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 29 October 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, october 29, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds. We spotted a large flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees feeding on a low conifer giving us great close views. Over one hundred Bonaparte's Gulls were bathing in the water with a large mixed flock of other gulls. Five Long-tailed Duck’s were diving and swimming just offshore. A raft of Bufflehead and one lone Common Goldeneye were floating on the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Northern Shrike chasing prey and then heading back to it’s perch on a short bush. We spotted a Wilson’s Snipe feeding at the end of the little pond just off the trail.

Wilson’s Snipe: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Montana and Victoria saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Wilson’s Snipe
Eurasian-collared Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch
 

Bonaparte's Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on November 05 will be going to Deep Bay. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 27 October 2013

Nanaimo bird report, October 27, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
” EXPLORE NATURE-GO BIRDING”

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, October 27, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with a wild wind blowing all morning. Six California Quail ran across the trail just in front of us. We saw American Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal were hankered down from the wind, feeding on the mud flats. A musical Bewick’s Wren’s singing caught our attention.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:

Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk,, Dunlin, California Quail,  Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,  Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Varied Thrush,  European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Brewer’s Blackbird.




California Quail: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Friday, October 25:

A Barred Owl was seen in the trees above Garside Road at Brannon Lake in Nanaimo.      

   

Thursday, October 24:

Twenty-two American Pipits and a Western Meadowlark were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 

Wednesday, October 23:

A Redhead Duck was spotted at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday, October 22:  

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was foggy and cool with calm winds. We managed to see a Bufflehead,

Three Common Mergansers and two Common Loons on the foggy Strait of Georgia. Two Anna’s Hummingbirds perched on shrub just off the road.  We had good views of a Savannah Sparrow and two Fox Sparrows as we walked along the road.  A juvenile Northern Shrike was perched on a top of a short tree along the waterfront giving us good looks. 
Eleven Birders saw and heard the following twenty-six species:
Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Mallard, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Eurasian Collared Dove, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and House Sparrow.  

 

Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

A White-throated Sparrow has been visiting a backyard along Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo. 

Monday, October 21:

A Western Meadowlark, A Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur’s, American Pipit’s and several Lincoln’s Sparrows were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.  

Song Sparrows, Mallards and a Varied Thrush were seen at the marsh area next to the parking lot at Neck Point in Nanaimo. 

Thursday, November 14:

The Nanoose Naturalists meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.
Guest speaker will be John Neville and he will talk about the Raptors of Canada.

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


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 October 29 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or the Oceanside end of Shelly Road off Highway 19a at about 9:10 am.

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The Sunday Bird Walk on November 03 will be going to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the end of Raines Road in south Nanaimo at about 9:30am.
************************************************************************************

 

British Columbia rare bird alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
************************************************************************************

 

WildResearch link---http://www.wildresearch.ca/

 

Good birding
Neil Robins

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

 



Wednesday 23 October 2013

REDHEAD

a REDHEAD was reported today, October 23, at Buttertubs marsh. Check the water near the Osprey stand for the bird.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, october 22, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was foggy and cool with calm winds. We managed to see a Bufflehead,three Common Mergansers and two


 
 
 
Common Loons on the foggy Strait of Georgia. Two Anna’s Hummingbirds perched on shrub just off the road.  We had good views of a Savannah Sparrow and two Fox Sparrows as we walked along the road.  A juvenile Northern Shrike was perched on a top of a short tree along the waterfront giving us good looks.
 
 
Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Eleven Birders was and heard the following twenty-six species:
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Common Loon

Bald Eagle
Northern Shrike

Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Eurasian Collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
House Sparrow
 
 
Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk on October 29 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 20 October 2013

nanaimo bird report, October 20, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
” EXPLORE NATURE-GO BIRDING”

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669or 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, October 20, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanoose Bay.  The morning was cloudy and cool.  We saw several Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoters, Pacific Loons and Pelagic Cormorants on the water. A Western Meadowlark gave us great close views as he perched on a short shrub. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on the top of a tall snag at the end of the walk.
Eight birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Geese, Mallard, Bufflehead, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser,  Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California Gull, Bonaparte Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Bewick’s Wren, Pacific Wren, Western Meadowlark, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Northern Flicker,  American Robin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Purple Finch and Dark-eyed Junco.

 

 


Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Friday, October 18: 

Five Horned Larks, two American Pipits and a Western Meadowlark were seen at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo .

 

A Great Horned Owl was spotted near the parking lot at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

 

Over fifteen Townsend’s Solitaires and three Anna’s Hummingbirds were seen at the top of Little Mountain just outside of Parksville.

 

Saturday, October 19:

One Sandhill Crane was seen on a cornfield by the seventeen hole of the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo.

 

An American Dipper was seen at the lower pond of the Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

 

An Orange-crowned Warbler was seen along the Maki Road in south Nanaimo. A Western Gull was seen roosting with the hordes of Gulls near the Living Forest Campground in south Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday, October 15:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm giving us a great morning of birding. The highlights included seeing a flock of over one thousand Pacific Loons stretching in a very long line offshore. Over two hundred Western Grebes gave us great views further offshore. Many Common Loons were not far from shore. We saw thirty Bonaparte's Gulls in with the mixed flock of gulls.  There were Black Scoters not far from shore. A season of Killdeer was bathing in the estuary. We spotted a Western Meadowlark at the top of a tall conifer tree. A dark-phased Red-tailed Hawk perched on top a conifer tree giving us good views.

 

Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species.

Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, American Robin, , Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

 

Two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at Holden Creek in south Nanaimo.

 

A Harlan’s subspecies Red-tailed Hawk was seen along Keene Road and Yellowpoint Road in Cedar.

 

Monday, October 14:

A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen in a Backyard at Coombs.

 

A Steller’s Jay was seen in a backyard near Morningstar Golf Course in French Creek.

 

Four Horned Larks, two Lapland Longspurs and two Western Meadowlarks were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, October 13:

 A Lapland Longspur and three Horned Larks were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 

A Lapland Longspur was seen at St. Jean Point on Hornby Island.



Lapland Longspur: Nick Smith Photo.

 

Thursday, November 14:

The Nanoose Naturalists meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.

Guest speaker will be John Neville and he will talk about the Raptors of Canada.

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


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 October 22 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or the parking area at Admiral Tyron Bldg. off Columbia Drive at about 9:10 am.

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 20 will be going to Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.  Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville about 9:25 am.
************************************************************************************

 

British Columbia rare bird alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
************************************************************************************

 

WildResearch link---http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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


Good birding

Neil Robins

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 15, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm giving us a great morning of birding. The highlights included seeing a flock of over one thousand Pacific Loons stretching in a very long line offshore. Over two hundred Western Grebes gave us great views further offshore. Many Common Loons were not far from shore. We saw thirty Bonaparte's Gulls in with the mixed flock of gulls.  There were Black Scoters not far from shore. A season of Killdeer were bathing in the estuary. We spotted a Western Meadowlark at the top of a tall conifer tree. A dark-phased Red-tailed Hawk perched on top a conifer tree giving us good view
                                Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, American Robin, , Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow,  Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch. 
                               Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on October 22, 2013 will be going to Columbia Beach. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 13 October 2013

Nanaimo bird report, October 13, 2013


NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
” EXPLORE NATURE-GO BIRDING”

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, October 13, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm. We saw several Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoters, Pacific Loons and Pelagic Cormorants on the water. The surprise of the morning was the sighting of a Hermit Thrush just off the path.


Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:

Canada Geese, Mallard, Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-necked Grebe, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Doubled-crested Cormorant,  Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher,  European Starling,  Bald Eagle, Black Turnstones,  Black Oystercatchers, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Northwestern Crow, Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Anna’s Hummingbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow,  Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill.



Hermit Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Friday, October 11:  A Lapland Longspur and a Horned Lark were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 

Nine Western Meadowlarks, Lincoln's Sparrows, Savannahs Sparrows, Golden-Crowned, White-crowned Sparrows, a Northern Harrier and a Pectoral Sandpiper were seen this morning at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo

 

Fifteen Western Meadowlarks were seen this evening at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

 

Wednesday, October 09:

A Barn Owl was spotted near Coventry Place in Nanoose Bay.

 

Tuesday, October 8:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary Plummer Road side. The morning was very windy as there was a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. The tide was very high and we were not able to walk along the shore of the estuary. The surf was up, but we did manage to spot two Pacific Loons in breeding plumage in the surf. A large flock of Pacific Loons and Surf Scoters flew down the Strait. A good number of American Robins, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos spent most of the morning flying and perched. We spotted our first of the year Eurasian Widgeon in with a flock of American Widgeons on the receding tide.
 

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species:
Canada Goose, American Widgeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter,

White-winged Scoter, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Anna’s Hummingbird, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Purple Finch.

 

Over three Hundred Surfbirds were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo

 

Monday, October 07:

Four Sandhill Cranes were seen in a farm field near the Englishman River Falls.

 

Saturday, October 05:

.  A possible Red-napped Sapsucker was spotted near Westdale Road and Norasea Road in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, November 14:

The Nanoose Naturalists meeting will be held at 7pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.

Guest speaker will be John Neville and he will talk about the Raptors of Canada.

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


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 October 15 will be going to The Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or the viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach Park at about 9:20 am.

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 20 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area on the beach behind the Church Camp off Highway 19 and Arlington Road about 9:15 am.
************************************************************************************

 

British Columbia rare bird alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
************************************************************************************

 

WildResearch link---http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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


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
Email:
thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com