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.

Friday 29 September 2017

Mourning Doves

Two Mourning Doves were seen along Meridian Way in Parksville. Neil Robins

Tuesday 26 September 2017

Parksville/Qualicum beachnTuesday bird walk, September 26, 2017




The Tuesday bird walk went to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. The morning was foggy with calm winds.  We spotted hundreds of Pacific Loons and Common Loons through the fog, on the water not far from shore. Ten Western Grebes and two Pigeon Guillemots were seen further off shore.  A Bald Eagle was perched high in a conifer tree.  A Merlin was being chased by a feisty Anna’s Hummingbird.  Several Black Oystercatchers were seen along the shore line.  Large numbers of Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones as well as Iceland Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and two Herring Gulls were roosting along the gravel bar along with two Greater Yellowlegs .

Greater Yellowlegs: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Pigeon Guillemot
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Greater Yellowlegs
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone 
Western Sandpiper
Iceland Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Eurasian-collared Dove
Steller’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow 
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin 
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
American Pipit
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
House Finch

Black-bellied Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on October 03, 2017, will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial in Parksville . Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 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

Sunday 24 September 2017

Nanaimo bird report, September 24,2017


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, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 24, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Over ten Northern Shoveller’s were seen just off shore. Three Horned Grebes, one Red-necked Grebe, four Western Grebes, three Pacific Loons, three Common Loons, a Double-crested Cormorant and a Brandt’s Cormorant were seen further offshore. The Sea Birds are returning for the winter!
Five American Pipit’s were seen feeding along the gravel bar. Two Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding just off the trail, at the end of the walk. We watched in fascination as two Hump-backed Whales near the horizon were  spouting and flashing their tails as they swam down the Strait of Georgia.



American Pipit: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
American Wigeon
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter 
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe 
 Pacific Loon 
  Common Loon 
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Ring-billed Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull 
Black-bellied Plover
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Steller‘s Jay
Band-tailed Pigeon
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
American Pipit
Spotted Towhee 
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 19:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum BeachThe morning was cloudy with calm winds. We saw flocks of Canada Geese, Surf Scoters, and White - winged Scoters, Black Scoters, several Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes from the Brant viewing platform. A Parasitic Jaeger was spotted heading up the Strait of Georgia. Four Black Oystercatchers and several Black Turnstones were seen feeding along the shore line. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers, entertained us along the walk to the river. We spotted a Merlin perched in a tall snag near the trail. We saw twenty Great Blue Herons along the tide line during the morning. A Ring-billed Gull, several Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along the gravel bars.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Six birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Green-wing Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Parasitic Jaeger
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Pipit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Brewer’s Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
House FinchAmerican Goldfinch

Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo:

                                                Wednesday, September 20: 
A Green-wing Teal and a Golden-crowned Sparrow were seen along Brookwood Marsh in Nanaimo.

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 26, 2017, will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. (Turn off highway 19a at Columbia Drive. Turn right onto Admiral Tryon Bld. and go about 100 yards to the parking area) meet at about 9:20 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on October 01, 2017 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs off Bowen Park Road at about 9:15 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 19 September 2017



The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We saw flocks of Canada Geese, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, several Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes from the Brant viewing platform. A Parasitic Jaeger was spotted heading up the Strait of Georgia. Four Black Oystercatchers and several Black Turnstones were seen feeding along the shore line. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers, entertained us along the walk to the river. We spotted a Merlin perched in a tall snag near the trail. We saw twenty Great Blue Herons along the tideline during the morning. A Ring-billed Gull, several Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along the gravel bars.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Six birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Green-wing Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Parasitic Jaeger
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Pipit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Brewer’s Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
                                 Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 26, 2017, will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. (Turn off highway 19a on at Columbia Drive, turn right onto Admiral Tryon Bld. go about 100 yards to the parking area)  meet at about 9:20 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








Sunday 17 September 2017

Nanaimo bird report, September 17, 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, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 17, 2017:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Turkey Vultures flew over head heading south all morning.  A Merlin was spotted perched high at the top of tree.  A flock of Surf Scoters, a flock of White-wing Scoters and a flock of American Widgeon were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. Twenty Black Turnstones were seen on the point giving us great views. A Black Oystercatcher was spotted on a rocky island just off shore. Many  Bonaparte Gulls were seen flying down the strait.

White-winged Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:
American Widgeon
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Double-crested Cormorant
  Pelagic Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Black Turnstone
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Bonaparte Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
  Brown Creeper
  Berwick’s Wren
  Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 12, 2017 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw a Cassin’s Vireo.  Chestnut-backed Chickadees flew in the bushes just off the trail.  Several Cedar Waxwings flew in and landed in the tall trees near the trail.  A large flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and an American Wigeon were resting along the mudflats.  Large numbers of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer were feeding along the mudflats.  White-winged Scoters, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Pelagic Cormorant and three Common Loons were seen on the Strait.                                                 
Semipalmated Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Ontario, Washington and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
White-winged Scoter
American Wigeon
Harlequin Duck 
                                                 Northern Pintail
  Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great-blue Heron
Heermann’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Loon
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Least Sandpiper
Killdeer
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Eurasian-collared Dove
Cassin’s Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Brewer’s Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
                                                               Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Purple Finch 

Saturday, September 16:
Two Baird Sandpipers were spotted at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 A Townsend’s Solitaire, a Sooty Grouse and a Northern Pygmy Owl were seen on Little Mountain near Parksville.

Northern Pygmy Owl: John Morrison Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 19, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on September 24, 2017 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking at Rathtrevor Park 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




Wednesday 13 September 2017

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 12,2017


The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw a Cassin’s Vireo.  Chestnut-backed Chickadees flew in the bushes just off the trail.  Several Cedar Waxwings flew in and landed in the tall trees near the trail.  A large flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and an American Wigeon were resting along the mudflats.  Large numbers of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer were feeding along the mudflats.  White-winged Scoters, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Pelagic Cormorant and three Common Loons were seen on the Strait.

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Ontario, Washington and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
White-winged Scoter
American Wigeon
Harlequin Duck 
 Northern Pintail
  Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great-blue Heron
Heermann’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Loon
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Least Sandpiper
Killdeer
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Eurasian-collared Dove
Cassin’s Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Brewer’s Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Purple Finch

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 19, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 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