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 November 2018






Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 27, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the  Shelly Road side of the Englishman Estuary in Parksville.

After a night of heavy wind and rain, the morning was mostly sunny with calm winds.  Two very large flocks of Pine Siskins greeted us at the start of the walk flying above the trees.  A Eurasian Widgeon and two Gadwall were seen from the viewing ramp.  A Varied Thrush was spotted preening in a bush not far from the trail.  Long-tail Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-wing Scoters, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Red-necked Grebes, Horned Grebes, Barrow’s Goldeneye and Common Goldeneye were seen off shore on the Strait.  Two Pileated Woodpeckers were seen just off the trail.  A large flock of Pine Siskins flew out of a bush to the end of the walk.

Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
Canada Geese
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Eurasian Widgeon
American Widgeon
Gadwall
Long-tail Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Bufflehead
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Herring Gull
Mew Gull
Iceland Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Brewer’s Blackbird
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin

The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 04, 2018 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north 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 off 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
Blog: ww.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Sunday 25 November 2018

Nanaimo bird report, November 25, 2018


The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Weekly Bird Report

Nanaimo Bird Report, November 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.caPlease remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting.

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

Sunday Bird Walk, November 25, 2018
The Sunday bird walk went to Columbia Beach and Morningstar Ponds in French Creek. The morning began dry, but became very wet as the morning progressed.  Harlequin Ducks, American Widgeons, Surf Scoters, Black Scoters, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific loons and Common Loons were seen on the Strait of Georgia.
Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones were seen flying up the Strait. We spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched on top of a very tall conifer tree.

We made our way over to the Morningstar Pond and saw Red Head Ducks, Greater Scaup, Northern Shovelers and a Cackling Goose on the pond.
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Peregrine Falcon: Photo by Ralph Hocken
Seven dedicated birders  saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese
Cackling Goose
Brant
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Red-headed Duck
Gadwall
Ring-neck Duck
Harlequin Duck
American Widgeon
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Iceland Gull
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Rock Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin     

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 13, 2018

The morning was cloudy but calm.  Four Trumpeter Swans were see flying overhead the trail and again over the ocean.  Several Varied Thrushes along with Robins were eating berries high in the trees.  A small flock of Cedar Waxwings were spotted atop the conifers.   A Pileated Woodpecker was spotted right at the end of our walk.



   


                                             Trumpeter Swan - Ralph Hocken Photo



19 birders saw and heard the following 60 species.

Snow Geese

Canada Geese

Trumpeter Swan

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Mallard

Gadwall

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-neck Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Common Murre

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Anna’s Hummingbird

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Brewer’s Blackbird

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Purple Finch

House Finch

Pine Siskin 



                                             Enjoy birding

                                                  Rhonda Fleming



Upcoming Bird Walks

The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 27, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 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 oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 am.



The Sunday Bird Walk on December 02, 2018 will be going to Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the waterfront near the Church Camp off Highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:15 am.

Good birding
Neil Robins


THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD &; NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Email:
thebackyard@shaw.ca


Thursday 22 November 2018

Nanaimo Bird Report November 18

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Weekly Bird Report

Nanaimo Bird Report, November 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.caPlease remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting.
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Please Note
Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!
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Sunday Bird Walk, November 18, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and a beautiful day for a bird walk. Just the usual suspects on the marsh when we first started, Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser and Rink-necked Duck. There was no sign of the Snow Geese that were seen there earlier in the week.
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Ring-neck Duck photo by Ralph Hocken

Twelve birders  saw and heard the following thirty four species:
Trumpeter Swan
Mallard
Wood Duck
Ring-neck Duck
Hooded Merganser
American Coot
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Glaucous-winged Gull
Virginia Rail
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
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Reported Sightings
Friday Nov 16:
A flock of 43 Canada Geese - Cackling landed at Buttertubs Marsh.
Canvasback was also seen at Buttertubs Marsh

Saturday Nov 17:
possible Rufous Hummingbird was seen at French Creek. It was perched in the bushes on the creek side near the restaurant.

Tuesday Nov 20:
juvenile Snow Goose at Nexk Point Park near the parking lot. This bird has been sighted for the last couple of weeks there.
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Anna's Hummingbird photo by Mike Hamilton
Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 13, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. A large flock of Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were seen far offshore. Two Brant Geese were heading into the shore from the strait and nine Brant were seen further off shore. Two Common Murre and a Marbled Murrelet were spotted heading up the Strait. A flock of Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye were riding the waves. Several Horned Grebes, many Red-neck Grebes and a Western Grebe were playing hide and seek in the rough surf. A Golden-crowned Kinglet was feeding in the tall trees along the trail. A large number of Dark-eyed Juncos were seen during the walk.
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Brant photo by Ralph Hocken
Twenty-three birders including a visiting birder from Fort MacMurray saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Brant Geese
Snow Geese
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Widgeon
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Western Grebe
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland (Thayer's) Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Northern flicker
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
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Upcoming Bird Walks
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 27, 2018 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 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 oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on November 25, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach near French Creek. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot on Admiral Tryon blvd which is off of Columbia drive at about 9:30 am

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Backyard Bird News
The backyard feeders are getting busy with what seems to be more Dark-eyed Juncos arriving. Song Sparrow and the Golden-crowned Sparrows along with the Spotted Towhees are also busy at the feeders. Very few reports of Steller's Jays but that is not surprising as the natural seed seems to be abundant this year compared to last year. There are also less Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches visiting the feeders as well. Anna's Hummingbirds are busy and it seems as though they may have had a late brood in my area. Pine Siskings are about but not visiting the backyard feeders just yet, i figure they will make their apperance in January or February.
Good Biridng Colin.
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