anna’s Hummingbird,  Common Raven, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler,  Warbling Vireo, Willow Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren,  Bushtit,  American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and  House Finch.

 


MacGillivray’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Thursday, August 22: 
A Black and White Warbler was seen not far from the bridge at French Creek. 

A Ruddy Turnstone was seen with Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers and Gulls in the incoming tide at the Columbia Beach gravel bars near the pond.

 Tuesday, August 20:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch, were all seen and heard at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
 

Monday, August 19:
Two Great Blue Heron, eight American Goldfinch, forty Long-billed Dowitchers, one Short-billed Dowitcher, sixty Western and Least Sandpipers, six Mallards, five Common Ravens, ten Northwestern Crows, over one thousand European Starlings, five House Finch, four Turkey Vultures, over thirty Violet-green Swallows, two Song Sparrows, two Northern Shoveler’s, eleven Green winged Teal, Three Savannah Sparrows, lots of Glaucous-winged Gulls, a flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Rough-winged Swallows, twenty-four  Common Mergansers and American Robins were seen at the Holden Creek Estuary in south Nanaimo.


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Thursday September 12

 

Nanoose Naturalists will begin their fall sessions of meetings at 7pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.

Our first speaker will be Crystal McMillan of Bear Smart BC to talk about Bears and People in BC.

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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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Tuesday, September 03:

The Tuesday  bird walk will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Meet at the parking lot near the Lion’s Club Playground at the Parksville Beach Community Centre 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 Sunday September 01, 2013 has been cancelled!

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 The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 08 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 Park off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

 

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Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Email:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

 

Saturday 24 August 2013

Tuesday bird walks in September, 2013

Tuesday bird walks in September, 2013

 

Meet at the parking lot near the Lion’s Club Playground at the Parksville Beach Community Centre at 9:00 am.

 

September 03—Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville—Or meet at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.

 

September 10-The Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach – Or meet at the Viewing Platform near Garrett Road and Highway 19a at about 9:20 a.m.

 

September 17-Columbia Beach- Or meet at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. at about 9:15 a.m.

 

September 24-Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.-Or meet at the end of Shelly Road at 9:05 a.m.
 
                               Ruddy Turnstone: John Purves Photo.

Friday 23 August 2013

BIRD SIGHTING UPDATE


A Black and White Warbler was seen at French Creek not far from the bridge on Aug.  22,

A Ruddy Turnstone was seen with Black Turnstones and Gulls at the incoming tide at Columbia Beach gravel Bars near the pond. on August 22.
 

 

Sunday 18 August 2013

Nanaimo bird report, August 18, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“EXPLORE NATURE-- GO BIRDING”


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 August 18, 2013:  
The Sunday bird walk went to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and warm. A flock of Bushtits were spotted as they moved from bush to bush, singing as they flew.  A mixed flock of Western and Least Sandpipers flew into in clouds back and forth along the shore giving us great looks.   Purple Martins flew low over their nesting boxes, singing all the while.  We saw a large flock of Barn Swallows perched on a thin snag on the estuary. An Osprey flew high over Beck Creek with prey in it’s talons.

Nine birders saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:

Canada Goose,   Mallard,  Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail,  Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture,   Bald Eagle,   Osprey,

Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon,  Eurasian-collared Dove,   Belted Kingfisher,  Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper,  Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker,  Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Purple Martin,  Barn Swallow,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Bewick's Wren,   Bushtit,  Song Sparrow and House Finch.    

 

Osprey: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 

Saturday, August 17: 

Three Barred Owls were seen in a backyard that backs on to Departure Creek in the1800 block of Deerborne Place in Nanaimo.

 

Friday, August 16:

Twenty-two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

 

 A Merlin was spotted at the same time in the same area.

 



Long-billed Dowitcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Monday, August 12:

Bewick's Wren, Glaucous-winged Gull, California Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Black Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Northwestern Crow, Bald Eagle, Eurasian Collared-Dove and Double-crested Cormorant were seen at Columbia Beach.

 

Purple Martin, Song Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Savannah Sparrow, Turkey Vulture and Rock Pigeons were seen at French Creek.

 

Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers and two Baird's Sandpipers were seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman Estuary in Parksville.

 

Black Oystercatchers, Brewer's Blackbirds, House Sparrows, European Starlings, Great Blue Herons, Black Swifts, Red-tailed Hawk, Barn Swallows, American Robins, Pileated Woodpecker, and Northern Flickers were seen at Qualicum Beach.


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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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We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

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The Sunday bird walk on August 25, will be going to the west Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the Buttertubs Marsh parking lot off Jingle Pot Road at about 9:15 AM. 

Please note the different location for the start of the walk.
*******************************************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Email:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher at Rathtrevor Provincial Park: Photo by Ralph Hocken.

Sunday 11 August 2013

Nanaimo bird report, August 11, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“EXPLORE NATURE-- GO BIRDING”


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 August 11, 2013:
 
The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with light rain showers. We spotted a Cooper’s Hawk being mobbed by Purple Martins and a Black Swift.  A family of Song Sparrows entertained us with their songs.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-one species:

Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Turkey Vulture,  Cooper’s Hawk,  Glaucous-winged Gull,  Anna’s Hummingbird,  Pileated Woodpecker,  Northern Flicker,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Common Raven,  Northwestern Crow,  Black Swift, Purple Martin,  American Robin,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,   Red-breasted Nuthatch,   Western Tanager,  Spotted Towhee and Song Sparrow.

                     Cooper’s Hawk: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

 

Saturday, August 09:

Nine Common Nighthawks were seen over Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.

Three Bald Eagles have fledged from their nest at Pipers Lagoon.

Common Nighthawks: Steen Petersen Photo.

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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.  ***************************************************************************

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on August 18 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.  We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at about 9:30 am near the entrance to the Living Forest Campground on Maki Road off Highway one.

*********************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633


Sunday 4 August 2013

Nanaimo bird report, August 04, 2013


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 August 04, 2013:
 
The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo The morning was sunny and warm but cool in the forest. Among the highlights was the sighting of several Brown Creepers throughout the morning. We saw over six Anna’s Hummingbirds and one Rufous Hummingbird playing tag in the field near the Rhodo  Bushes.

Seventeen birders, including visiting birders from California and Alberta, saw and heard the following twenty-four species:

Mallard, Bald Eagle, Eurasian Collared Dove,  Rock Pigeon,  Glaucous-wing Gull, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird,  Northern Flicker,  Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Black Swift,  California Quail, Bushtits, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper,  Pacific Wren,  Bewick's Wren,  Dark-eyed Junco,  American Robin,  Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee and  Song Sparrow.



Anna’s: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

A flock of Red Crossbills was seen feeding at a cedar log at Lantzville Beach.

 

 Wednesday, July 31: 

A pair of Red Crossbills was seen in a garden along the Little-Qualicum River north of Qualicum beach.

Monday, July 29:

Over one hundred Common Nighthawks were seen over Wren Place and Woodthrush Place in Nanaimo.

 

Brown Creeper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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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.  ***************************************************************************

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on August 11 will be going to Linley Valley  in Nanaimo.  We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at about 9:20 am at the end of Burma Road off Lost Lake Road.

*********************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633