The Nanaimo Bird Alert
provided by
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
To report your sightings phone
The Bird Alert at: 390-3029 or
The Store at: 390-3669
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday May 27, 2007:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morden Colliery Provincial Park in south Nanaimo. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a RED-EYED VIREO. The VIREO sang his song for a long time as we searched up high in the trees for him. One of the birders finally spotted him high in the Alder Trees and many of us got to observe him. Twenty birders birders found the following thirty-five species:
COMMON MERGANGER, TURKEY VULTURE, COOPER'S HAWK, BALD EAGLE, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, CEDAR WAXWING, BELTED KINGFISHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, RED-EYED VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW,NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, WINTER WREN, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, COMMON YELLOW-THROAT, SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and PURPLE FINCH.
provided by
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
To report your sightings phone
The Bird Alert at: 390-3029 or
The Store at: 390-3669
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.
Sunday May 27, 2007:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Morden Colliery Provincial Park in south Nanaimo. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a RED-EYED VIREO. The VIREO sang his song for a long time as we searched up high in the trees for him. One of the birders finally spotted him high in the Alder Trees and many of us got to observe him. Twenty birders birders found the following thirty-five species:
COMMON MERGANGER, TURKEY VULTURE, COOPER'S HAWK, BALD EAGLE, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, CEDAR WAXWING, BELTED KINGFISHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, RED-EYED VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, COMMON RAVEN, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW,NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, WINTER WREN, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, COMMON YELLOW-THROAT, SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and PURPLE FINCH.
Saturday May 26:
A pair of NORTHERN ORIOLES was seen at the marsh in Port Alberni.
Ninteen BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen visiting feeders along Southwind Drive in upper Lantzville.
Friday May 25:
A female LAZULI BUNTING was seen at the Carmanah Point lighthouse on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
A COMMON GRACKLE was spotted in Tofino.
Thursday May 24:
WILSON'S WARBLER, CHIPPING SPARROW, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a large flock of PINE SISKINS were seen in the 100 block of Cathmount Place in Nanaimo.
A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was spotted at Ucluelet on the west coast.
A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was seen poking holes in an Eucalyptus Tree in a yard at Deep Bay.
Wednesday May 23:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of a different seabird that we were able to identify as a MASKED BOOBY. An amazing sighting for this area! Following is a brief description of the bird:
We saw a large, very long winged mainly white bird fly right overhead in the direction of the Georgia Strait. The wings were very long, slender and pointed at the tips. The head was all white with a yellow bill and some black at the base of the bill. The head and neck stuck well out in front and the tail projected well out the back so that the wings appeared to be positioned about halfway along the body. It was clearly not a gull or tern and seemed at least as big as a Glaucous-winged Gull, likely bigger. The under sides of the wings were mainly white with some duskiness along the trailing edge and out towards the tips. The flight was strong and direct. It was also not very high, perhaps twice treetop height. Eight or ten flaps and it was out of sight. .
Fourteen birders found the following forty-three species:
MALLARD, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, MASKED BOOBY, TURKEY VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, COOPER'S HAWK, KILLDEER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, CASSIN'S VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, NORTHWESTERN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BEWICK'S WREN, WINTER WREN, AMERICAN DIPPER, HERMIT THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, EUROPEAN STARLING, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, PINE SISKIN, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
VESPER SPARROWS were seen singing from the southern most perimeter fence which can be viewed from the dirt road south of the Nanaimo Airport in Cassidy.
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen near the Nanaimo Airport in Cassidy at the southern perimeter fenceline.
A pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH are visiting feeders along Kilpatrick Road in the Junglepot area of Nanaimo.
Monday May 21:
Sixteen RED-THROATED LOONS were seen landing at Parksville Bay in Parksville.
WILSON'S and YELLOW WARBLERS were seen in a back yard along Heather Place in Parksville.
Sunday May 20:
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen on the north shore of Long Lake in Nanaimo.
A WESTERN TANAGER was seen along West Crescent in Qualicum Beach.
Saturday May 19:
Twelve BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were visiting ground feeder and a NORTHERN FLICKER is visiting the suet feeder in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call:The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, May 28, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday June 14, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walk on May 30, 2007 will be going to Legacy Marsh in Upper Lantzville. We will meet at the east parking lot of The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre at Jensen Avenue and McCarter Street at
9:00 a.m. in Parksville or under the Hydro lines on Normarel Drive at about 9:30am. To get to Legacy Marsh from Parksville follow Highway 19 and turn right onto Superior Road follow Superior Road to Normarel Drive turn left and go down to the Hydro Lines and park.
*************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on June 03, 2007 will be going to Springwood Park (the woods at the end of Despard Avenue, across from Chestnut Street). We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m.or at the parking area near Despard Avenue (turn left off Highway 4A going into Parksville) and Chestnut Street at about 9:30 a.m.
Coming from Nanaimo take the # 51 exit off the Inland Island Highway and head into Parksville along highway 4A. Turn left at the first set of lights(Despard Avenue) and go to the end of Despard Avenue, just past Chestnut Street.
*****************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
A pair of NORTHERN ORIOLES was seen at the marsh in Port Alberni.
Ninteen BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were seen visiting feeders along Southwind Drive in upper Lantzville.
Friday May 25:
A female LAZULI BUNTING was seen at the Carmanah Point lighthouse on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
A COMMON GRACKLE was spotted in Tofino.
Thursday May 24:
WILSON'S WARBLER, CHIPPING SPARROW, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a large flock of PINE SISKINS were seen in the 100 block of Cathmount Place in Nanaimo.
A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was spotted at Ucluelet on the west coast.
A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was seen poking holes in an Eucalyptus Tree in a yard at Deep Bay.
Wednesday May 23:
The Wednesday Bird Walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of a different seabird that we were able to identify as a MASKED BOOBY. An amazing sighting for this area! Following is a brief description of the bird:
We saw a large, very long winged mainly white bird fly right overhead in the direction of the Georgia Strait. The wings were very long, slender and pointed at the tips. The head was all white with a yellow bill and some black at the base of the bill. The head and neck stuck well out in front and the tail projected well out the back so that the wings appeared to be positioned about halfway along the body. It was clearly not a gull or tern and seemed at least as big as a Glaucous-winged Gull, likely bigger. The under sides of the wings were mainly white with some duskiness along the trailing edge and out towards the tips. The flight was strong and direct. It was also not very high, perhaps twice treetop height. Eight or ten flaps and it was out of sight. .
Fourteen birders found the following forty-three species:
MALLARD, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, MASKED BOOBY, TURKEY VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, COOPER'S HAWK, KILLDEER, SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, CASSIN'S VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, NORTHWESTERN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BEWICK'S WREN, WINTER WREN, AMERICAN DIPPER, HERMIT THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, EUROPEAN STARLING, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, PURPLE FINCH, PINE SISKIN, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.
VESPER SPARROWS were seen singing from the southern most perimeter fence which can be viewed from the dirt road south of the Nanaimo Airport in Cassidy.
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen near the Nanaimo Airport in Cassidy at the southern perimeter fenceline.
A pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH are visiting feeders along Kilpatrick Road in the Junglepot area of Nanaimo.
Monday May 21:
Sixteen RED-THROATED LOONS were seen landing at Parksville Bay in Parksville.
WILSON'S and YELLOW WARBLERS were seen in a back yard along Heather Place in Parksville.
Sunday May 20:
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen on the north shore of Long Lake in Nanaimo.
A WESTERN TANAGER was seen along West Crescent in Qualicum Beach.
Saturday May 19:
Twelve BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were visiting ground feeder and a NORTHERN FLICKER is visiting the suet feeder in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.
For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call:The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, May 28, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday June 14, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walk on May 30, 2007 will be going to Legacy Marsh in Upper Lantzville. We will meet at the east parking lot of The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre at Jensen Avenue and McCarter Street at
9:00 a.m. in Parksville or under the Hydro lines on Normarel Drive at about 9:30am. To get to Legacy Marsh from Parksville follow Highway 19 and turn right onto Superior Road follow Superior Road to Normarel Drive turn left and go down to the Hydro Lines and park.
*************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on June 03, 2007 will be going to Springwood Park (the woods at the end of Despard Avenue, across from Chestnut Street). We will meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m.or at the parking area near Despard Avenue (turn left off Highway 4A going into Parksville) and Chestnut Street at about 9:30 a.m.
Coming from Nanaimo take the # 51 exit off the Inland Island Highway and head into Parksville along highway 4A. Turn left at the first set of lights(Despard Avenue) and go to the end of Despard Avenue, just past Chestnut Street.
*****************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
