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 by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 31 January 2016

Nanaimo bird report, January 31, 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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Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with light rain showers but the wind was calm. We saw seven Great-blue Herons perched in the tall oak trees throughout the morning.  Mallards, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers and Wood Ducks were on the marsh. We heard a Virginia Rail singing near the trail. 
                                                      Great-blue Heron: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Fourteen birders including two visiting birders from Campbell River saw and heard the following thirty-three species.
Canada Geese
Great-blue Heron
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Wood Duck
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Red-tail Hawk
Virginia Rail
Anna’s Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Common Raven
Northwestern crow
Steller’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
House Finch
House Sparrow 

Tuesday, January 26 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning started out with light rain but the rain soon stopped making for a pleasant time for birding.  As we started on our walk a Brown Creeper flew in over the trail and hurried up a conifer tree.  Many Bald Eagles and Canada Geese were seen and heard as the morning went on. Six Gadwall and several Green-winged Teal were feeding along the edge of the estuary. Many small flocks of Brant Geese, Common Murre, Dunlin, Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. 
                                                         Brant on the wing: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twelve birders including two visiting birders from Regina saw and heard the following fifty-four species
Canada Geese
Brant
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Gadwall
Surf Scoter
Harlequin Duck
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Common Murre
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Black-bellied Plover
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Startling
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Brewer’s Blackbird
Red-wing Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

 
                                            Dunlin & Black-bellied Plovers in flight: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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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. ******************************************************************************* 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 02, 2016 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 a.m. 

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The Sunday bird walk on February 07, 2016 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

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