Nanaimo bird report, February 21, 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, February 21, 2016:  

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with strong winds blasting off the Strait of Georgia. A flock American Wigeon’s including a Eurasian Wigeon flew in and landed close to shore. We spotted a Peregrine Falcon flying slowly into the strong wind hovering all the way. A short time later a Red-tailed Hawk was doing the same thing giving us great views.

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twelve birders saw and hear the following thirty-one species.

Canada Geese

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard, Gadwall,

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna’s Hummingbird

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

 

 Saturday, February 20: 

A Turkey Vulture was spotted heading north, above highway 4a in Parksville.

 

Tuesday, February 16: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach the morning was sunny with light winds off the Strait of Georgia.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks as well as Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were seen off shore. Common Murre, a Pigeon Guillemot and Western Grebes were further offshore.  Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Dunlin and Black Turnstone were resting with a large number of Gulls on the gravel bar.  A flock of American Wigeon with one Eurasian Wigeon landed close to shore giving us great views.

Eurasian Wigeon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-three birders including birders from Calgary, Winnipeg and Seattle saw and heard the following forty-five species:

Brant

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter 

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye 

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

European Starling

Anna’s Hummingbird

House Wren

Red- breasted Nuthatch

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin 

 

                                         Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Monday, February 15:

A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen near Long Lake in Nanaimo. 

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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 23 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park, near the Lions Club Kids parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.

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The Sunday bird walk on February 28, 2016 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at Buttertubs Marsh parking area off Bowen Road at 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