Nanaimo bird alert

Common Tern at Columbia Beach: Photo by Ralph Hocken
To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at 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 August 26, 2007:

A White-throated Sparrow was seen near Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Twenty-three birders found the following twenty-seven species: Double-crested Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin. Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Least Sandpiper, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, European Starling, Red Crossbill, House Finch, Purple Finch, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin.

Saturday August 25:
A Stilt Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Western and Least Sandpiper were seen along French Creek.

Friday August 24:

A Heermann's Gull was seen at Columbia Beach.

Thursday August 23:
"RARE BIRD ALERT"
RUFF
A Ruff was observed feeding along the tide line at high tide between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm with Least Sandpipers, a Sanderling, Black Turnstone and Killdeer. It was last seen roosting on the Gravel Bar in front of the Pebble Beach Townhouses at Columbia Beach.

A Green Heron was spotted at the Upper Lake at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

Wednesday 22:
"RARE BIRD ALERT"
RUFF
A Ruff was seen again at Columbia Beach off Johnstone Road.

A Common Tern (a unusual sighting for this area) was also seen in the same area.

An Anna's Hummingbird was seen in the 100 block of Pirates Lane on Protection Island.

Tuesday August 21:
"RARE BIRD ALERT"
RUFF
An Eurasian bird, a Ruff, was seen at Columbia Beach, at the end of Johnstone Road off highway 19a.

A Cedar Waxwing was seen in Duncan just opposite the Whippletree Junction.

Monday August 20:
A second summer/winter Yellow-billed Loon was seen just off the waterfront in Qualicum Beach.
A Barred Owl was seen in a yard along Forest Crescent in Nanaimo.

Saturday August 18:
Two Wandering Tattlers were seen on the pebbly beach at the water's edge about two blocks from the ferry terminal at Port McNeil.
California Quail were seen along Finholm Street 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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 13, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
We will not be holding the Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville for the remaining
summer months. We will resume them in the fall and will provide the exact
date as fall approaches.
**************************************
There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on September 02, 2007.

The Sunday Bird Walks will resume on September 09, 2007.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Rare bird at Columbia Beach

A RUFF, an Asian bird, was reported last Tuesday at Columbia Beach near French Creek. This rare but regular Eurasian visitor is found feeding along the tide lines.
He was last seen at about 5:30 pm today, August 23, with it's bill tucked into it's right wing on a gravel bar just off shore in front of the Pebble Beach Condos at Columbia Beach.
The RUFF was observed today from 4:15 pm until 5:30 pm feeding and moving along the tide line with Black Turnstones, a Sanderling, Western Sandpipers, Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Least Sandpipers. " RUFF" : Photo by Ralph Hocken

Nanaimo bird alert

Black Turnstone at Columbia Beach:
Photo by Ralph Hocken
To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at 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 August 19, 2007:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Five birders found the following thirty-three species: Surf Scoter, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Common Loon, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin.

Thursday August 16:

Two Clark's Grebes in breeding plummage were seen off shore at Port Renfew.

A Common Eider was spotted flying very fast along the strait of Juan de Fuca.

Wednesday August 15:
A juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak were seen visiting feeders at the corner of Lantzville and Superior Roads in Lantzville.
A Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched on a fence, keeping a lookout on the birdfeeders, in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.

Tuesday August 14:
Over one hundred Sandhill Cranes were seen landing in the Estuary in Courtenay.

Sunday August 12:
A Barred Owl was spotted perched in an arbutus tree at Pipers Park, next to the Museum, in downtown Nanaimo.

Saturday August 11:
Six Black Swifts were seen over Ladysmith.
Four Red Crossbills, an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Willow Flycatcher were spotted at Chemainus Lake.
A family of Black-headed Grosbeaks were spotted at the Pulp Stone Quarry on Newcastle Island.

Friday August 10:
Four Cedar Waxwings were seen at Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

Wednesday August 08:
A Common Eider, was observed moving very quickly just above the water, along Columbia Beach not far from the tide line.

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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 13, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
We will not be holding the Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville for the remaining

summer months. We will resume them in the fall and will provide the exact
date as fall approaches.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 26, 2007 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

IT'S MIGRATION TIME

The fall migration is under way and yesterday Tuesday August 14, 2007, we received a report of approximately 100 Sandhill Cranes seen at the Courtney Estuary. Also watch for Least and Western Sandpipers, yellowlegs and loons. In the backyards watch for the birds to begin flocking, such as with the Chestnut-back Chickadees and for other to begin changing plumage like the American Goldfinch and the starlings. If you have any sightings to report email or call the Nanaimo bird alert at 250-390-3029.

Good birding.

Nanaimo bird alert

To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at 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 August 12, 2007:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River, Plummer Road side in Parksville. Fifteen birders found the following forty-three species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Common Loon, Red-neck Grebe, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bonapart's Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Belted Kingfisher, Black Swift, Vaux's Swift, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Willow Flycatcher, Huttons Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, and House Sparrow.

Thursday August 09:
Eight Red Crossbills were spotted sitting on the mudflats at the end of Benwaldun Road in Lantzville.

Wednesday August 08:
Two hundred Black-bellied Plovers, twelve Black Turnstones, Ring-billed Gulls and two Mew Gulls were seen at Columbia Beach.
A Lesser Yellowlegs, five Greater Yellowlegs, three Lesser Sandpipers and three Belted Kingfishers were seen along the French Creek estuary.

Tuesday August 07:
A flock of Hutton's Vireos were seen near the Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay.

A Peregrine Falcon and a Red-tailed Hawk was seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side.

Bon Voyage to Marion and Peter Coxon as they wing their back to Australia after spending six months in the Pacific Northwest exploring our part of the world. They were in our area for seven weeks.

We will miss your Auzzie sense of humour and great birding talents. It was a joy to spend time with you!

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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 13, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
We will not be holding the Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville for the remaining summer months. We will resume them in the fall and will provide the exact
date as fall approaches.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 19, 2007 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park off Hammond Bay Road about 9:15 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Nanaimo bird alert

To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at 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 August 05, 2007:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo. Sixteen birders found the following twenty-three species:

Canada Goose, Brandt Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,
Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

Saturday August 04:
Three Barred Owls were seen and heard along Kilpatrick Road off Jingle Pot Road in Nanaimo.

Two low flying Osprey were seen over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday August 02::
Several Common Nighthawks were seen over the downtown area of Nanaimo.

A Caspian Tern and a Heerman's Gull were seen at Columbia Beach.

Wednesday August 01:
Over seventy Common Nighthawks and several Black Swifts were seen above Highway 19a in Parksville.

One Common Nighthawk and ten Cedar Waxwings were seen along the Rivers Edge area behind the Weigh Scale at Parksville.
A Barred Owl was spotted at Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo.
Red Crossbill, Black-headed Grosbeak, Black Swift and Common Nighthawk were seen at the Willow Mobile Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday July 31:
A Great Horned Owl was seen in the 4200 block of Clubhouse Drive in Nanaimo.

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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday September 13, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
We will not be holding the Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville for the remaining summer months. We will resume them in the fall and will provide the exact

date as fall approaches.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 12, 2007 will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville.

Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo