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 29 June 2014

Nanaimo bird report, June 29, 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, June 29, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sprinkling with light showers and sunny periods. The bird of the morning was the Yellow Warbler which we saw and heard throughout the morning. A flock of Bushtits were feeding near the trail giving us good close views.
Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo. 
Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck,  American Widgeon, Hooded Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle,
 Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Black Swift, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, Eurasian Collared Dove, American Robin, Swainson’s Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler,  Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and  House Sparrow.
Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.  
Saturday, June 28:
Seven Vaux's and Black Swifts were seen high over Meridian Way in Parksville. 
Tuesday, March 24:
Tuesday's bird walk went to Lot 10 in Qualicum Beach.  The morning started out with heavy drizzle, but began to clear by the time we reached the river.  There seemed to be a multitude of American Robins on this walk.  We were treated with the sighting of a Great Horned Owl not far in on a side trail, and also watched a Rough-winged Swallow flying out over the river.  One Purple Martin was spotted high above the trees.  We were also lucky enough to watch a Hermit Thrush feeding on the rocks along the river edge.
                                                 American Robin: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                               
12 happy birders saw or heard the following 27 species:
Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Purple Martin, Great Horned Owl, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird

Good Birding, Have fun,
Rhonda=
 
A special thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading the Tuesday bird walk. 
              Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.  
         ********************************************************************************** 
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. on 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 July 01, 2014 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue at about 9:15 a.m..
*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on July 06, 2014 will be going to Hemer Park in Cedar.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot at Hemer Park. Follow Cedar Road to Hemer Road (look for the Hemer sign) at about 9:30 a.m. 
****************************************************************************  
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 24 June 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 24, 2014

Tuesday's bird walk went to Lot 10 in Qualicum Beach.  The morning started out with heavy drizzle, but began to clear by the time we reached the river.  There seemed to be a multitude of American Robins on this walk.  We were treated with the sighting of a Great Horned Owl not far in on a side trail, and also watched a Rough-winged Swallow flying out over the river.  One Purple Martin was spotted high above the trees.  We were also lucky enough to watch a Hermit Thrush feeding on the rocks along the river edge.                          
                                            American Robin: Ralph Hocken Photo.      
                                          
12 happy birders saw or heard the following 27 species:
Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Purple Martin, Great Horned Owl, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird

Good Birding, Have fun,
Rhonda=


 

A special thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading the Tuesday bird walk. 

                                              Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk on July 01 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. 

Good Birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 22 June 2014

Nanaimo bird report, June 22, 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, June 22, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning started of overcast but the weather cleared to a beautiful sunny day. Red-breasted Sapsuckers and Willow Flycatchers seem to be a common sight today.
Eighteen birders saw and heard the following 49 species:
Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, California Quail, Virginia Rail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Hutton’s Vireo, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Townsend’s Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch.
Red-breasted Sapsucker, photo by Ralph Hocken.


Sunday, June 22:
American Dipper was seen and videoed in a backyard on Lynburn crescent Nanaimo, near Departure Bay.


Wednesday June 18:
Olive-sided Flycatcher was heard calling in a snag above Colburne drive, Nanaimo.

Black-headed Grosbeak, photo by Ralph Hocken.



Tuesday June 17:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm.  We were greeted with the sighting and sounds of a pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks on the trees just above us at the start of the walk.  A Hooded Merganser was resting on a log with young chicks on the Beaver Pond.  We watched as a Red-tailed Hawk, six Bald Eagles and a Turkey Vulture caught a thermo high above us. A pair of Western Tanager’s entertained us as they fed in a tall cedar tree near the trail.
Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Calgary saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:
Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Swainson's Thrush , American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler , Black-throated Gray Warbler,
Townsend’s Warbler, Western Tanager , Spotted Towhee , Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch,  American Goldfinch.





********************************************************************************** 
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. on 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 June 24, 2014 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. Meet at Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Playground or on Kinkade Road on the mountain side of highway 19a in north Qualicum Beach.


*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on June 29, 2014 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot at the end of Buttertubs drive off Bowen road about 9:15 a.m.

****************************************************************************  
British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
****************************************************************************
WildResearch link---
http://www.wildresearch.ca/
******************************************************************************
West coast environment link--



*******************************************************************************
Good birding,
Colin Bartlett

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 17 June 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 17, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm.  We were greeted with the sighting and sounds of a pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks on the trees just above us at the start of the walk.  A Hooded Merganser was resting on a log with young chicks on the Beaver Pond.  We watched as a Red-tailed Hawk, six Bald Eagles and a Turkey Vulture caught a thermo high above us. A pair of Western Tanager’s entertained us as they fed in a tall cedar tree near the trail.
                     

                              Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo.                           
 
                                     Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Calgary saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:
Hooded Merganser
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
California Quail
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Western Tanager 
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Black-headed Grosbeak
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
                                       American Kestrel chicks: John Purves Photo. 
The Tuesday bird walk on June 24, 2014 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. Meet at Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Playground or on Kinkade Road on the mountain side of highway 19a in north Qualicum Beach. 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville.

Sunday 15 June 2014

Nanaimo bird report, June 15, 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, June 15, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers.
A Hooded Merganser was seen on the pond with a fledgling on its back. We had great views of six Barn Swallows flying at eye level right next to us at the point of Beck Creek. Purple Martins flew by and sang as they flew. A Warbling Vireo and a Black-headed Grosbeak were singing during the morning.
       Nine birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the     following forty-four species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture,  Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Eurasian Collared Dove,  Belted Kingfisher,  Rufous Hummingbird, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher,  Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler,  Warbling Vireo, Downy Woodpecker,  Northern Flicker,  Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow,  Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,   Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,  Pacific Wren,  Marsh Wren,  Golden-crowned Kinglet,  European Starling, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Black Headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird and Dark-eyed Junco.   

Tuesday, June 10:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with sunny periods. Six Caspian Terns greeted us at Parksville Beach before the start of the walk. We heard and saw several Willow Flycatchers both at the beginning of the walk and at the end. We heard a Black-headed Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroats, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, and Cassin’s Vireo during the morning making for a morning of birding by ear—a common thing at this time of the year. We spotted an Olive-sided Flycatcher singing at the top of a bush. The bird of the morning however, was hearing and then finally seeing the elusive Red-eyed Vireo singing continually as he perched in a tree high above the trail. 
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, European Starling, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, California Quail, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Brown Creeper, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak.      

Saturday, June 14:
 An American Kestrel was spotted on a hydro line along Peterson Road in Rivers Edge subdivision in Parksville.

***********************************************************************************
Monday, June 23:

Arrowsmith Naturalists
Meet at 7.30 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.  John Neville, president of BC Nature, will present ‘Raptors of Canada’ with sound recordings and the paintings of Robert Bateman.  All welcome.  Info 752-7588 

**********************************************************************************
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. on 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 June 17, 2014 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am. Or at parking area on Powder Point Road, about 100 yards past the four way stop sign at Anchor (where Powder Point Road becomes Fairwinds Drive.) in Nanoose Bay.

 

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

The Sunday bird walk on June 22, 2014 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines along Normarel Drive at about 9:20 a.m.

 

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

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 10 June 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 10, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with sunny periods. Six Caspian Terns greeted us at Parksville Beach before the start of the walk. We heard and saw several Willow Flycatchers both at the beginning of the walk and at the end. We heard Common Yellowthroats, Pacific-slope Flycatchers,  Black-headed Grosbeak, Warbling Vireos, and Cassin’s Vireo during the morning making for a morning of birding by ear—a common thing at this time of the year. We spotted an Olive-sided Flycatcher singing at the top of a bush. The bird of the morning however, was hearing and then finally seeing the elusive Red-eyed Vireo singing continually as he perched in a tree high above the trail.
      
                                          Red-eyed Vireo at nest: internet Photo.                                      
 
                                       Olive-sided Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
Swainson's Thrush
European Starling
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
California Quail
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Mac-Gillivray’s Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Brown Creeper
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Black-headed Grosbeak
 Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
 The Tuesday bird walk on June 17 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the usual spot at the Community Park or at parking area on Powder Point Road, about 100 yards past the four way stop sign at Anchor (where Powder Point Road becomes Fairwinds Drive.)
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 8 June 2014

Nanaimo bird report, June 08, 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, June 08, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm and a little cool in the forest. Several Red-breasted Nuthatch’s were at the start of the walk feeding on the suet. We had great views of a MacGillivray’s Warbler singing on a snag near the trail. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher flew in and perched near the beaver pond. A Townsend’s Warbler flew in and sang near the trail giving us awesome close up views.
Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species:
Canada Geese, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pelagic Cormorant, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,  Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. 

Tuesday, June 03:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm making for a good morning of birding along the Strait of Georgia and in the cooler forest trails. Fourteen seals were guarding the entrance to the bay. Two Warbling Vireos were spotted high up in a tall conifer feeding along the branches giving us great views. We saw Brown Creepers feeding their young just off the trail. We watched as a pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees took food to their fledglings in a nest hole in a tall snag. A MacGillivray’s Warbler was seen perched in a conifer singing continually near the beaver ponds, just off the trail, giving us awesome views. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher flew into the same area again giving us great views.                     
Twenty-six birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Pacific Loon, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Copper’s Hawk, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. 

Monday, June 02:
Twenty-two Caspian Terns were seen at the mouth of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Sunday, June 01:
 A Bullock’s Oriole was spotted visiting a backyard feeder along Rutherford Ridge in Nanaimo.

********************************************************************************** 
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. on 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 June 10, 2014 will be going to the Top bridge Trail in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am. or at the parking lot off Enterprise Way near Tuan Road in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m. 

*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on June 15, 2014 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area in front of the Living Forest Campground on Maki Road off highway one at about 9:30 a.m.

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

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

****************************************************************************
WildResearch link---

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

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

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, June 03, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and warm making for a good morning of birding along the Strait of Georgia and in the cooler forest trails. Fourteen seals were guarding the  entrance to the bay. Two Warbling Vireos were spotted high up in a tall conifer feeding along the branches giving us great views. We saw Brown Creepers feeding their young just off the trail. We watched as a pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees took food to their fledglings in a nest hole in a tall snag. A MacGillivray’s Warbler was seen perched in a conifer singing continually near the beaver ponds, just off the trail, giving us awesome views. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher flew into the same area again giving us great views.                    

                                                  Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.                         

 

 

                                                  Brown Creeper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-six birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Pacific Loon
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Copper’s Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Brown Creeper
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
 
                                                  Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on June 10, 2014 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail off Enterprise Way in Parksville.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com