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 31 May 2015

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT, MAY 31, 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, May 31, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm. The highlights included seeing a Western Tanager preening on a branch just above us just off the trail. We heard and then saw a Hammond’s Flycatcher singing high on the top of a tall cedar tree.   Orange-crowned Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers were heard singing for most of the walk.
 
Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty species:
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
  Rufous Hummingbird
 Anna’s Hummingbird
Red-breasted Sapsucker
  Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
  Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Violet-green Swallow
   Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Swainson's Thrush
  American Robin
  Orange-crowned Warbler
  Black-throated Gray Warbler
  Common Yellow-throat
 Townsend’s Warbler
  Western Tanager
 Spotted Towhee
  Black-headed Grosbeak
  Song Sparrow
  Dark-eyed Junco
 Purple Finch
  American Goldfinch 
Pine Siskin 

A Willow Flycatcher was seen and heard near the marsh along Maki Road in south Nanaimo.  

Five Whimbrels were seen at the Nanaimo Estuary from the Living Forest Campground side of the estuary in south Nanaimo 

Friday, May 29:
A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  

Thursday, May 28:
Two Bullock’s Orioles were spotted along Lowry's Road near Hodges Road in French Creek.

Three Whimbrel were seen on the mud flats along Plummer Road sid of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Tuesday, May 26:
 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north
of Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy and the winds were calm. As the
morning went on, the clouds moved out and it was sunny and warm.   Fourteen Turkey Vultures were catching a thermo high above us at the start of the walk.  We watched Red-breasted Sapsuckers just off the trail.  We  spotted a Rufous Hummingbird's nest with a young hummingbird being fed by female Rufous Hummingbird.  Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond’s Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos and Swainson's Thrush were heard and seen throughout the morning.  We watched Black-throated Gray Warblers and a MacGillivray's Warbler feeding and singing not far from the trail.  An American Dipper and it’s fledgling caught our attention on the river. The young one was constantly calling, keeping the adult busy searching for food for it under the water.

American Dippers: Nadine Amelotte Photo. 

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie
saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
American Dipper
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Rufous Hummingbird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch

 

A young Rufous Hummingbird at home in the nest: Nadine Amelotte Photo.

 

Two Whimbrel were seen on the rocky shore of the Strait of Georgia off the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River.

Monday, May 25:
 One Whimbrel was seen at Piper’s Lagoon 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 02, 2015 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  We meet at the Parksville Community Park by the Lions Club playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or the end of Shelly Road off on the oceans side of highway 19 at about 9:10 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on June 07, 2015 will be going to Morden Colliery Provincial Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Morden Road off highway 19 in south Nanaimo at about 9:25 a.m.

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

Thursday 28 May 2015

A pair of Bullock’s Oriole were spotted in French Creek.

A pair of Bullock’s Orioles were spotted in French Creek, this morning, they were seen along Lowry's Road near Hodges Road.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Whimbrel sightings in Parksville

Three Whimbrels were seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. This morning, May 27, 2015

WHIMBREL SIGHTINGS

Here are the latest that we know of the Whimbrel sightings:

Tuesday May 26: a sighting from the Little Qualicum River Estuary, seen by the parking area on Surfside.
Monday May 25: sighting at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.
Saturday May 23: seen in the mud flat during low tide at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, May 26, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy and the winds were calm. As the morning went on, the clouds moved out and it was sunny and warm.   Fourteen Turkey Vultures were catching a thermo high above us at the start of the walk.  We watched Red-breasted Sapsuckers just off the trail.  We  spotted a Rufous Hummingbird's nest with a young hummingbird being fed by female Rufous Hummingbird.  Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond’s Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos and Swainson's Thrush were heard and seen throughout the morning.  We watched Black-throated Gray Warblers and a MacGillivray's Warbler feeding and singing not far from the trail.  An American Dipper and it’s fledgling  caught our attention on the river. The young one was constantly calling, keeping the adult busy searching for food for it under the water.    

                                                                  American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                         

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
American Dipper
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Rufous Hummingbird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch

 
                                                             MacGillivray's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 02, 2015 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

 

 

Sunday 24 May 2015

Black Bear on the birdwalk.

Hi birders,
The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo, today a few of the birders saw a black bear run across the path and disappeared into the woods.
Awsome

Nanaimo bird report, May 24, 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, May 24, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and the winds were calm. The highlights included seeing a Barred Owl fly in and perch on a tall conifer giving us close views. We watched a family of Hairy Woodpeckers feed on a snag close to the trail. A Chestnut-backed Chickadee flew in and out of a nest in a short snag.  A Hooded Merganser and its cute fledgling were swimming on Morrell Lake.

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Fifteen birders including a visiting birder from Ottawa saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:
Canada Geese
 Mallard
Belted Kingfisher
 Hooded Merganser
Barred Owl
Hairy Woodpecker
  Rufous Hummingbird
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
 Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Brown Creeper
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
 Swainson's Thrush
 American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
 Black-throated Gray Warbler
 Wilson's Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
  Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin  

Saturday, May 23:
A Whimbrel, Western and Baird’s Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs and Black-bellied Plovers were seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  

Two Olive-sided Flycatchers were heard and seen in the woods above Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo.

A Pigeon Guillemot was seen off shore at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. 

Friday, May 22:
  Two Whimbrels were seen along the tide line on the Strait of Georgia off the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Wednesday, May 20: 
A Pigeon Guillemot was seen off shore at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, May 19:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds. California Quail were seen at the start of the walk. A Spotted Sandpiper was preening on a Little Qualicum River gravel bar giving us great views. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Hammond’s Flycatchers were singing high up in the tall trees. A Black-headed Grosbeak swooped in just above us singing his vibrant song that we heard for most of the morning. Several Red-breasted Sapsuckers flew near us as we walked on the trail. Yellow Warblers were singing and they stopped long enough to give us great views. Western Tanagers entertained us and we had several great views of them high in the conifers across the river. A Red-eyed Vireo was singing his long song high up in the tall trees next to the trail.  We heard the song but there were no views for us!

                                                                  
  Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 


Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Spotted Sandpiper
California Quail
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Black Swift
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Western Tanager
European Starling
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin

 

                                                                         
   
 

                                             Red-breasted Sapsucker: 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 May 26, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach.  We meet at the Parksville Community Park by the Lions Club playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or parking lot at the fish hatchery off Claymore Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on May 31, 2015 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Burma Road off Lost Lake Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 a.m.

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

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, May 19, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds. California Quail were seen at the start of the walk. A Spotted Sandpiper was preening on a Little Qualicum River gravel bar giving us great views. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Hammond’s Flycatchers were singing high up in the tall trees. A Black-headed Grosbeak swooped in just above us singing his vibrant song that we heard for most of the morning. Several Red-breasted Sapsuckers flew near us as we walked on the trail. Yellow Warblers were singing and they stopped long enough to give us great views. Western Tanagers entertained us and we had several great views of them high in the conifers across the river. A Red-eyed Vireo was singing his long song high up in the tall trees next to the trail.  We heard the song but there were no views for us!                                                           

                                                              Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher
Spotted Sandpiper
California Quail
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Black Swift
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Western Tanager
European Starling
MacGillivray’s  Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
                                                                       

                                                 Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on May 26, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum fish hatchery in Qualicum beach.
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 17 May 2015

Nanaimo bird report, May 17, 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, May 17, 2015:   
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and the winds were calm. The highlights included seeing three Rhinoceros Auklets, a Common Murre and twelve Marbled Murrelets just off shore—all great sightings! Three Vaux’s Swift was fly catching high overhead. A Wilson’s Warbler was spotted low in the bushes next to the trail. A Merlin flew over head as we were doing the tally at the end of the walk.

Common Murre: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
Bald Eagle
 Merlin
 Canada Geese
   Pacific Loon
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Glaucous-winged Gull
 Marbled Murrelet
Common Murre
Rhinoceros Auklet
  Belted Kingfisher
 Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
  Northern Flicker
 Pileated Woodpecker
  Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
  Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Bewick’s Wren,
 Pacific Wren
 Brown Creeper
 Great Blue Heron
Vaux’s Swift
  Swainson’s Thrush
 American Robin
 European Starling
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
 Orange-crown Warbler
 Wilson’s Warbler
Townsend’s Grey Warbler
Warbling Vireo
                                              Western tanager                                                                   
Red-breasted Nuthatch
  White-crowned Sparrow
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
  House Finch
  American Goldfinch

Saturday, May 16:
A Bullock’s Oriole was spotted at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Bullock’s Oriole: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Tuesday, May 12:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning started out cloudy and cool but when the sun came out it was a warm spring day. We heard and then saw a Black-throated Warbler feeding high up in a big leaf maple tree. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Orange-crowned Warblers were singing for most of the morning and on occasion we did spot them feeding.  We saw a Hammond’s Flycatcher perched fairly low in a bush giving us great views. A Common Yellowthroat was perched on a fence just off the road. A very musical MacGillivray’s Warbler sang low in a bush close to the trail putting on a great show for us. A Black-headed Grosbeak was spotted singing high up in a conifer tree. Turkey Vultures, a Great Blue Heron, Vaux Swifts and Black Swifts flew high overhead. We spotted a Warbling Vireo singing and feeding in a low bush close to the trail at the end of the walk. 
 
Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Grow
Common Raven
Great Blue Heron
California Quail
Band-tailed Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Violet-green Swallow
Vaux Swift
Black Swift
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Swanson Thrush
European Starling
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Warbling Vireo
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
  Turkey Vulture: 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 May 19, 2015 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach.  We meet at the Parksville Community Park by the Lions Club playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or on the mountain side of Highway19a along Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach. at about 9:20 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on May 24, 2015 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary off Nanaimo Lakes Road at about 9:20 a.m.

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