Nanaimo bird report, January 17, 2016

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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January 17, 2016

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with rain and strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. Large numbers of Northwestern Crows were mobbing a Common Raven during the morning. Many Mew Gulls were roosting on the water.  A Northern Shrike was perched on a short bush checking out the meadows for prey. Spotted Towhees,

  Fox Sparrows  Song Sparrows and  Golden-crowned Sparrows were feeding on the ground near the parking area.

Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Two birders saw and hear the following twenty-four species.

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

 Common Goldeneye

Bald Eagle

Northern Shrike

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

 Killdeer

 Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Great Blue Heron

Northern Flicker

 European Starling

 Spotted Towhee

  Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Thursday, January 14.

Three Black Oystercatchers and several Harlequin Ducks were seen at Moorecroft Park in Nanoose.

Tuesday, January 12.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with steady rain and a strong wind blasting off the Strait of Georgia.  The tide was a high King Tide. Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye were just offshore swimming in the high waves playing hide and seek with us. We spotted many flocks of Common Murre and Pacific Loon racing up the strait with the strong wind behind them.  Black Oystercatchers, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Black-bellied Plovers, Gulls and Dunlin were feeding and resting along the gravel bar, as the tide was going out.

 

Common Murre: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seven dedicated  birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Murre

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

American Robin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Black Oystercatchers: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Monday, January 11.

A Townsend’s Warbler has been visiting backyard feeders along Clubhouse Drive in Qualicum Beach.

Over twenty Evening Grosbeaks were seen at backyard feeders along Rosstown Road in Nanaimo.

Sunday, January 10.

A Coopers Hawk has been visiting feeders along Overlook Drive in Nanaimo.

Saturday, January 09.

A Townsend’s Solitaire was spotted sitting on a fence along Meridian Way in Parksville.

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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 January 19 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

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The Sunday bird walk on January 24, 2016 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the Bowen Park parking lot off Bowen Road near the bowling green at the park about 9:15 a.m.

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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