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 30 November 2014

Naniamo bird report, November 30, 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.

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                 Sunday, November 30, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay.  The morning was sunny and cool but the winds were calm.  A Gadwall and a Northern Shoveller were seen in with a flock of American Widgeon near the shore.  Killdeer and Dunlin were in the same area of the estuary. A Red-tailed Hawk and a Northern Shrike were in the tall snag at different times giving us good views.  Large numbers of Green-wing Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters, White-wing Scoters and Bufflehead were on the calm Strait of Georgia.

Gadwall: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Seven birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
American Widgeon
Gadwall
Northern Shoveller
Green-wing Teal
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Killdeer
Dunlin
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shrike
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Berwick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco 

Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Thursday November 27:
A flock of Pine Siskins were seen at Laguna Way and Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Other reports of Pine Siskins were seen in the Westwood area of Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, November 25, 2014: 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. It was raining all morning, but the winds were calm and the waters of the Strait of Georgia were calm.
A large number of Harlequin Ducks were seen just offshore.  A flock of sixteen Long-tailed Ducks were further offshore.  Pacific Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Common Goldeneye were seen on the Strait throughout the morning.  A Red-necked Phalarope and two Rhinoceros Auklet were spotted offshore.
Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Phalarope
Rhinoceros Auklet
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Murre
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Ring-bill Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

Red-necked Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Over fifty Cedar Waxwings were seen feeding on Arbutus Berries at the top of Rock City Road near the end of Point Place Edgemont Condos in Nanaimo. 

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Sunday, December 14 --The Parksville/Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca

*****************************************************************
Friday, December 19-- The 13th annual Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

************************************************************************************
Sunday, December 28-- The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

 

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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. 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

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The Tuesday bird walk on December 02, 2014 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the parking lot near the Lions Club Playground in Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park about 9:15 a.m.
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The Sunday bird walk on December 07, 2014 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:20 a.m.
*********************************************************************

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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What's more important than the right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food?"-- David Suzuki
*****************************************************************************
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

 

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 25, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning saw rain all the time and the winds were calm, the Strait of Georgia was calm. Many Harlequin Ducks were seen just offshore.  A flock of sixteen Long-tailed Ducks were seen further offshore. Many Pacific Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Common Goldeneye were seen on the strait through out the morning. A Red-necked Phalarope and two Rhinoceros Auklet were spotted offshore.
      
                  Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo. 
 
 
                                 
                                                     Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Ten birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Phalarope
Rhinoceros Auklet
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Murre
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Ring-bill Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

 

                                                         Common Goldeneye: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on December 02,2014 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 23 November 2014

Nanaimo bird report, November 23, 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, November 23, 2014:
        The Sunday bird walk went to the Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds. The highlights included seeing a Ruddy Turnstone in with a flock of Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers on the rocks just offshore. Two Western Grebes were seen close to shore. A large flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwing were busy feeding on Arbutus berries near the parking lot.  A Hermit Thrush was seen just off the trail.
 
 
                                                       Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                                             

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Trumpeter Swans
Harlequin Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Bufflehead
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Surfbird
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstones
Ruddy Turnstone
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plovers
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Mew Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
Brown Creeper
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco  

Song Sparrow A Snow Goose was spotted near the Black Bear Pub on Brennan Lake. One Hundred American Coots were seen on Brennan Lake in Nanaimo.   

Friday, November 22:
A Rough-legged Hawk was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, November 18:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.  The morning was cool and overcast, but no wind.  There were 75+ Bald Eagles throughout the walk, with 28 in one spot alone.  There were also 18+ Great Blue Heron in the estuary.  We also had a sighting of a Common Teal in the estuary and 14 Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the river.  Off shore we spotted a large number of Common Murre as well an Ancient Murrelet and Cassin’s Auklet.  

                                                                         Great Blue Heron: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
15 birders saw and heard the following 51 species:
Canada Geese
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Common Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Greater Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Cassin’s Auklet
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
Eurasian Collared-Dove
American Goldfinch
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee 

Good birding
Rhonda Fleming

                                                                   Bald Eagles: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

A Gray-crowned Rosy-finch was seen on Sugar Loaf Mountain in Nanaimo.  

Sunday, November 16:
 Two Greater White-fronted Geese, a immature Snow Goose and Brant were seen at Parksville Bay in Parksville. 

***************************************************************************************************
Monday, November 24:
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7.30 pm at Knox Church in Parksville, to hear Sheena Majowski of the Pacific Biological Station report on Stellar Sea Lions and other marine life.
Everyone welcome. More info 752-7588.

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

Sunday, December 14:
The Parksville/Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Please contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca

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

Friday, December 19  
The 13th annual Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

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

Sunday, December 28
The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count (CBC)
Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

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

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 November 25, 2014 will be going to the Columbia Beach.  Meet at the parking lot near the Lions Club Playground in Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot off Admiral Tryon Boulevard ( turn right off highway 19a at Columbia Drive and right on Admiral Tryon Boulevard) at about 9:15 a.m.
 
*******************************************************************

The Sunday bird walk on November 30, 2014 will be going to Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at the beach off Arlington Road and highway 19 at 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—http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/ 

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Visit www.bluedot.ca 
What's more important than the right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food?"-- David Suzuki  

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

Friday 21 November 2014

A COUPLE OF SIGHTINGS

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary on Wednesday November 19.

GRAY-CROWNED ROSEY FINCH was seen up on Sugarloaf mountain, located in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo. The bird was seen on Tuesday November 18.

Good birding!

Sunday 16 November 2014

Nanaimo bird report, November 16, 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, November 16, 2014:

        The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was mostly sunny and the winds were calm. The highlights included great views of a Yellow-billed Loon.  We watched as it came up out of the water with a large fish and struggled to eat it. Four Brandt’s Cormorants were spotted not far from shore. A Eurasian Widgeon was seen in with a flock of American Widgeon.

 

                    

Yellow-billed Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo. 


Eighteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species: 
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
 American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
 Mallard
 Harlequin Duck
 Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal
 Surf Scoter
 White-winged Scoter
 Long-tailed Duck
 Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
 Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Common Loon
 Pacific Loon
Yellow-billed Loon
 Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
 California Quail
 Killdeer
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
 Belted Kingfisher
 Bald Eagle
 Sharp-shinned Hawk
 Mew Gull
 California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
 Marbled Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
 Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
 European Starling
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
 Golden-crowned Sparrow
 White-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 Red-winged Blackbird
 Brewer’s Blackbird
 House Finch
 Purple Finch
Pine Siskin 

Wednesday, November 12:
Three Snow Geese were seen off the Boardwalk at Parksville Beach in Parksville. 

Thursday, November 13:
Three Evening Grosbeaks were seen at the end of Douglas Avenue next to the Cat Stream Creek in Nanaimo. 

Friday, November 14:  
A Hermit Thrush was seen at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. 

Three Evening Grosbeaks were seen visiting feeders seen along Dunsmuir Crescent in Ladysmith.

 

Tuesday, November 11:

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.  Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were feeding on a conifer tree close to the trail.  A Peregrine Falcon flew in low overhead and landed on a tall conifer.  He perched for a few minutes and then unsuccessfully tried to catch a Mallard Duck. We had good views of the chase.  A Northern Shrike was perched in a tall shrub near Parksville Bay.  A Northern Harrier flew in low over the meadow in search of prey.  Five Trumpeter Swans flew overhead heading south.  A Eurasian Widgeon was spotted in with a flock of American Widgeons close to shore.  A late migrating was seen Turkey Vulture just above the tall Conifer Trees.

                                  .                                   
Turkey Vulture: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Twelve birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:
 Canada Geese
Trumpeter Swan
 American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
 Mallard
 Harlequin Duck
 Northern Pintail
 Green-wing Teal
 Surf Scoter
Northern Shoveler
 Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
 Hooded Merganser
 Common Merganser
 Common Loon
 Pacific Loon
 Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
  Double-crested Cormorant
 Great Blue Heron
 Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Northern Shrike
 Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
 Belted Kingfisher
 Mew Gull
 California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
 Anna's Hummingbird
 Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
  Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Varied Thrush
 American Robin
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Bewick's Wren
 Pacific Wren
 Bushtit
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 European Starling
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
 Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
 House Finch
Pine Siskin   
 
Monday, November 10:

A female American Kestrel was seen at the north end of the Nanaimo Airport in south Nanaimo. 

Greater White-fronted Geese were seen north of Quennel Lake in Cedar.
 

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RYAN CATHERS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

 

BEER AND BURGER NIGHT

SATURDAY November 22, 2014

5:00-8:00 pm

 

To raise funds for the Ryan Cathers Memorial Scholarship at V.I.U.

 

Tickets available at the Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store

$20.00 each

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

Monday, November 24:

The Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7.30 pm at Knox Church in Parksville, to hear Sheena Majowski of the Pacific Biological Station report on Stellar Sea Lions and other marine life.

 Everyone welcome. More info 752-7588.

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

Sunday, December 14

      The Parksville/Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca

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

Friday, December 19:

The 13th annual Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

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

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 November 18, 2014 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the parking lot near the Lions Club Playground in Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform (off highway 19a) in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m. 

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

The Sunday bird walk on November 23, 2014 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

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

British Columbia Rare Bird Alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/

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

WildResearch link---


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

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

 

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What's more important than the right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food?"-- David Suzuki 

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

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