Nanaimo bird report, July 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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Sunday, July 17, 2016:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Ladysmith Harbour. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  We saw a family of five River Otters just off shore near the parking lot at the start of the walk. Purple Martins were the highlight of the walk and we saw and heard them chatting overhead all morning. Four Purple Martin chicks were seen in the nest cam that has been set up along the dock. Three Pigeon Guillemots were spotted flying low over the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. We saw five Black Turnstones were seen resting along one of the docks along the water. 

 

Purple Martin: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species:  

     Common Merganser

Belted Kingfisher

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Pelagic Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rock Dove

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

  Northwestern Crow

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Orange-crowned Warbler

Warbling Vireo

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna’s Hummingbird

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Bushtit

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

European Starling

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Saturday, July 16:

Over eighty Common Nighthawks were seen from the VIU parking lot in Nanaimo.

Common Nighthawks see over Meridian Way in Parksville and over

Highway 19A between Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

Monday, July 11:

A large number of Red Crossbills are frequenting feeders in Nanoose Bay.

Over one hundred Least and Western Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Sandpiper, one Greater Yellowlegs and a Long-billed Dowitcher, along with a flock of Canada Geese were seen at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

Two Pigeon Guillemots were seen off shore from the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

 A Least Sandpiper was seen along the Millstone River Estuary in Nanaimo.

Sunday, July 10:

.  A Long-billed Dowitcher was seen at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville

Tuesday July 05:

. Four Short-billed Dowitchers and twenty Western and Least Sandpipers were seen at Port Renfrew.

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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walk has ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.
    *******************************************************************************The Sunday bird walk on July 24, 2016 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue in Parksville at about 9:30 a.m. (take the Highway 4a exit into Parksville and turn left on Despard Avenue)

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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