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 29 September 2015

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 29, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was sunny and windy by the Strait of Georgia. We saw over two hundred Pacific Loons, one Greater Scaup, many Horned Grebes, many Red-necked Grebes and fifty Western Grebes on the Strait. A large flock of Black-bellied Plovers flew in and landed near the gravel bar. Killdeer and Black Oystercatchers were singing and feeding near the shore. Two Western Meadowlarks, the surprise bird of the morning, flew in and landed near the parking area giving us great views. A flock of singing Red Crossbills landed on the top of a tall conifer near the creek. We watched a Red-breasted Nuthatch feeding on a conifer cone near the trail. American Robins were plentiful all morning and we did spot a Varied Thrush near the marsh.

                                                           Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

Eighteen birders including two visiting birders from Victoria saw and heard the following fifty-four Species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
American Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser 
Common Loon
Pacific Loon 
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian collared-Dove
California Quail 
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
European Starling
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Anna’s Hummingbird 
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Western Meadowlark 
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-wing Blackbird
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

The Tuesday bird walk on October 06, 2015 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. meet at the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 am or the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 am. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

 

Sunday 27 September 2015

Nanaimo bird report, September 27, 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, September 27, 2015 

The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville  The morning was sunny and warm. We spotted a Barred Owl perched in a tall tree just off the trail.  Seven Western Grebes were seen offshore.  A Peregrine Falcon flew past over head.  Large numbers of American Robins and Steller’s Jays entertained us all morning.
 

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo. 


Eighteen birders saw and heard the following Fifty-two species:
Canada Geese
 American Widgeon
Mallard
 Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
Greater Scaup
 Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Western Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe
 Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
 Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Barred Owl
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Mew Gull
 California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
California Quail
Anna's Hummingbird
Common Yellow-throat
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Steller’s Jay
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
 Pacific Wren
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 American Robin
 European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
 Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
Purple Finch 
House Finch
 Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch  

Saturday, September 26:
A greater White-fronted Goose was spotted flying at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

Friday, September 25:
Twelve Northern Shovelers were seen on the Englishman River in Parksville. 

A Vesper Sparrow, a Western Meadowlark and several Savannah Sparrows were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

A Northern Harrier and five Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo

Tuesday, September 22:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. There were large numbers of Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes on the Strait.  A Long-tailed Duck was spotted heading down the Strait.  A Merlin was perched on top of a snag giving us good views.  Six Northern Flickers were perched in the same area.

                                                                               
 Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Steller’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

                                           
        Northern Flicker: 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 September 29, 2015 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Playground parking lot at 9:00 am. or at Columbia Beach, at the parking area along Admiral Tyron Blvd.(off highway 19a at Columbia Drive-- at the end of Columbia Drive turn right on Admiral Tyron Blvd.)
 

****************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on October 04, 2015 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen 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.co

 

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 22, 2015


The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. There were large numbers of Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes on the Strait.  A Long-tailed Duck was spotted heading down the Strait.  A Merlin was perched on top of a snag giving us good views.  Six Northern Flickers were perched in the same area.
Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Steller’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

 

                                                                      Northern Flicker: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

The Tuesday bird walk on September 27, 2015 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Playground parking lot at 9:00 am. Or at Columbia Beach, at the parking area along Admiral Tyron Blvd.(off highway 19a at Columbia Drive-- at the end of Columbia Drive turn right on Admiral Tyron Blvd.)

Good birding
Neil Robins
 
Parksville




Sunday 20 September 2015

Nanaimo bird report, September 20, 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, September 20, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.  The morning was sunny and warm. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a Pectoral Sandpiper feeding on a stream with four Long-billed Dowitchers. A large number of Common Ravens were playing and talking above us throughout the morning. Savannah Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and  American Goldfinch was feeding on a shrub near the trail.

Pectoral Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Common Loon
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
 Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon
 Turkey Vulture
 Dunlin
Killdeer
 Long-billed Dowitcher
Pectoral Sandpiper
Thayer’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
 California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
 Belted Kingfisher
 Northern Flicker
 Common Raven
 Steller's Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 Bewick's Wren
 American Robin
European Starling
 Spotted Towhee
 Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
 Purple Finch
 American Goldfinch
House Sparrow   

Saturday, September 19:
A Lincoln’s Sparrow has been a frequent visitor to a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville, along with four Steller’s Jays who have taken up residence.

Tuesday, September 15:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds until near the end of the walk when the winds picked up making for lots of whitecaps on the Strait. We saw large numbers of Red-necked Grebes, Common Loons, one Pacific Loon and several Horned Grebes. One Western Grebe, one Pigeon Guillemot and four Common Murre were spotted offshore. A large number of Mew Gulls, a Western Gull and two Thayer’s Gulls were perched on a gravel bar not far from shore. Two American Pipits flew by over the water. A Merlin was perched on a fir tree near the beach.
                                                                                                                                                         
 Red-neck Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

                                                              

 Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Goose
Turkey Vulture
Merlin
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Common Mergansers
Surf Scoters
White-winged Scoters
Black Scoter
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
American Pipit
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Western Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Stellar Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Robin
                                                     Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren 
                                                                                  
                      Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Monday, September 14:
Eight Common Loons, Two Canada Geese, forty American Wigeon, three Harlequin Ducks, twelve Surf Scoters, four White-winged Scoters, one Black Scoter, one Horned Grebe, one Red-necked Grebe, two Western Grebes, four Double-crested Cormorants, four Pelagic Cormorants, one Great Blue Heron, two Turkey Vultures, two Bald Eagles, fourteen Killdeer,one Greater Yellowlegs, two Bonaparte Gulls, forty California Gulls, sixty Glaucous-winged Gulls and two Common Murre were seen along the Strait of Georgia from the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

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

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 September 22, 2015 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Meet at the Parksville Community Park parking lot near the Lions playground at 9:00 am or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:10 am. 

****************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on September 27, 2015 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a  at about 9:30 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.co

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Parksville/Quailicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 15, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds until near the end of the walk when the winds picked up making for lots of whitecaps on the Strait. We saw large numbers of Red-necked Grebes, Common Loons, one Pacific Loon and several Horned Grebes. One Western Grebe, one Pigeon Guillemot and four Common Murre were spotted offshore. A large number of Mew Gulls, a Western Gull and two Thayer’s Gulls were perched on a gravel bar not far from shore. Two American Pipits flew by over the water. A Merlin was perched on a fir tree near the beach.                                                       
 
 
 
 
   Red-neck Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                              

 Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Goose
Turkey Vulture
Merlin
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Common Mergansers
Surf Scoters
White-winged Scoters
Black Scoter
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
American Pipit
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Western Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Stellar Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
 
                                                                                              

                                                            Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                                 

 

The Tuesday bird walk on September 22, 2015 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park parking lot near the Lions playground at 9:00 am or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:10 am. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville.