Nanaimo bird alert

Common Nighthawk: Ryan Cathers Photo.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday, July 27:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Ladysmith Harbour in Ladysmith.

Among the highlights was the sighting of a Osprey flying over the harbor with a fish in it's talons . We saw four Pigeon Guillemots on the water. Four Barn Swallow chicks were lined up on a yacht in the harbor and were being feed by the parent every five minutes or so. We saw most of the recorded sixty-seven pairs of Purple Martins as they swooped down to their nest boxes. We were fascinated by two Black Oystercatchers mobbing a Bald Eagle.

Fourteen birders found the following thirty-one species of birds:
Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Pigeon Guillemot, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Black Oystercatcher, Glaucous-winged Gull, California Gull, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch.

Saturday, July 26:
"Rare Bird Alert-Northern Parula"
A Northern Parula, along with a flock of Bushtits, Townsend's Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, Wilson's Warblers Yellow Warblers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos and a flock of eight White-winged Crossbills were seen in Shirley on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Hundreds of California and Heermann's Gulls and a Caspian Tern were seen at Jordon River on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

"Rare Bird Alert- Indigo Bunting"
An Indigo Bunting was relocated today along Coldwater Farm Lane off Renz Road in Parksville.

Friday, July 25:
"Rare Bird Alert-Indigo Bunting"
The Indigo Bunting was relocated today by several birders along the Coldwater Farm Lane off Renz Road in Parksville. The bird is an adult male with some noticeable feather wear on the wings. The bird was singing while moving back and forth from the decidous trees on the right side of the path and the shrubby field on the left.

About sixty Common Nighthawks were seen flying low over Long Lake in Nanaimo.

A large group of Common Nighthawks were seen flying high over Nanaimo North Town Center in north Nanaimo.

A family of Peregrine Falcons were seen over Brannen Lake in Nanaimo.

Thursday, July 24:
"Rare Bird Alert-Indigo Bunting"
A male Indigo Bunting was seen on the Coldwater Farm Lane off Renz Road in Parksville.

As many as twelve Merlins were seen and heard chasing birds in the area around Cedar Road near Quennell Road in Cedar.

Male and female Vesper Sparrows were seen and heard at the Cassiday Airport in south Nanaimo.

A flock of thirteen Common Nighthawks were seen heading straight west over Craig Street near the new Care Campus 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 11, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in
the fall.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 03, 2008 will be going to Neck Point 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 at about 9:20 A.M.

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

Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

RBA *****INDIGO BUNTING*******

Indigo Bunting in Parksville: Chris Stephen's Photo.

An Indigo Bunting was seen today along Renz Road near the Coldwater Farm in Parksville

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Monday, July 21, 2008:
A Pine Grosbeak was spotted at a backyard feeder in the 2900 block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Sunday, July 20:

RARE BIRD ALERT:

A White-tailed Kite was seen near Westwood Lake flying east over Highway 19.

RARE BIRD ALERT

An Elegant Tern was spotted rapidly flying south near Ten Mile Point in Saanich in Victoria.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Fourteen birders found the following thirty-one species of birds:
Pied-billed Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow. Thank-you Susan for leading the walk.

A female Sooty Grouse with two fledglings and a pair of Chipping Sparrows were seen at the Notch Hill in Nanoose Bay.

Saturday, July 19:

A Tufted Puffin, Cassin's Auklets, Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets, over 100 Heermann's Gulls, 100's of California Gulls, three Surf Scoters, a White-winged Scoter, a Common Loon, a Brandt's Cormorant and a flock of twenty-seven Bonaparte's Gulls were seen at Otter Point on the west side of Vancouver Island.

A large number of MacGillivray's and Wilson's Warblers, along with a Tree Swallow and a flock of Barn Swallows were seen at Gordon's Beach on the west side of Vancouver Island.

An off shore Red-throated Loon , 56 Western Sandpipers, four Least Sandpipers, one Sanderling and two Black Turnstones were seen on the estuary at Port Renfrew on the west side of Vancouver Island.

A Whimbrel was seen at Whiffin Spit on the west side of Vancouver Island.

Friday, July 18:
Two Great Horned Owls were seen in a yard in Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.

Thursday, July 17:
A Eurasian Collared Dove was photographed by the Millstream River just off Jinglepot Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday July 16:
Two Great Horned Owls were seen in a yard in Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay.
A Pacific-slope Flycatcher was seen along Cannor Crescent in Qualicum Beach.

Tuesday, July 15:
A Green Heron was seen flying over Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

A House Finch is visiting and feeding on hummingbird feeders in the 4100 block of Gulfview Drive in Nanaimo.

A Silver Pheasant was seen on Jinglepot Road between Westwood Lake Road and the Shady Mile area in Nanaimo.

Sunday July 13:
A Killdeer was seen leading a chick about the size of a soft ball from above Hammond Bay Road through yards and down to the lagoon to Piper's Lagoon Park in Nanaimo. It would call and wait for the chick to catch-up and then fly further away. When the parent bird saw people watching them, it did the fake injury maneuver, attempting to get the focus off the chick, until the people left.

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 11, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in
the fall.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 27, 2008 will be going to the Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina in Ladysmith.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the left side (the gravel area) of the parking area at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith at about 9: 40 A.M.
***************************************
The Purple Martin Open House, July 27th, at the Ladysmith Maritime Society marina from 1-5 pm.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

nanaimo bird alert

Caspian Terns at French Creek: John Purves Photo.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday, July 13, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Cassin's Vireo gleaning insects from the leaves in a tall tree. We saw an American Robin fly into it's nest to feed four chicks. The sighting of the morning was a Red-eyed Vireo going to and from it's nest in the big leaf Maple Trees (the trees known as the Warbler Trees as we usually see a great number of Warblers in it). We were all able to watch the Vireo peer into the nest and then move into it and nestle down. We could see it's head with the red eye and eye streak. The Vireo left the nest and returned several times. It was a fantastic sight for us all.

Fifteen birders found the following thirty-three species of birds:

Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven ,Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Saturday, July 12:

An Osprey was spotted circling above the Country Club Shopping Centre and the old Island Highway in Nanaimo.

Approximately fifty Common Nighthawks and twelve Black Swifts were seen hawking insects for about 45 minutes over the 2500 block of Glenayer Drive in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.

A Western Meadowlark was seen in the saltmarsh habitat on the short grass at the end of Seabroom Road off Kaltasin Road in Sooke.

Red-necked Phalaropes, a Red Phalarope and Heermann's Gulls were seen off Jordan River north of Sooke.

Wednesday, July 09:
A Barred Owl with two fledglings was seen at Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, July 08:
Five Caspian Terns were seen in with California and Glaucous Gulls resting along the gravel on the Columbia Beach side of the mouth of French Creek. Flying over head were several Purple Martins and a Belted Kingfisher.

There were many Canada Geese and a family of Common Mergangers with fourteen youngsters along French Creek.

A Heerman's Gull, three Caspian Terns and four Western Sandpipers were seen on the ocean across from Judges Row in Qualicum Beach.

Monday, July 07:
Two Eurasian Collared-Doves were seen along Grant Road near Otter Point Road in Sooke.

Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows were seen along Quenell Road in Cedar.

A Trumpeter Swan was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese on a pond just off Doole Road near Yellow Point 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 11, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in
the fall.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 20, 2008, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area on the Bowen Road side of Buttertubs Marsh at about 9:20 A.M. Thanks Susan for leading the walk.
**************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

Glaucous Gull at French Creek: John Purves Photo.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029
or www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates:
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Post your sightings on these site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages

Birds of British Columbia:
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html

International Birdwatching Guides
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com

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

Sunday, July 06, 2008:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Upper Lantzville. Among the highlights were the sightings of several Western Tanagers. We were entertained by two Black-headed Grosbeaks playing on small shrubs close to the trail. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher played hide and seek with us in the tall trees.
Twenty-four birders found the following forty-three species of birds:

Ringed-neck Pheasant, California Quail, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Osprey, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow,Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Black-headed Grosbeak, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Pine Siskin and House Finch.

Saturday, July 05:

Two Caspian Terns and Ringed-billed Gull were seen along the tide line at Columbia Beach.

Four Least Sandpipers, four Western Sandpipers and three Greater Yellowlegs were seen at French Creek.

A pair of Mourning Doves are visiting a garden in the 2300 block of Jinglepot Road.

Numerous Rhinoceros Auklets, an adult Cassin's Auklet, Tufted Puffin, several Marbled Murrelets and many California Gulls were seen at Shirley on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Friday, July 04:
Three Western Sandpipers, one Greater Yellowlegs and a Glaucous Gull were seen at French Creek this morning.

A Caspian Tern was seen at Columbia Beach.

Over Forty Red Crossbills landed in a large conifer tree in the 2500 block, Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

A Great Horned Owl was calling from the hillside behind Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday July 03:
A Greater Yellowlegs was seen walking on the Lily Pads at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

An Osprey was seen flying over the 2500 block, Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, July 01:
A Barred Owl was spotted at the Englishman River, Plummer Road side, in Parksville.

A Barred Owl, Red-eyed, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos were seen at Springwood Park in Parksville.

Monday, June 30:
Seven Common Nighthawks, a Merlin and a juvenile Northern Goshawk were seen in Upper Lantzville.

Two American Dippers were seen along Rodgers Creek outside of Port Alberni.

A white( partial albino) Common Raven was seen on the top of the water tower at the Qualicum Beach works yard along Jones Road and Rupert Road in Qualicum Beach.

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 July 10, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Annual Picnic--July 28, 2008.
Monthly Meeting,
Monday September 22, 2008@ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**************************************

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Wednesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Visitor Centre in Parksville at 9 A.M. Wednesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
-----------------------------------------------
The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Wednesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Wednesday bird walks in the fall.
*****************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 13, 2008, will be going to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the top of Rutherford Road across from the Quilted Duck at about 9:10 A.M.
**************************************

Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia