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.

Monday 25 April 2016

Nanaimo bird report, April 24, 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, April 24, 2016: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. The morning was cloudy with light rain and calm winds. We spotted a McGillivray Warbler perched on a snag not far from the trail giving us great views.  Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Grey Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers were seen and we were entertained by their singing all morning. We spotted a Golden Eagle ( unusual, exciting sighting for this area) flying high overhead. Warbling Vireos and Cassin's Vireos were heard during the walk. A Purple Martin and a Barn Swallow were seen hawking insects overhead.

                                         McGillivray Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Ring-neck Duck
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser
  Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s Hawk
Wilson’s Snipe
Rufous Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
European Starling
Common Raven
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
Warbling Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
McGillivray Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin   

 
                                    Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo  

A Yellow Warbler was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, April 19:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm with a breeze off the forest side of the strait.  A Black-bellied Plover in full breeding plumage was feeding along the shoreline.  Dunlin,  Bonaparte's Gulls, Pacific Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Pelagic Cormorants were all showing their breeding plumage, giving us a very colorful showing on the Strait of Georgia. A mixed flock of  Surf Scoters and  Black Scoters floated by on the water. We heard and then saw a Townsend’s Warbler singing just overhead.  

                                     Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders including two visiting birders from Red Deer saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:
Brant
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Marsh Wren
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Red-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-wing Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
 
                                        Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Sunday, April 17:
Over one thousand Pacific Loons were seen on the Strait of Georgia off Dickson Road in Lantzville
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TOFINO SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL 

April 29 - May 1, 2016 

tofinoshorebirdfestival.com 

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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 April 26, 2016 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids playground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Tuan Road on Industrial Way in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m. 

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The Sunday bird walk on May 01, 2016 will be going to Morrell Wild Life Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or follow Highway 19 to 5th Street, turn right on Wakesiah Avenue turn right on Nanaimo Lakes Road go under highway 19,( look for sign) turn right to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary and the parking lot at about 9:20 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

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