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 29 May 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, May 29, 2018


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,
May 29, 2018:
  The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with strong winds. We were greeted with the sounds of a Western Tanager singing high up in a tall tree just off the trail.  We heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and then saw him perched fairly low in a tree near the trail.  We spotted another Western Tanager further up the trail. As we reached the river many Northern Rough-winged Swallows were seen coming and going from their nests in the  bank of the river.  A large flock of Violet-green Swallows were flying over head above the river for most of the morning.  A Spotted Sandpiper was walking along the gravel bar just across the river.  We saw many Red-breasted Sapsuckers throughout the morning with three up close, making for excellent sightings.

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:
Canada Geese
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
California Quail
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Violet-green Swallow: 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 June 03, 2018 will be going to Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in Cedar.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the park on the Oceanside side of Trans Canada Highway 1 at the end of Morden Road in south Nanaimo at about 9:25 a.m.
The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 05, 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.
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 27 May 2018

Nanaimo bird report, May 27, 2018


Nanaimo bird Report,May 20, 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, May 27, 2018 
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. A Townsend’s Warbler was spotted on a log across the river.  Common Mergansers, a Double-crested Cormorant and Surf Scoters were seen on the Strait of Georgia.  A  Violet-green Swallow was perched at the top of a very tall tree, giving us great views.  A Hermit Thrush flew across the trail into the bushes. Three Warbling Vireos were seen just off the trail.  
                                    Hermit Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo:                                 :

Twenty-six birders including ten visiting birders from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following forty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Surf Scoter
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
California Quail
European Starling
Black-head Grosbeak
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Townsend’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-wing Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,
May 22, 2018:  
  The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and very warm, but it cooled off when we entered the forest. Swainson's Thrush’s entertained us all morning.  Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles flew overhead. We had great views of three McGillivray's Warblers perched and singing on the walk.  A Western Tanager was seen high up in the tall tree near the trail.  A Pileated Woodpecker was spotted flying into its nest hole along the edge of the forest.  Willow Flycatchers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers were heard during the walk.  A Common Yellowthroat gave us great views in the bushes just off the road.  A juvenile Great Horned Owl was spotted perched in a tree back in the bushes.  An adult Great Horned Owl was being mobbed by American Robins along the trail at the end of the walk.
Great Horned Owl: Lynda Stevens Photo:

Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
                                                        Violet-green Swallow
                                             Chestnut-backed Chickadee 
                                                                      Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
McGillivray's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Common Yellowthroat: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Thursday, May 24:
Thirty-five Cedar Waxwings were seen on the trail by the Living Forest campground in south Nanaimo:
                                                Cedar Waxwings: Linda Stevens 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 May 29, 2018 will be going to the Lot Ten 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 end of Kinkade Road on the forest side of highway 19A in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.
The Sunday Bird Walk on June 03, 2018 will be going to Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in Cedar.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the park on the Oceanside side of Trans Canada Highway 1 at the end of Morden Road in south Nanaimo at about 9:25 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
                                                       Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Tuesday 22 May 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, May 22, 2018


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk,
May 22, 2018:
  The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and very warm, but it cooled off when we entered the forest. Swainson's Thrush’s entertained us all morning.  Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles flew overhead. We had great views of three McGillivray's Warblers perched and singing on the walk.  A Western Tanager was seen high up in the tall tree near the trail.  A Pileated Woodpecker was spotted flying into its nest hole along the edge of the forest.  Willow Flycatchers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers were heard during the walk.  A Common Yellowthroat gave us great views in the bushes just off the road.  A juvenile Great Horned Owl was spotted perched in a tree back in the bushes.  An adult Great Horned Owl was being mobbed by American Robins along the trail at the end of the walk.

Great Horned Owl: Hans Laue Photo:

Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
McGillivray's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
                                              Common Yellowthroat: 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 May 27, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville..  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:25 am.
The Tuesday Bird Walk on May 29, 2018 will be going to the Lot Ten 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 end of Kinkade Road on the forest side of highway 19a 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 20 May 2018

Nanaimo bird report, May 20, 2018




Nanaimo bird Report,May 20, 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, May 20, 2018  
The Sunday bird walk went to the Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and calm.  We heard and then saw a Black-headed Grosbeak at the start of the walk.  A Western Tanager was seen in the same area. Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos and Cassin’s Vireos were heard throughout the walk.  We had great views of a Wilson's Warbler just off the trail.  Several Common Yellowthroats were heard near the lake. Wood Ducks were seen on the lake.
                                               Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:
Mallard
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Glaucous-wing Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
  Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brewers Blackbird
Red-wing Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch 
Pine Siskin
Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, May 15, 2018:  The Tuesday bird walk went to The Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was sunny and very warm. We spotted a flock of Bushtits and a Brown Creeper at the start of the walk.  A Black-throated Grey Warbler was seen singing at the top of a very tall tree. We saw a Rufous Hummingbird and Anna’s Hummingbird perched high up in a tall tree.  Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures were soaring overhead during the morning.  A Black-and-White Warbler  was seen just off the trail.  Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Swanson’s Thrush were heard throughout the morning.  A very fast Peregrine Falcon was spotted chasing prey.  A MacGillivray’s Warbler entertained us for ten minutes from his perch just off the trail.
                                   MacGillivray’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:


Eighteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Turkey Vulture
Rock Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Swanson’s Thrush
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo:
Sunday, May 13:
A Blue-wing Teal was spotted on Brookwood Marsh in north 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 May 22, 2018 will be going to the Springwood 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 west end of Despard Avenue at about 9:10 am.
The Sunday Bird Walk on May 27, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of highway 19a at about 9:25 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