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.

Monday 30 April 2018

Black-headed Grosbeak

A Black-headed Grosbeak, a first of the season, is visiting a backyard feeder in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.



Good Birding
Neil Robins


Sunday 29 April 2018

Nanaimo bird report, April 29, 2018


Nanaimo bird Report,April 29, 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, April 29, 2018  
The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers all morning. We heard and saw Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Townsend's Warbler during the walk. We heard two California Quail singing off the trail. A Mallard and a Wood Duck were seen on the lake.

Twelve birders including visiting birders from St. Albert saw and heard the following twenty-three species:
Mallard
Wood Duck
Rufous Hummingbird,
Pileated Woodpecker,
California Quail
Northwestern Crow,
Common Raven,
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Brown Creeper,
Berwick’s Wren,
Pacific Wren,
Golden-crowned Kinglet,
American Robin,
Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Townsend's Warbler,
Spotted Towhee,
Song Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco,
Purple Finch,
Pine Siskin,
California Quail: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

A pair of Blue-wing Teal were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Saturday, April 28:
A Yellow-Headed Blackbird is visiting a yard in the 700 block of Ermineskin Avenue Parksville. 
Thursday, April 26:  
A Canvasback Duck was seen at the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek.
          Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 24, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was clear with calm winds. We watched a Wilson’s Warbler feeding in a short bush just across the river from us.  Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were seen feeding on the mudflats. A Hump-backed Whale was spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia. Eight Band-tailed Pigeons, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead during the morning. Two Black Oystercatchers, four Black-bellied Plovers a Dunlin, a Killdeer, a Long-billed Dowitcher and a Short-billed Dowitcher were seen feeding on the mudflats.  A  Eurasian Teal was seen feeding on the mudflats with a flock of Green-wing Teal at the end of the walk.

Wilson’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-eight birders including visiting birders from Penticton, Chicago and Ontario saw and heard the following sixty- three species:
Canada Geese
Brant
                                                                           Mallard
Gadwall
Green-wing Teal
Eurasian Teal
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific loon
Common Loon
Common Murre
Doubled-crested Cormorant
Long-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
                                                                     Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Cooper’s Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
                                                                    Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Townsend’s Solitaire
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Long-billed Dowitcher: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Monday, April 23:
A very large flock of Northern Rough-wing Swallows were seen at the Nanaimo Airport.
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 May 01, 2018 will be going to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking lot at Moorcroft at 1563 Stewart Rd, (off Northwest Bay Road, follow signs to Moorcroft )at about 9:20 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on May 06, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo at 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










Saturday 28 April 2018

Yellow-headed Blackbird


A Yellow-Headed Blackbird is visiting a yard in the 700 block of Ermineskin avenue Parksville, April 28, 2018

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday birdwalk, April 24, 2018


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 24, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was clear with calm winds. We watched a Wilson’s Warbler feeding in a short bush just across the river from us.  Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were seen feeding on the mudflats. A Hump-backed Whale was spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia. Eight Band-tailed Pigeons, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead during the morning. Two Black Oystercatchers, four Black-bellied Plovers a Dunlin, a Killdeer, a Long-billed Dowitcher and a Short-billed Dowitcher were seen feeding on the mudflats.  A  Eurasian Teal was seen feeding on the mudflats with a flock of Green-wing Teal at the end of the walk.


Wilson’s Warbler: John Morrison Photo:

Twenty-eight birders including visiting birders from Penticton, Chicago and Ontario saw and heard the following sixty- three species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Mallard
Gadwall
Green-wing Teal
Eurasian Teal
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific loon
Common Loon
Common Murre
Doubled-crested Cormorant
Long-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Dunlin
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Cooper’s Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Townsend’s Solitaire
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin 

 
Long-billed Dowitcher: 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 Sunday Bird Walk on April 29, 2018 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary at 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 am.
The Tuesday Bird Walk on May, 2018 will be going to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking lot at Moorcroft  at 1563 Stewart Rd, (off Northwest Bay Road, follow signs to Moorcroft )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 22 April 2018

Nanaimo bird report, April 22, 2018


Nanaimo bird Report,April 22, 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, April 22, 2018
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny with calm winds. We saw two Townsend’s Warblers feeding in a tall Big Leaf Maple Tree just off the trail.  A Wilson’s Snipe was spotted near the marsh.  A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen in a conifer tree just off the trail giving us great views.  We heard  a Hutton’s Vireo and then spotted him.  Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warblers were heard and seen all morning.  A Rufous Hummingbird was perched in a short bush for a long period of time giving us great views.  Turkey Vultures, a Bald Eagle and a Cooper’s Hawk were seen high overhead during the walk.

                                         
Townsend’s Warbler:

Sixteen birders including visiting birders from Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-six species:
 Ring-neck Duck
 Wood Duck
 Bufflehead
Pied-billed Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Wilson’s Snipe
Great Blue Heron
 Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
 Band-tailed Pigeon
 Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
                                                                Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Steller’s Jay
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton’s Vireo
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Common Yellowthroat
 Townsend’s Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
 Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
 Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Thursday, April 19:
Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Avonlea Road and Cavendish Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday, April 18: 
Four Ruddy Ducks were seen at Pilot Bay, Twin Beach on Gabriola Island.


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 17, 2018 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  A Hermit Thrush was spotted just off the trail.  A Trumpeter Swan and three Canada Geese were seen along the river.  Two Townsend’s Solitaires were seen perched in a berry bush not far from the trail. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen high up in a tall tree.  White-crowned Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows were heard singing all morning.  A Chipping Sparrow was spotted just off the trail. We watched a Lincoln’s Sparrow preening itself in a bush near the trail. A Barred Owl was perched next to the trail giving us great views.
Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-four birders including visiting birders from Chicago and Red Deer  saw and heard the following sixty- four species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Brant
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Gadwall
Northern Pintail
Mallard
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Surf Scoter
Common Loon
Killdeer
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barred Owl
Turkey Vulture
Virginia Rail
Great Blue Heron
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
Iceland (Thayer’s )Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Killdeer
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
California Quail
Steller’s Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
European Starling
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush
Townsend’s Solitaire
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

An American Goldfinch was seen on Protection Island.

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at a backyard feeder near Tempre Road and Pry Road in Parksville.

Monday, April 16:  
An American Goldfinch was seen Along Lancewood Road in Lantzville.

Tuesday, April 10
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen in a backyard feeder in the 3300 block of Barrington Road in Nanaimo.

Townsend’s Solitaire: 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 April 24, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  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 oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 am.
The Sunday Bird Walk on April 29, 2018 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary at 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo at 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