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 27 February 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 27, 2018:


Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 27, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach.  The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. One Black-bellied Plover and five Black Oystercatchers were seen along the shore at the Brant Viewing Platform off Highway 19A. Long-tailed Ducks,  Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes, Common Loons and Pacific Loons were seen further off shore. Six Orca’s ( Killer Whales) were seen far off shore and entertained us for a long time. A mixed flock of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were spotted just past the gravel bar at the estuary.  Large numbers of Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup were seen just off shore.  A Herring Gull and a Western Gull were perched in with a huge mixed flock of Gulls.
Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Seattle, Calgary and Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Mallard
American Widgeon
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Brandt’s Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Ancient Murrelet
Bald Eagle
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Sparrow
Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 06, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the ocean side of Highway 19A at about 9:10 am.
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 25 February 2018

Nanaimo bird report, February 25, 2018




Nanaimo bird report, February 25, 2018:

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 bird walk, February 25, 2018
The Sunday bird walk went Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny and the winds were calm.   Four Great Blue Herons were perched on a tall tree near the viewing tower.  One Trumpeter Swan and a pair of Hooded Mergansers were resting on the marsh.  A Bald Eagle and a Red-tailed Hawk were spotted high over head. A lone Cedar Waxwing  was perched on a bush near the trail.  Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows were seen just off the trail and two Downy Woodpeckers were seen feeding on a tree just off the trail.

Hooded Merganser :Ralph Hocken Photo:

Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Ontario and Washington State saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Great Blue Heron
Mallard,
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Pied-billed Grebe
Wood Duck
Virginia Rail
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove 
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Berwick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Anna's Hummingbird
Hutton’s Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing 
Varied Thrush
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewers Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow, 
Fox Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow,
House Finch, 
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco, 
 House Sparrow

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 20, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side in Parksville.  The morning was sunny with calm winds.  A large flock of Trumpeter Swans greeted us as they flew over head at the start of the walk. We spotted a singing Hutton’s Vireo sitting fairly low in a tree along the trail.  A large number of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were seen in the same area.  Six Varied Thrush were spotted along the ground not far from the trail.  A Eurasian Wigeon was seen in with a flock of American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal resting on the estuary.  A pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye and a pair of Common Goldeneye swam along the estuary. Three Brant flew down the Strait of Georgia.  A Northern Shrike perched on a tall snag, giving us great views.  We spotted a Red-breasted Sapsucker perched at the top of a tall Conifer.  A Bald Eagle was spotted flying high in the blue sky alongside a Red-tailed Hawk.  Could they be from the nest in Victoria last summer ?

Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Yellowknife, Jasper, Red Deer, Calgary and Seattle saw and heard the following fifty-one species.

Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Horne Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shrike
Killdeer
California Quail
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland-Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton’s Vireo
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch  
Varied Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)  early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 27, 2018 will be going to the Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on Marsh 04, 2018 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 AM. or  Nanoose Bay on the beach at the church camp (off highway 19 and Arlington Road) at about 9:15 AM.

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









Tuesday 20 February 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 20, 2018:


Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 20, 2018:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side in Parksville.  The morning was sunny with calm winds.  A large flock of Trumpeter Swans greeted us as they flew over head at the start of the walk. We spotted a singing Hutton’s Vireo sitting fairly low in a tree along the trail.  A large number of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were seen in the same area.  Six Varied Thrush were spotted along the ground not far from the trail.  A Eurasian Wigeon was seen in with a flock of American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal resting on the estuary.  A pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye and a pair of Common Goldeneye swam along the estuary. Three Brant flew down the Strait of Georgia.  A Northern Shrike perched on a tall snag, giving us great views.  We spotted a Red-breasted Sapsucker perched at the top of a tall Conifer.  A Bald Eagle was spotted flying high in the blue sky alongside a Red-tailed Hawk.  Could they be from the nest in Victoria last summer ?

                                                     Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Yellowknife, Jasper, Red Deer, Calgary and Seattle saw and heard the following fifty-one species.
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Horne Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shrike
Killdeer
California Quail
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland-Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton’s Vireo
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
  
                                                Varied Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!
The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 27, 2018 will be going to the Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.
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 18 February 2018

Nanaimo bird report, February 18, 2018



                                                 Nanaimo Bird Report, February 18, 2018.

This Sunday’s bird walk, February 18, 2018 was cancelled due to the weather. 

Please Note
Check this site early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

**************************************************************************
February 16, 2018
A Common Teal was seen and photographed today, February 16, 2018 at the Mud Flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Common Teal: Photo by John Purves:
*************************************************************************

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 13, 2018:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach.  The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. There were large numbers of Brant Geese, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Harlequin Ducks on the Strait during the morning.  A Eurasian Widgeon was seen in with a flock of American Widgeon on the French Creek estuary.  A pair of Ring-necked Ducks were spotted on the pond near French Creek.  A Pigeon Guillemot and several Common Murre were seen just offshore.  A House Finch was singing his heart out from a tree along the trail.  A flock of six Red Crossbills were spotted flying overhead.  We saw several Anna’s Hummingbirds perched on trees near the trail during the walk.
Eurasian Widgeon: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
Brant
 Eurasian Widgeon
 American Widgeon
 Northern Pintail
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
 Harlequin Duck
 Surf Scoter
 White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
 Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
 Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Pacific Loon
Common Loon
 Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant 
 Brandt’s Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
 Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
  Black-bellied Plover
 Killdeer
 Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
 California Gull
Iceland-Thayer's Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
 Northern Flicker
  Northwestern Crow
                                                   Common Raven         

 European Starling
 Eurasian-collared Dove
 Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 American Robin
Spotted Towhee
 White-crowned Sparrow
 Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
House Finch 
House Sparrow
Pigeon Guillemot: Ralph Hocken Photo:

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen at a hummingbird feeder in the 6300 block of Metral Drive in Nanaimo.
********************************************************************************
Please Note
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!
**************************************************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 20, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of Highway 19Aat about 9:10 am.
The Sunday Bird walk on February 25 , 2018, will be going Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at Buttertubs Marsh on the Bowen Road side of Buttertubs 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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com