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 28 June 2016

American Pelicans



A Large flock of AMERICAN PELICANS were seen flying over Bowen Park-- Buttertubs area in Nanaimo!  They flew in a "v" formation over a house by the hospital in Nanaimo.

There's another report of sixty pelicans flying over upper Lantzville heading towards Winchelsea islands at 6:20 pm today June 28, 2016

Good birding
Neil  Robins
Parksville

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 28, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten, along the little Qualicum River, in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot but much cooler in the forest.  We spotted a Black-throated Gray Warbler at the start of the walk, perched high up in a very tall tree.  A Red-breasted Sapsucker flew into a tree next to the trail and began tapping sap holes in the tree. The Sapsucker was soon joined by a young fledgling Sapsucker who started feeding in the sap holes.  We watched the pair with fascination for several minutes--a great sight to see.  A Wilson’s Warbler was singing near the trail and the made an appearance in a short bush giving us great views. We spotted a Western Tanager feeding high in a cedar tree. The Tanager worked his way down the tree playing hide and seek with us and entertaining us for about twenty minutes. 

We ended the Tuesday Bird Walks for the season with a delicious BBQ.  Thanks Callie, Carol, David and Linda. 

 
                             Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Eighteen birders including visiting birders from Malawi and St Albert saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Spotted Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
 Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hammonds Flycatcher
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
 Warbling Vireo
 Violet-green Swallow
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
 Pacific Wren
 Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Western Tanager
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
 Black-headed Grosbeak
European Starling 

                                            Red-breasted sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

This is the final Tuesday bird walk of the season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on September 06, 2016.  

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

thebirdstore.blogspot.com
thebackyard@shaw.ca

Monday 27 June 2016

Nanaimo bird report, June 26, 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.
********************************************************************
Sunday, June 26, 2016:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. Two Marbled Murrelets, diving for food, were seen close to shore. An Orange-crowned Warbler was spotted feeding high up in an Arbutus Tree next to the trail. We heard a Swainson’s Thrush singing from the underbrush. American Robins serenaded us throughout the morning.
 
                    Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders, including a visiting birder from Malawi Africa, saw and heard the following twenty-six species:
Canada Geese
Harlequin Duck
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Marbled Murrelet
Pigeon Guillemot
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
  Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammonds Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
House Finch   

  Friday, June 24:
Eight Gray Jays were seen on the Mount Benson trail about half way up the Mountain. 

Tuesday, June 21:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. A  Western Tanager greeted us at the start of the walk. Violet-green Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black Swifts, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen flying over head during the walk. We heard a Cassin's Vireo, singing not far from the trail. We spotted two Cassin's Vireos just off the trail as they went to a nest and began to feed three chicks in the nest. We had discovered a very active nest that royalty entertained us for about thirty minutes as we watched the adult Vireos feeding their young. 
Fourteen birders including visiting birders from California and Washington saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle    
Coopers Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barred Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Black Swift
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch  

********************************************************************
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 June 28 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids playground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the forest side of Highway 19a and Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m. This is the final Tuesday bird walk of the season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on September 06, 2016.  

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 03, 2016 will be going to Hemer Park in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Hemer Park on Hemer Road off Cedar Road in Cedar at about 9:30 a.m. 

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

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk

The Tuesday birdwalk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. A  Western Tanager greeted us at the start of the walk. Violet-green Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black Swifts  Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Coopers Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen over head during the walk. We heard a Cassin's Vireo, singing not far from the trail. We spotted two Cassin's Vireos just off the trail as they went to a nest and began to feed three chicks in the nest. We had discovered a very active nest which we were royalty entertained for about thirty minutes as the adult vireos fed their young.

 

                                                                             
                Cassin’s Vireo feeding young in the nest: John Purves Photo. 

fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle    
Coopers Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barred Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
 Warbling Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
European Starling
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Black Swift
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Swainson's Thrush
 American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
 Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
 Chipping Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 Purple Finch
American Goldfinch  

The Tuesday bird walk on June 28 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids playground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the forest side of Highway 19a and Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m. 

 This is the final Tuesday bird walk of the season, The Tuesday bird walks will resume on September 06, 2016.  

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville 

thebirdstore.blogspot.com

       thebackyard@shaw.ca

Monday 20 June 2016

Nanaimo bird report, June 19, 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.

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

Sunday, June 19, 2016:
The Sunday bird walk went to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. Three Lesser Yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper were seen near the river. Several Great Blue Herons were seen flying, in the ponds and atop a tree during the morning. A Pied-billed Grebe with chicks and a Wood Duck with chicks were seen swimming on the pond. Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, Barn Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were hawking insects over head all morning.
 
                               Lesser Yellowlegs: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Wood Duck
Great Blue Heron
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Turkey Vulture
  Bald Eagle
Glaucous-winged Gull
  Band-tailed Pigeon
  Belted Kingfisher
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Common Yellowthroat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Warbling Vireo
    Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
  Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
European Starling
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Western Tanager
Cedar Waxwing
Black Headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco

Thursday, June 16:
Twenty American White Pelicans were seen flying over the Ladysmith Harbour and then flying off to the southeast. 

Over thirty Vaux swifts were seen flying over Somenos Marsh in Duncan. 

Tuesday, June 14:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay.  Most of the morning was filled with rain showers where the birds were scarce, but we did see and hear them between the showers. A Black-throated Gray Warbler feeding in a Arbutus Tree near the trail, caught our attention at the start of the walk.  We were entertained as we watched a Swainson's Thrush flew from branch to branch on a tree right in front of us.  Orange-crowned Warblers, a Warbling Vireo, a Cassin’s Vireo and a Hutton’s Vireo were singing nearby.  Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures flew high overhead.  We saw Black Swifts flying high over the beaver ponds and Violet-green Swallows flying low over the ponds. Red-winged Blackbirds serenaded us nearby.
Nineteen dedicated birders, including visiting birders from Florida and Washington, saw and heard the following thirty species:
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Common Raven
Black Swift
Violet-green Swallow
Brown Creeper
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Hutton’s Vireo
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch 
 

Monday, June 13:
A Coopers Hawk was seen at Rutherford Park in Nanaimo. 

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

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 June 21, 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 Top Bridge Trail parking lot along Industrial Way off highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m. 

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

The Sunday bird walk on June 26, 2016 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 a.m.

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

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

 

 

Thursday 16 June 2016

American White Pelicans

A sighting of 20+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen today, Thursday June 16 2016, circling and flying over Ladysmith harbor but continued flying heading to the south east.
photos by Brian Turner.


Tuesday 14 June 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 14, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay.  Most of the morning was filled with rain showers where the birds were scarce, but we did see and hear them between the showers. A Black-throated Gray Warbler feeding in a Arbutus Tree near the trail, caught our attention at the start of the walk.  We were entertained as we watched a Swainson's Thrush flew from branch to branch on a tree right in front of us.  Orange-crowned Warblers, a Warbling Vireo, a Cassin’s Vireo and a Hutton’s Vireo were singing nearby.  Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures flew high overhead.  We saw Black Swifts flying high over the beaver ponds and Violet-green Swallows flying low over the ponds. Red-winged Blackbirds serenaded us nearby.


                                Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken photo.

Nineteen dedicated birders, including visiting birders from Florida and Washington, saw and heard the following thirty species:

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Downy Woodpecker

 Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

 Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Willow Flycatcher

 Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

 Common Raven

Black Swift

 Violet-green Swallow

Brown Creeper

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Swainson's Thrush

 American Robin

European Starling

 Orange-crowned Warbler

 Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Cassin’s Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo 

 Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

 Chipping Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

 Purple Finch
 
 
 


                               Red-winged Blackbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 21, 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 Top Bridge Trail parking lot along Industrial Way off highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.  

Good birding

Neil Robins
Parksville

thebirdstore.blogspot.com

thebackyard@shaw.ca

 


Monday 13 June 2016

Nanaimo bird report, June 12, 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.

********************************************************************
Sunday, June 12, 2016:
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds. A House Wren greeted us with his song from the top of a very tall conifer tree at the start of the walk. Two Willow Flycatchers was seen near the marsh. Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures were flying overhead throughout the morning.  We head a Cassin’s Vireo singing.  A young Western Tanager was perched on a short bush close to the trail giving us time to study her.
Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Seattle, Kingston and Ladysmith saw and heard the following forty-eight species:
Wood Duck
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
European Starling
Swanson’s Thrush
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
Purple Finch
House Finch  

Tuesday, June 07:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and very warm, but cooler in the forest. A pair of colorful Western Tanagers was spotted playing in the tall trees just above the trail. We watched a Hairy Woodpecker feeding in the tall snags. Three Willow Flycatchers were singing near the road as we walked by. We had great views of a MacGillivray’s Warbler feeding on the short bushes along the road. The best sighting of the morning was a young fledgling Common Yellowthroat feeding not far from the road.


                             Common  throat: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders, including three visiting birders from Tuscany, Italy and one from Kingston, Ontario saw and hear the following thirty-six species:
Canada Geese
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Eurasian-collared Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
  Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
McGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Finch

 

                              McGillivray's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

A Common Nighthawk was spotted flying over Departure Bay in Nanaimo.

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

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 June 14, 2016 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids playground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Fairwinds Drive (follow Power Point Road off Northwest Bay Road to the four way stop and go about 100 yards to the parking area on the left) in Nanoose Bay at about 9:20 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on June 17, 2016 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at parking area at the entrance to Living Forest R.V. Campground on Maki Road on the ocean side of highway one in south Nanaimo at about 9:30 a.m.

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

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

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, June 07, 2016

 

 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and very warm, but cooler in the forest. A pair of colorful  Western Tanager’s were spotted playing in the tall trees just above the trail. We watched a Hairy Woodpecker feeding in the tall snags. Three Willow Flycatchers were singing near the road as we walked by. We had great views of a  McGillivray's Warbler feeding on the short bushes along the road. The best sighting of the morning was a young fledgling Common Yellowthroat feeding not far from the road.
 
                                      Common Yellowthroat: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders, including three visiting birders from Tuscany, Italy and one from Kingston, Ontario saw and hear the following thirty-six species:
Canada Geese
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Eurasian-collared Dove
 Anna's Hummingbird
 Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
 Willow Flycatcher
 Pacific-slope Flycatcher
 Northwestern Crow
  Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Brown Creeper
 Bewick's Wren
 Pacific Wren
 Bushtit
 Swainson's Thrush
 American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
 McGillivray's Warbler
 Common Yellowthroat
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
 Western Tanager
 Spotted Towhee
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 Song Sparrow
 White-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 Black-headed Grosbeak
 Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Finch
 
                                       McGillivray's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 14, 2016 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids playground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Fairwinds Drive ( follow Power Point Road off Northwest Bay Road to the four way stop and go about 100 yards to the parking area on the left) in Nanoose Bay at about 9:20 a.m. 

Good Birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

thebirdstore.blogspot.com
hebackyard@shaw.ca

Monday 6 June 2016

Nanaimo bird report, June 05, 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.
******************************************************************** 

Sunday, June 05, 2016:
The Sunday bird walk went to Morden Colliery Historic Park in south in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and hot but it was much cooler in the forest. We heard and then saw a Swainson's Thrush perched close to the trail giving us great views. We watched as three Red-breasted Sapsuckers went in and out of their nest hole in a snag near the bridge.  We spotted a total of five Barred Owls during the morning.  We were entertained for about thirty minutes as an adult Barred Owl with a snake in its talons flew over to two young fledglings and gave the snake to one of the youngsters. 
 
                              Swainson’s Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Sixteen birders including two visiting birders from St Albert saw and heard the following thirty-four species:
Mallard
Spotted Sandpiper
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Barred Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Belted Kingfisher
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
European Starling
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow 
                                    Barred Owl, Ralph Hocken Photo:

An Olive-sided Flycatcher was calling from the marsh above Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, May 30:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Shelly Road side. The morning was sunny and warm with a breeze off the Strait.  The forest brought us a bit of relief from the sun. Bewick’s Wrens were perched high up in trees singing and entertaining us throughout the morning. Yellow Warblers were singing near the trail for all of us to hear and see. A murder of Northwestern Crows was spotted chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk overhead until the Hawk flew out of sight. There were two Willow Flycatchers singing near the trail.  One Northern Shoveler and a pair of Northern Pintail were swimming near the tide line. Two Belted Kingfishers flew noisily over head.
 
                                 Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty-nine species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Belted Kingfisher
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Western Tanager
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch 

Monday, May 30:
Western Tanager was seen at the Hazelwood Herb Farm in south Nanaimo. 

American Goldfinches, a Black-headed Grosbeak, a White-crowned Sparrow and a Eurasian Collared Dove were seen in a yard along Foxtail Avenue in Nanaimo.  

********************************************************************
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 June 07, 2016 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue at about 9:10 a.m.
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The Sunday bird walk on June 12, 2016 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines along Normarel Road (off Superior Road and Highway 19) 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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot