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 28 January 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 28, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park.  The morning was very calm, but we still had some fog on the water.  Several flocks of Brant were seen off shore.  A few Western Grebe were spotted in the foggy haze, as well as 4 Trumpeter Swans along the shoreline of the resort hotels.  The forest birds were keeping themselves well hidden this morning.

Ten birders identified the following 41 species:
                                  
                                              Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo. 


 
Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

                                                      

Canada Goose
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
American widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Wing-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrows Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 04 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

 

Common Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Good birding,
Rhonda=

Monday 27 January 2014

Nanaimo bird report, January 26, 2014

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, January 26th 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  The morning was foggy cold and foggy with poor visibility over the marsh.
Highlights included a pair of River Otters playing in the marsh, a Virginia Rail which came right close to the path in view for several birders, and many Anna’s Hummingbirds buzzing around the marsh in preparation of their breeding season.  Seventeen birders saw or heard the following thirty-three species: Great-blue Heron, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Virginia Rail, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, Steller’s Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow. 

At the top of Little Mountain there were several Townsend’s solitaires, Pine Siskins, and Evening Grosbeaks. 

Saturday, January 25th 2014: 

"OUT OF TOWN RARE BIRD ALERT"
Three birders relocated the Hooded Oriole, Dickissel, and a Yellow-billed Loon in Port McNeil.  The Oriole and the Dickissel have been seen in the area for several weeks attending a hummingbird feeder.  

Wednesday January 22nd 2014:
At Divers Lake in Nanaimo there were Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Bushtits, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red-winged Blackbird. 

A Cackling Goose was seen at Brannen Lake off Eyelash Rd in Nanaimo along with Canada Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, 2 Ruddy Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, American Coot, Downy Woodpecker, 2 Steller’s Jays, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Purple Finch. 

Tuesday January 21st 2014:
Over 200 Brant Geese were seen at Rathtrevor Park in Parksville along with Black-bellied Plovers, Killder, Dunlin, Mew Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls. 

A Greater-white Fronted Goose was seen at Parksville Civic Centre with Canada Geese. 

At the Little Qualicum River Estuary there were Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Surf, Black and White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Pacific and Common Loon, Horned, Red-necked and Western Grebe, Pelagic Cormorants, Great-blue Herons, Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull Glaucous Winged Gull, Northern Shrike and Song Sparrow. 

Black-oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, 3 Western Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls and a few Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen at the Brant Viewing Platform in Qualicum. 

Two American Dippers were seen at the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in Qualicum.
 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was overcast calm winds and the Strait Of Georgia was calm. We saw several Northern Flickers high in the conifers roosting throughout the morning. Two Pileated Woodpeckers flew from tree to tree giving us great views. Eleven Trumpeter Swans flew overhead. Several flocks of Brant flew over the Strait. Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding low to the ground making it easy to view them. we spotted several flocks of Western Grebe, Ancient Murrelet and Marbled Murrelet further offshore. Nineteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species: Trumpeter Swan, Brant, Canada Goose, American Widgeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Ancient Murrelet, Marbled Murrelet, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Murre, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch. 

Monday January 20th 2014:
2 Greater-white Fronted Geese and 1 Cackling Goose were seen with Canada Geese at the end of Doole Road in Yellowpoint. 

4 Ruddy Duck were seen on Quennel Lake. 

At the Nanaimo River Estuary there were 2 Least Sandpipers, 500 Dunlin, 16 Black-bellied Plover, Ring Billed Hull, California Gull, Herring Gull and Thayer’s Gull.

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

 

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 January 28th will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the Lions Playground parking lot at 9:00 am or at the last parking area before the campground gate at 9:15 am.

 

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

 

The Sunday Bird Walk on February 2nd will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the store at 9:00 am or at the parking area at the end of Morningside Drive at 9:20 am.

 

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

Good birding,

Ryan Cathers

 

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, January 21, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was overcast calm winds and the Strait Of Georgia was calm. We saw several Northern Flickers high in the conifers roosting throughout the morning. Two Pileated Woodpeckers flew from tree to tree giving us great views. Eleven Trumpeter Swans flew overhead. Several flocks of Brant flew over the Strait. Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding low to the ground making it easy to view them. we spotted several flocks of Western Grebe, Ancient Murrelet and Marbled Murrelet further offshore.

                              Brant in flight: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                                         
 
                            
                                                Pileated Woodpecker; Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Nineteen birders saw and head the following fifty-one species:
Trumpeter Swan
Brant
Canada Goose
American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Ancient Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Thayer's Gull
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Belted Kingfisher
Anna’s Hummingbird
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird 
House Finch
 

    
                                            Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on January 28 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 19 January 2014

Nanaimo bird report, January 119, 2014


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, January 19, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly road side of the Englishman River estuary in Parksville.. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  Greater White-fronted Goose flew low overhead with Canada Geese. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on a short bush. A female Downy Woodpecker was spotted feeding on a bush close to the trail. Four Varied Thrush were resting on a cedar tree just off the trail.


                                          Downy Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fifty species:
Brant, Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, American Widgeon, Eurasian Widgeon,  Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, Common Murre, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher,  Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.  

Saturday, January 18:
An Orange-crowned Warbler is visiting a backyard feeder at Hillcrest Avenue and 4th Avenue in Nanaimo. 

Friday, January 17:
.   An Orange-crowned Warbler is visiting suet feeders along Johnston Road in French Creek. 

 Tuesday, January 14:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay the morning was very foggy making for a challenging morning of bird watching.  Hundreds of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and singing Black Scoters formed a large raft that lifted when Bald Eagles flew over. Two Long-tailed Ducks were close to shore diving occasionally and popping up again, giving us great views. Six Trumpeter Swans flew silently overhead.

                  Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                    

 Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Michigan, Illinois and Nova Scotia saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt’s Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and House Finch. 

Monday, January 13:
Two Townsend’s Solitaire, a courting Red-breasted Nuthatch singing from the top of a tall snag, and a flock of Red Crossbills were seen from the top of Little Mountain just outside of Parksville. 

A Greater White-fronted Goose and four Cackling Geese were seen at Brannan Lake off Eyelash Road in Nanaimo.
 

Check the Christmas Bird Count website” … to look up CBC results—both current and historical. 


***********************************************************************************
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 January 21,  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 at the end of Shelly Road (on the oceans side of highway 19a) at about 9:10 am.
****************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on January 26 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area at Buttertubs, off Bowen Road at about 9:20 am.
****************************************************************************
  

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

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

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

West coast environment link--


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

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, January 14, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay the morning was very foggy making for a challenging morning of bird watching.  Hundreds of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and singing Black Scoters formed a large raft that lifted when Bald Eagles flew over. Two Long-tailed Ducks were close to shore diving occasionally and popping up again, giving us great views. Six Trumpeter Swans flew silently overhead.
     
                                          Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                    

 Twenty-two  birders including visiting birders from Michigan, Illinois and Nova Scotia saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Flicker
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch 

The Tuesday bird walk on January 21 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

 
    
                                                Ring-billed Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Monday 13 January 2014

Little Mountain sightings

Two Townsend’s Solitaire, a courting Red-breasted Nuthatch singing from the top of a tall snag and a flock of Red Crossbills seen from the top of Little Mountain just outside of Parksville.

Sunday 12 January 2014

Nanaimo bird report, January 12, 2014


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 January 12, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning was overcast  with calm winds. The Millstone River was raging following our rainfall this past week.  We saw several flocks of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets feeding throughout the morning.  There were feathers falling from above as a Cooper’s Hawk, high on top of a tall snag, was eating prey. We saw an American Dipper on the stream near the duck pond.  The Dipper was near the top of a little waterfall, pumping his tail.  We saw six Varied Thrush just off the trail at the end of the walk.

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-three species:
Mallard, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, American Dipper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Anna's Hummingbird,  Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Rock Pigeon, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet,  Brown Creeper, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Fox Sparrow.  

 Tuesday, January 07:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy, a little windy with a high tide. A flock of Common Goldeneye was riding the waves with a single female Greater Scaup close to shore.  Common Murre, Ancient Murrelet and Marbled Murrelet were spotted flying down the Strait of Georgia for most of the morning.  Hundreds of Pacific Loon were seen further offshore. Twelve Black Oystercatchers were resting on point at the pond. 

Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fifteen saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese, Brant, Mallard, American Widgeon, Harlequin Duck, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Ancient Murrelet, Marbled Murrelet, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Northern Flicker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch and
House Sparrow. 

Tuesday, December 31:  
 ” Rare bird alert-Boreal Owl”
A Boreal Owl was seen and heard at the Yellowpoint Lodge near Ladysmith. The Boreal Owl is usually found east and north of Vancouver Island. 

***********************************************************************************
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 January 14, will be going to Deep Bay.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:35 am.
****************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on January 19 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road (on the ocean side of highway 19a) at about 9:30 am.
****************************************************************************
  

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

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

 

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

West coast environment link--


 

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

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, January 07, 2014

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy, a little windy with a high tide. A flock of Common Goldeneye were riding the waves with a single female Greater Scaup close to shore.  Common Murre, Ancient Murrelet and Marbled Murrelet were spotted flying down the Strait of Georgia for most of the morning.  Hundreds of Pacific Loon were seen further offshore. Twelve Black Oystercatchers were resting on point at the pond.
                                                           

                                       Greater Scaup; Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                                 

 Fifteen saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Mallard
American Widgeon
Harlequin Duck
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Ancient Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Northern Flicker
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
House Sparrow 

The Tuesday bird walk on January 14, 2014 will be going to Deep Bay.               

 
                                                             
                 Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 5 January 2014

Nanaimo bird report, January 05, 2014

 

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
" EXPLORE NATURE-GO BIRDING" 

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at

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 January 05, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was clear and sunny with calm winds--a great morning to bird at the estuary. We watched as four Common Ravens mobbed a Short-eared Owl.  The Owl evaded the Ravens and landed on a short bush giving us great looks. Two Northern Harriers were flying low in search of prey. We saw a Northern Shrike perched close to the trail. 

                                        Short-eared Owl being mobbed: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:
Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye,  Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Blue Heron,  Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk,  Merlin, Short-eared Owl,  Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Western Meadowlark,  American Robin, Bushtits, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch and Dark-eyed Junco.  

Saturday, January 04:
A Glaucous Gull was seen along Departure Bay in Nanaimo. 

“Rare Bird Alert”
The Hooded Oriole and the Dickcissel are still being seen in Port McNeill.
Hooded Orioles are usually found in Mexico and Southern California and Dickcissels are residents of the eastern United States. 

 

Friday, January 03:
One hundred and seventy Surfbirds were seen at Neck Point in Nanaimo. 

Three Short-billed Dowitchers were seen at the Courtney Air Park in Courtney. 

 Wednesday, January 01:
Two Hundred Brant were seen offshore at Sand Pariel near the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

Tuesday, December 31:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with calm winds and fairly warm for this time of the year.  We spotted a Western Gull feeding on the rocky shore.  Black-bellied Plovers, Dunlin, Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones were seen along the gravel bar.  Thirty Ancient Murrelets were seen offshore at the viewing platform. Over one hundred Black Scoters were singing just offshore at the “A” frame house near the estuary.  Hundreds of Pacific Loons and several Common Loons were seen far offshore.  A Eurasian Widgeon and a Ring-billed Gull was seen feeding with the American Widgeon in the estuary.  Thirty-six Trumpeter Swans were swimming in the fresh water as it entered the salt water at the estuary.  At the end of the walk we spotted one Long-tailed Duck flying down the Strait of Georgia  

Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Widgeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Eurasian-collared Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and Brewer’s Blackbird. 

Monday, December 30: A Mourning Dove and a Peregrine Falcon were spotted at Holden Creek in south Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, December 29:

Preliminary Results of the Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count 

Areas reporting – 8  

Checklist species – 101 

Additional write-in species – 5 (Lincoln’s Sparrow, Cackling Goose, Townsend’s Warbler, Rufous Hummingbird, Golden Eagle) 

Preliminary total (pending confirmation) – 106 

Additional count week species – 4 (Surfbird, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, Black-crowned Night-heron) 

Checklist gaps hopefully to be filled in the remaining three days of count week: 

Western Grebe 

Greater White-fronted Goose 

Greater Scaup 

Long-tailed Duck 

Ring-necked Pheasant 

Ruffed or Sooty Grouse 

American Coot 

Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs

Spotted  or Rock Sandpiper

Wilson’s Snipe 

Ring-billed or Western Gull 

Any owl other than Great-horned, Short-eared or Barred 

Hutton’s Vireo 

 Saturday, December 28:
A Rusty Blackbird was seen at Holmes Park in Comox. 

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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 January 07, 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 at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:10 am.

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The Sunday Bird Walk on January 12  will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot near the bowling green in Bowen Park Nanaimo at about 9:20 am.

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

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

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West coast environment link--
http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/

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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
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com