Nanaimo bird report, February 04, 2018

Nanaimo bird report, February 04, 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 04, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning started out very foggy but finished with some sunny breaks. We were entertained for long periods as we watched a Hairy Woodpecker feeding on a tree trunk close to the trail and a Red-breasted Sapsucker  feeding low on a tree trunk near the trail.  A Merlin was perched at the top of a very tall conifer tree. We spotted an American Dipper splashing near the river’s shore before he moved to a tree stump and perched for the longest time.  An Anna’s Hummingbird came along and decided he shouldn’t be there and chased him away!  An entertaining sighting!  

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-one species:

Canada Geese

Mallard     

                                                  American Wigeon

American Dipper

Merlin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

House Sparrow  

Wednesday, January 31: 

A Mourning Dove was seen along the 100 block of Young Place in Nanaimo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday birds walk January 30, 2018:   

The rain finally subsided and the Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with sunny periods with calm winds—and no rain!  Brant Geese were spotted flying up the Strait of Georgia.  A Western Gull and two California Gulls, along with a large flock of Mew Gulls were seen on a gravel bar just off shore.  Four Gadwall were spotted along the Estuary.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched on a stump not far from the trail.  A Cooper’s Hawk flew over head.  We spotted a Northern Shrike perched in a bush.  A large flock of Bushtits were seen feeding near the trail.  Three Western Meadowlarks were perched near the Community Park.  Three Virginia Rails were heard and one was seen next to the trail.

Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Fourteen birders including visiting birders from Seattle and North Vancouver saw and heard the following sixty species:

Brant 

Canada Geese

 Mallard

                                                                Northern Pintail

 Green-winged Teal

Gadwall

 Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Barrows Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

 Pacific Loon 

Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Pelagic Cormorant 

Great Blue Heron 

Bald Eagle

 Coopers Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Shrike

Western Gull

 California Gull

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Iceland- Thayer's Gull

 Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

 Dunlin

 Black Oystercatcher

  Virginia Rail

Downy Woodpecker

 Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 Bushtit 

Belted Kingfisher

 Anna’s Hummingbird

Western Meadowlark

California Quail

Evening Grosbeak

Varied Thrush 

American Robin

Spotted Towhee 

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow 

Song Sparrow 

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbills

Pine Siskin

Dark-eyed Junco

Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Two Eurasian-collared Doves were seen in the 700 block of Marina Drive in Parksville.

Thursday, January 25:

A Northern Shrike landed in a cherry tree along Meridian Way in Parksville.

A Merlin was seen perched in a tree at the corner of Despard Avenue and Meridian Way in Parksville.

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 06, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground, parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am., or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 am.    ******************************************************************

The Sunday walk on February 11, 2018, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Raines Road at about 9:25 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:http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca