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 15 March 2015

Nanaimo bird report, March 15, 2015



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, March 15, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was
cloudy with calm winds.  
Buffleheads were on the Nanoose Bay in large numbers. Two male and one female Eurasian Widgeon were seen on the estuary in with a flock of American Widgeon. A Northern Shrike perched on a sng giving us great views. A male Yellow-rumped Warbler in bright breeding plumage flew in to the top of a short tree giving us a good view of his summer color! 

Ten birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Canada Geese
 Eurasian Widgeon
 American Wigeon
 Mallard
 Northern Pintail
 Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
 Barrow's Goldeneye
 Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Belted Kingfisher
 Great Blue Heron
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
Common Loon
 Bald Eagle
Northern Shrike
  Killdeer
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
 European Starling
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
 Red-winged Blackbird
 Brewer’s Blackbird
 
Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 

Saturday, March 14:
A Northern Shrike, a Red tail Hawk, a Rough-legged Hawk a Osprey,  Western Meadowlarks and a  Bald Eagle were seen at the Nanaimo river Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Over one hundred Common Ravens were seen playing over Jack Point Park in south Nanaimo.
Several Violet-green Swallows were seen flying over Buttertubs Marsh west. 

Twelve Tree Swallows were spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Eight Lesser Scaup were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Friday, March 13:
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders at south end of Gabriola Island.  There have been several reports in Nanaimo and Parksville.   
Thursday, March 12:
A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen along Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo. 
Tuesday, March 10: 
Birding in the Fog” 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was foggy and the winds were calm. Over one thousand Dunlin, one hundred Black-bellied Plovers and four Black Oystercatchers were feeding along the tide line and in the tide pools on the shore side of the fog bank. We counted twenty-six Brant also feeding along the tide line. Thousands of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and one Bonaparte's Gull were roosting on a gravel bar just offshore.  Fourteen Horned Grebes and one Eared Grebe were spotted further swimming offshore. Four Varied Thrush were singing and perched in the forest.     

                                                                                    
                  
   
                                                    Dunlin:: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species;
Brant
 American Widgeon
 Mallard
 White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
 Common Merganser
Eared Grebe
 Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe
 Bald Eagle
Bonaparte's Gull
 Mew Gull
 California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
 Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
  Black Oystercatcher
 Northern Flicker
Pileated woodpecker
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Anna’s Hummingbird
 Pacific Wren
 Bewick’s Wren
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
 Varied Thrush
 European Starling
 Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
 Golden-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco  

              Eared Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

 

Three Band-tailed Pigeons were seen in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.    

 

 Monday March 23rd
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.  Meeting begins at 7.30 pm with guest speaker Michael Kusugak an Inuit Storyteller.  Cost for this time only $5. More info 752-7588.

*************************************************************************************
Tofino-Shorebird –Festival
18th Annual May 1-3, 2015
For  information please contact----
 
http://raincoasteducation.org/events/tofino-shorebird-festival


*********************************************************************************
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 March 17 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park
playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about  9:15 a.m.
*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on March 22, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:30 a.m.

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


*******************************************************************************
A must read for those of us who live along the Strait of Georgia.

THE SEA AMONG US
THE AMAZING STRAIT OF GEORGIA
RICHARD BEAMISH AND GORDON McFARLANE
*****************************************************************************
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

No comments: