Nanaimo bird alert

Heerman's Gull at the Little Qualicum Estuary: Photo by John Purves

To report your sightings
please phone the Store at 390-3669
or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
or call the Bird Alert at 390-3029

Post your sightings on this site--

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number, along with the date and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 28:

RBA "BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER"

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen at Esquimalt Lagoon in Victoria. The bird was working the shrubs and trees at the far northwest end of the lagoon Road near the last three houses.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Seventeen birders found the following thirty-four species: Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Hooded Merganser,American Coots, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Friday October 26:
RBA" SNOW BUNTINGS"
A pair of Snow Buntings and Western Meadowlarks were seen at Seal Islets that are part of the Tree Island Marine Park off-shore from Comox.
An Anna's Hummingbird was spotted looking at an empty feeder, this frosty morning, in Cowichan Station, south of Duncan.
Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 2800 block of Keighly Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday October 24:
The Wednesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary just north of Qualicum Beach. Among the highlights was the sightings of nine species of Gulls--Bonaparte's Gull, Heermann's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull and a Glaucous Gull. There was at least fifty Bald Eagles on the beach, perched in trees and soaring in the sky. We spotted a Peregrine Falcon racing up in the sky and then looking for a thermal to soar with Bald Eagles.
Nine birders found the following thirty species: Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Bonaparte's Gull, Heermann's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven and Brewer's Blackbird.
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen at the Notch in Nanoose Bay.
Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen in the 100 block of Nottington Drive and in the 3800 block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday October 23:
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen at feeders in the 5900 block of Breonna Drive in Nanaimo.

Monday October 22:
RBA--" RUSTIC BUNTING"
A RUSTIC BUNTING, an Eurasian species that normally winters in China and Japan was spotted at Whiffin Spit in Sooke.
A juvenile Yellow-billed Loon, a Lapland Longspur, three Savannah Sparrows, three Western Meadowlarks, Song, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows were seen in the same area at Whiffin Spit in Sooke.
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Juncos, two Spotted Towhees, six Band-tailed Pigeons, eight California Quail, many American Goldfinch, House and Purple Finch, two Red-breasted Nuthatches and an Anna's Hummingbird were spotted at a feeder in a yard near Boat Harbour near Cedar.
Three Anna's Hummingbird were seen at feeders in the 1100 block of 3rd Avenue in Ladysmith.

Sunday October 21:
An Anna's Hummingbird was seen coming to feeders in the 3700 block of Jingle Pot Road in Nanaimo.
A large flock of Ring-necked Ducks were seen at Cottle Lake in Nanaimo.

Friday October 19:
Cedar Waxwing and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen in the 3600 block of Sundown 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 November 08, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay

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Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count

December 14, 2007

Contact-Rhys Harrison at

rhysharrison@shaw.ca
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday November 26, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville.

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Parksville--Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count

December 16, 2007

Contact- Sandra gray at

saninerr@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walk on October 31, 2007 will be going to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side.
Meet at the Visitor Centre in Parksville on Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road at 9 a.m.

or at the end of Shelly Road (off Highway 19a on the ocean side) at about 9:10 am.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 04, 2007, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.

Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the Viewing Tower at highway 19a and Garnet Road along the waterfront in Qualicum Beach at about 9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Nanaimo bird alert

Red Crossbill (Juvenile) : 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 October 21:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary, in Nanaimo. Ten birders found the following twenty-three species: Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Black Turnstones, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Wilson's Snipe, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and House Finch.

Saturday October 20:
A Wilson's Snipe was seen in a yard along Larch Street in Ucluelet.
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen along Bereley Place in Nanaimo.

Friday October 19:
Anna's Hummingbirds were seen in the 1100 block of third Avenue in Ladysmith and in the 3400 block of Falcon Drive in Nanaimo.

Wednesday October 17:
Two Anna's Hummingbirds were seen in the 1200 block of Nelson Street in Nanaimo.
The first Wednesday Bird Walk of the fall went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Roads side. Among the highlights were the sighting of eight Whimbrel, two Western Grebes, two Pacific Loons in breeding plumage and there were hundreds of American Robins everywhere we looked!
Ten birders found the following fifty-four species: Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Black Turnstone, Wilson's Snipe, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow

Monday October 15:
An American Bittern was seen landing and walking on a roof of a house at Redonda Place in Qualicum Beach.
Two Red-tailed Hawks, over 100 Green-winged Teal, a Cinnamon Teal, a Blue-winged Teal and a Snow Goose was seen in with a flock of Canada Geese at the Nanaimo River Estuary Holden Creek side.

Sunday October 14:
A Barred Owl was seen at the Inland Lake Provincal Park in Powell River.
Two Anna's Hummingbirds were seen on Gabrolia Island near the Village.
Two White-throated Sparrows and one Golden-crowned Sparrow were seen across from the Marina at Deep Bay. Two Long-tailed Ducks were spotted offshore at Deep Bay.
Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorant, Canada Goose, Mallard, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Bald Eagles, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher and Northwestern Crows were seen at Nanoose Bay.
A California Quail was visiting a yard in the Rock City area of Nanaimo.
Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 4600 block of Lost Lake Road and at the corner of Sunderland Avenue and Townsite Road in Nanaimo.

Friday October 12:

One White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos and Six White-crowned Sparrows were seen in Cinnabar Valley 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

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

Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monthly Meeting,
Monday, October 22, 2007@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
Guest Speaker" Rich Mooney" will give a presentation on a birding trip.
"Washington, The Long Way Around"

**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Monthly Meeting
Thursday November 08, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
The Wednesday Bird Walk on October 24, 2007 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.
Meet at the Visitor Centre in Parksville on Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road at 9 a.m. or at the viewing tower at Garnet Road and Highway 19a in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 28, 2007, will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area off Bowen Road at about 9:20 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

ANOTHER RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Saturday October 20th we received another report of a Rufous Hummingbird visiting a feeder in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo. This is the second Rufous sighting in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately the Rufous Hummingbird that was seen in the Westwood Lake area was only seen a couple of times but has not been seen recently.

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 October 14:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville. Twenty-two birders found fifty-nine species: Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, White-winged Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Townsend's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hutton's Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, American Pipit, European Starling, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Over 100 Pacific Loons were seen off-shore at Sebastion Road in Lantzville.

Saturday October 13:
A Turkey Vulture was spotted soaring above Duncan.

Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders just off Beach Drive at the top of Brechin Road in Nanaimo.

Anna's Hummingbirds were seen along Overlook Drive off Hammond Bay above Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.

Friday October 12:
A Turkey Vulture was seen over Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Thursday October 11:
A male Anna's Hummingbird was spotted visiting flowers in a yard at Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday October 09:
One Anna's Hummingbird, one Rufous Hummingbird and a Varied Thrush were seen in a yard in the 200 block of Dawkins Lane.

An estimated one hundred Hummingbirds were seen moving through a yard Woodthrush Place near Westwood Lake in Nanaimo.

Monday October 08:
A flock of about twenty Snow Geese were seen flying in a South East direction, high above Colbourne Road in Nanaimo

A Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bewick's Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow and a Varied Thrush were seen in a yard along the 2100 block of Lancashire Avenue in Nanaimo.
A Red-tailed Hawk was spotted at the corner of Highway 19 and Northfield Road near the marsh.
A Cackling Goose was seen in with Canada Geese on the golf driving range in Duncan.

Thursday October 04:
A Great Blue Heron was seen standing and preeming at the end of a wharf across from Newcastle Island in downtown 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 November 08, 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 Walk on October 17, 2007 will be going to Englishman River Plummer Road side in Parksville.

Meet at the Visitor Centre in Parksville on Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road at 9 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.
**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 21, 2007, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary, Nanaimo.

Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking area at the end of Raines Road (off Cedar Road)

at about 9:30 a.m.
**************************************
Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Tuesday afternoon, October 9/2007, a male Rufous Hummingbird was seen looking for a feeder on Dawkins lane in the Westwood Lake area. The bird returned to where a feeder is usually hung in the summer.

Nanaimo bird alert

American Pipit at Columbia Beach, French Creek area: 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 October 07:
The Sunday Bird Walk to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road in Parksville was cancelled due to heavy rains and strong winds.

Friday October 05:
Four Sandhill Cranes and fifteen Turkey Vultures were seen soaring over Bowser.

Wednesday October 03:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and House Finch were seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville.

Red Crossbill, Steller's Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Varied Thrush were seen at the top of Little Mountain just west and south of Parksville.

Tuesday October 02:
An Ancient Murrelet and a Rhinoceros Auklet, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Hutton's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bushtit, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Song Sparrow were seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Western Gull, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Lincoln's Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow and House Finch were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.

Monday October 01:

Black Turnstones, California Quail, Black Oystercatcher, Western Sandpiper, American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, Greater Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher were seen along Columbia Beach and French Creek.

Over sixty Sandhill Cranes were spotted above Whiskey Creek.

Friday September 28:
Canada Goose, American Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Hooded Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,

Northwest Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow were seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side 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 October 11, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Topic: "Stickleback Study Update"
Guest Speaker: A. Heiden will speak on " Birding & Wildlife in Sinaloa Mountains of Mexico"
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, 2007

Everyone is welcome to bring their binoculars and join us for a morning of birding. We will leave the Visitor Centre in Parksville on Highway 19A and Northwest Bay Road at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and go to a different area in and around Parksville/Qualicum Beach each week.

**************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 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