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 12 March 2017

Nanaimo bird report, March 12, 2017


                          “Nanaimo bird report” 
“Explore Nature--Go Birding” 

To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail thebirdstore@shaw.ca
Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

Sunday bird walk, March 12, 2017   
The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. A large flock of Brant Geese were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Eurasian Widgeon and American Widgeon were feeding on the edge of the mud flats.  Hundreds upon hundreds of  Gulls were seen on the water and flying overhead during the morning. A large flock of Dunlin was seen flying down the Strait. Bushtits, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were feeding in the bushes near the trail. A Peregrine Falcon was perched on a small tree giving us great views.
Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Eurasian Widgeon
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
                                                     Bufflehead
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Dunlin
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
California Quail
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, March 07,


The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia.  We heard a Hutton’s Vireo singing just off the trail and after searching the woods, we saw the Vireo as he flew overhead.  One Eurasian Widgeon along with a large number of American Widgeon and five Gadwalls were seen along the shoreline. 
The herring spawn is on! Thousands of Surf Scoters flew in and landed just off shore.  California Gulls, Mew Gulls Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls by the thousand were seen along the shoreline and flying overhead throughout the morning.  But the biggest highlight of the morning was a Western Meadowlark singing from a bush in the meadows. Later on we watched as four meadowlarks flew into the tall grass. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched at the top of a tall bush in the meadow and watched as the shrike flew after prey and returned to the perch.                                                                        
    
                                           
                                           Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

             Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Harlequin Duck
Eurasian Widgeon
American Widgeon
Green-wing Teal
                                                          Mallard
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tail Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Marbled Murrelet
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Northern Shrike
California Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Hutton’s Vireo
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Western Meadowlark
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
                                                    Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin 
  
Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Monday, March 06:
     Twenty Northern Shoveller’s were seen north of the Brant Viewing Platform in North Qualicum Beach.

Twelve  American Goldfinch were seen coming to feeders at the Deerwood Estates near Jingle Pot Road and Biggs Road.

Bird walks this week.
The Tuesday bird walk on March 14, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on March19, 2017 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot (off Bowen Road) at Bowen Park at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
                                                      Nanaimo B.C.
                                                         V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com




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