Nanaimo bird alert

Chestnut-backed Chickadee at Neck Point Park: 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.

CAUTION:
An ADULT COUGAR was seen on September 29 near the northeast corner of Buttertubs Marsh. It was crossing the back corner of a yard of one of the houses on Bird Sanctuary Drive in Nanaimo.

Sunday September 30:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Three hardy birders found the following thirty-three species: Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Saturday September 29:

Two Peregrine Falcons were seen perched and hunting from a high tree near Third Street and Warren Avenue in Ladysmith.

Friday September 28:
A Yellow Warbler and four Golden-crowned Sparrows were seen in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Thursday September 27:
A large flock of Townsend's Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen near the Church camp at Nanoose Bay.

Wednesday September 26:
An Osprey was spotted flying over a house in Lantzville.
A Parasitic Jaeger, six Black Turnstones, many Pacific Loons and a Red-throated Loon were seen off shore at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
A Townsend's Warbler was seen in the woods at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 25:
A Great Horned Owl was spotted in the early evening flying over Sunrise Drive in French Creek .
A Parasitic Jaeger flew past Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Monday September 24:
Two Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 2300 block of Stobart Road in the Jingle Pot Road area of Nanaimo.

Sunday September 23:
A Barred Owl was seen hunting near a small pond at the end of Schooner Cove Drive in Nanoose Bay.
A female Anna's Hummingbird was seen at a feeder along Drew Road in French Creek.
Two Trumpeter Swans and a Pigeon Guillemot were seen at Deep Bay.

Wednesday September 19:
Two adult and one juvenile American Golden Plovers, one Stilt Sandpiper, one Sanderling and one Western Grebe were seen at Goose Spit in Comox.

Sunday September 16:
Over 2,000 Western Grebes were seen at Smith Inlet off Port Hardy.
A large flock of Purple Finch, a Barred Owl and a Great Horned Owl were seen along Green Lake Crescent 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 October 11, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, October 22, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville will resume on October 17.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 07, 2007, will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area at the end of Shelly Road (off the ocean side of Highway 19a) at about 9:30 a.m..
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

A MONDAY BIRD REPORT

Just recieved a call of a few bird sightings up in the Comox area.
Seen on Wednesday 19th of September at GoosePoint in Comox
2 adult and 1 juv. American Golden Plover. Observed for 15 mins at close range, on the beach and in the air. Also 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling, and 1 Western Grebe.
Good birding.

Nanaimo bird alert

Horned Grebe at Lantzville: 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.

CAUTION:

An ADULT COUGAR was seen at about 4:00 P.M. September 20 on the Fire and Tranquility Trails in Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo..

Sunday September 23:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Twenty-three birders found the following forty-two species: Pacific loons, Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Brandt's Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Surf Scoters, Common Merganser, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Black Oystercatchers, Surfbird, Black Turnstones, Glaucous Gull, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbirds, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Chestnut backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtits, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Pipit, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbill, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin.

Saturday September 22:

Three American Pipits were seen in a back yard at the top of Colbourne Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday September 20:

A Barred Owl was seen hunting in Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 18:

A Varied Thrush and two Great Horned Owls were heard calling near Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.

One American Pipit was seen on the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo.

Monday September 17:
A Common Murre was seen between Blunden Point and Maude Island, off of Lantzville.

Eight Lincoln's Sparrows, over thirty Black Oystercatchers and Least Sandpipers were seen on the small Islands off the Yellowpoint area of Cedar.

Sunday September 16:
Spotted Towhee, House Wren, Chestnut backed Chickadee, American Robin, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Coopers Hawk,Golden Crowned Kinglets, Orange Crowned Warbler, Red Breasted Sapsucker, Red breasted Nuthatch, Mallard, Brewers Blackbird, Red winged Blackbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow. Cedar Waxwing, Pileated Woodpecker, Double -crested Cormorant, Wood Duck, Song Sparrow, Red -necked Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Violet-green Swallow, California Quail and Great Blue Heron were seen from a deck over looking Quennell Lake in Cedar.

Twenty-four Dark-eyed Juncos were seen at feeders on Cedar Road near Yellowpoint Road in Cedar.

Two Anna's Hummingbirds, a Steller's Jay and a large flock of American Goldfinch were seen at feeders in Ladysmith.

Friday September 14:
A Killdeer was seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south 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 October 11, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
Guest Speaker " Neil Dawe"
will give an update on his topic "Sustainability Initiative"
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville will resume on October 17.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 30, 2007, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh bout 9:20 am. (Off Bowen Road)
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Cougar sighting at Morrell Sanctuary, September 20

Hello all,

Late Thursday afternoon, Bev and I were walking Morrell Sanctuary Park and were not too far onto the trail when we had a Cougar sighting - the cat actually crossed the trail only about twenty yards in front of us (very close!). Within a few minutes, our good birding friend Pete came along on his bike and after explaining to him what we had just seen, he went looking for it on the bike. We surmised that it was hitting towards Tranquility Trail and sure enough, Pete arrived back in a few minutes telling us that the cougar was sitting right on the trail and he that it just loped away down the trail away from him. It was a large, mature, healthy looking animal. What was surprising was the animal's nonchalance towards us in that it did not seem to be in any particular hurry to leave. I think he knew who was in charge. We warned the people with dogs and kids for awhile then posted the sighting on the bulletin board and a sign in the park.

Sorry for the delay in reporting this, but I had a phone call this morning (I had left my phone number at the park) and he advised that it should probably be reported to the proper authorities but I was assuming Pete may have done this as he lives near the park. At any rate, you might want to let the birders that walk the park know. You may have someone else's number that would be interested in knowing this. There was also a bear sighted in the park on the same day.

Robin

American Golden Plover at the Little Qualicum River Estuary: 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 September 16:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay. Seven hardy birders found the following twenty-seven species: Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, House Finch, Cedar Waxwing, Bewick's Wren, Belted Kingfisher, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow and Red Crossbill.

Friday September 14:
Steller's Jays have been very vocal for the past three weeks, along Benson View Road in Nanaimo

Thursday September 13:

A Clark's Grebe, an unusual sighting for this area, was seen just offshore on the Strait of Georgia at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Brewer's Blackbird,

Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red Crossbill, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Banded-tailed Pigeon, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, House Finch, Purple Finch, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Black-bellied Plover, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Belted Kingfisher, European Starling, American Robin, Western Tanager, Cassin's Vireo, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Song Sparrow were seen at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Two Anna's Hummingbirds were seen visiting feeders in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Wednesday September 12:
An American Golden Plover was seen and photographed at the Little Qualicum River Estuary.
A male Anna's Hummingbird was spotted at feeders at Boat Harbour, Cedar.

Tuesday September 11:
A Cooper's Hawk was seen in Shelly Park along Farrell Drive in Parksville.

A Merlin was seen harassing a Bonaparte's Gull several times at Ships Point looking over Baynes Sound towards Denman Island.

Monday September 10:
A Green Heron was seen at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.
Four Sandhill Cranes flew over Bowser heading east.
A pair of Horned Larks and American Pipits were seen on the top of Mount Cokely.

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 October 11, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
Guest Speaker " Neil Dawe"
will give an update on his topic "The Sustainability Initiative"
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville will resume on October 17.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 23, 2007, will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park (off Hammond Bay Road) at about 9:20 a.m.

**************************************

Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Nanaimo bird alert

A Great Blue Heron has catching a really big fish 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 September 09:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. Seventeen birders found the following twenty-five species: Common Loon, Yellow-billed Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Surf Scoter, Mallard, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Marbled Murrelet, Parasitic Jaeger, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Ringed-billed Gull,Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, House Finch, American Pipit and American Goldfinch.

Thursday September 06:
Dozens of American Goldfinch were seen at feeders in the 2700 block of Goldfinch Crescent in Nanaimo.

Anna's Hummingbird, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, House Finch were at the backyard feeders in the 2100 block of Lancashire Avenue in Nanaimo. A Chestnut-backed Chickadee was seen chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk around the same yard on Lancashire Avenue.

Wednesday September 05:

A Barn Owl was seen at R#1, Cameron Road in Ladysmith on the late evening.


A Silver Pheasant was seen between Laguna Way and Dewar Road in Nanaimo.

A female Black-headed Grosbeak was seen along Overlook Drive in Nanaimo.

Tuesday September 04:

Five Vesper Sparrows were seen in a yard at Whiskey Creek.

Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Sanderlings, Least Sandpipers, a Stilt Sandpiper, two Long-billed Dowichers, two Short-billed Dowichers, Canada Geese and a Northern Harrier were seen at the Holden Creek side of the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo

Saturday September 01:
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird and Bullock's Oriole were seen at Salmon Point and along the shoreline and forest from Oyster River Park to Oyster Bay.

A female Black-headed Grosbeak was spotted in the 1000 block of Morell Circle in Nanaimo.

Three Osprey were seen over Morell Lake in Nanaimo.

A barred Owl, a Great Horned Owl and Common Nighthawks were seen over the 1100 block of Morell Circle in Nanaimo.

Cedar Waxwings, a pair of Western Tanagers, Red Crossbills, a Downy and a Pileated Woodpeckers were seen near MacGregor Marsh at Garnet Place in Nanaimo.

Friday August 31:
A Silver Pheasant was seen in the 5100 block of Lost Lake Road near Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

Wednesday August 29:
Twenty-four Red Crossbills were seen in the 11000 block of Pilon Road in Ladysmith.

Sunday August 26:
A Varied Thrush was spotted in the 3500 block of Hewstone Road in Cedar.

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
Speaker: Duane Barker, Professor of Fish Health/Marine Ecology
Topic: "Salmon Farming"
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, September 24, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
***********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walks in Parksville will resume on October 17.

**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 16, 2007. will be going to Nanoose Bay.

Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area behind the church camp at about 9:15 am. (Off highway 19 and Arlington Road)

**************************************

Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

SEED SALE

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD AND NATURE STORE'S

FALL SEED SALE

ON UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15TH

GET READY FOR FALL BIRD FEEDING

SAVE 15 % ON MINIMUM $75.00 PURCHASE

ON JUGS, 20LB and 40LB BAGS.

• Free Seed Storage Program
• Fresh Seed at 15 % OFF
• We take Phone Orders!

The seed sale only happens twice a year so come in and save on your birdseed!

Purchase the birdseed you will use in the next few months at the sale price. Don’t worry about storage, just come by and pick up the seed you purchased as you need it, without the hassle of storing it!

Sale ends September 15, 2007

Osprey at Lantzville : Photo by Pauline Hannaford
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.

Thursday August 30:
A large flock of Red-necked Grebes, ten Common Terns, a Pigeon Guillemot and several Double-crested Cormorants were seen near the point at Deep Bay.

An Osprey was seen sitting on a snag at the south east corner of Westwood Lake in Nanaimo.

Wednesday 29:
Over sixty Greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over Bowser.

An Osprey was spotted high up in a tree next to Highway 19, close to the Lantzville Fire Station.

A Rhinoceros Auklet was spotted nestled in the seaweed next to a big rock along the beach at Madonna Point, Northwest Bay side. On the water, in the same area, there were six Harlequin Ducks.

A Marbled Murrelet was seen at Madonna Point, Craig Bay side just off shore.

A Rhinoceros Auklet was seen in among the boats at the Schooner Cove Marina

Tuesday August 28:
A Great Horned Owl was spotted in the Garry Oak Reserve at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

Monday August 27:
A Barn Owl was heard and seen in a backyard along Andrea Crescent in Lantzville.

A Pacific Golden Plover, a Caspian Tern and a Parasitic Jaeger were seen on Sandy Island Provincial Park, north of Denman Island.

Sunday August 26:
Four Northern Flickers were seen in a backyard in the 400 block of Millstone Avenue in Nanaimo.

Friday August 24:
A Caspian Tern was spotted flying east close to shore at Qualicum Beach.

A Barred Owl was seen in Bowen Park 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
Speaker: Duane Barker, Professor of Fish Health/Marine Ecology
Topic: "Salmon Farming"
**********************************
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 September 09, 2007. will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area just off of Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:30 am. (Take Columbia Drive off Highway 19a just past French Creek)
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo