The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Monday 28 December 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walks 2009


Pacific Golden-plover on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary:
Ralph Hocken Photo.

TUESDAY BIRD WALKS 2009

We visited the following sites on the Tuesday Bird Walks in 2009:

Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay
Top Bridge Trail
Rathtrevor Provincial Park
Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Parksville Bay
Springwood Park
Columbia Beach
Lot Ten
Little Qualicum River Estuary
Nile Creek
Deep Bay

The number of participants varied from four to thirty birders, with an average of twelve birders per walk. We saw and heard the following one hundred and sixty-two species of birds:

Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Brant
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganger
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
California Quail
Wilson's Snipe
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Yellow-billed Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Black Swift
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Pacific-slpoe Flycatcher
Northern Shrike
Cassin's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
American Dipper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Townsend's Solitaire
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Bird Alert, December 27, 2009


Northern Hawk Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday Bird Walks 2009:
We visited the following sites on the Sunday Bird Walks in 2009:
Morden Colliery Historic Park
Hemer Provincial Park
Beck Creek
Nanaimo River Estuary
Neck Point Park
Buttertubs Marsh
Bowen Park
McGregor Marsh
Linley Valley
Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary
Legacy Marsh
Nanoose Bay
Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay
Rathtrevor Provincial Park
Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Springwood Park
Columbia Beach
The Little Qualicum River Estuary.

The number of participants varied (usually depending on the weather!) from five to forty birders, with an average of fifteen birders per walk. We saw and heard the following 160 species of birds:
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Sanderling
Pectoral Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Great Horned Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Black Swift
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northern Shrike
Cassin's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Saturday December 26:
A large flock of American Robins was seen along Queen Elizabeth Walkway near Newcastle Avenue in Nanaimo.

A Mute Swan with two young was seen at Lantzville Beach off Sebastion Road in Lantzville.

Tuesday December 22:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with a cool breeze off the choppy sea.
At the beginning of the morning, we spotted six Long-tailed Ducks and twelve Horned Grebes from the viewing platform off of Highway 19A. There were thirteen Great Blue Herons on the estuary. One lone Killdeer flew noisily past us. A large raft of singing Black Scoters were not far from shore and a Huge flock of Gulls were seen near the horizon. The highlight of the morning, however, was the sight of forty-four Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Qualicum River.
Four birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds.
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye , Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon ,
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone,
Dunlin, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird and House Finch.

Sunday December 20:
A Bald Eagle was spotted landing near a pond and then bathing in the pond along Hammond Bay Road past the new development on Nottingham Drive in Nanaimo.

Saturday December 19:
A Eurasian Collared Dove is visiting feeders in the 5200 block of Dunster Road 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
Thursday January 14, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Tuesday 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 Beach
Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
There will not be a Tuesday Bird Walk on December 29.
The Tuesday bird walks will resume on January 05, 2010.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on January 03, 2010, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:15 A.M.
*******************************************************

Happy New Year to all of you from all of us at
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store...
Colin, Carlo, Tyler, Neil, Carol, Jessica, Denise, Lexi and Marilynne

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Saturday 26 December 2009

Nanaimo Sunday Bird Walks, 2009


Short-eared Owl at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

We visited the following sites on the Sunday Bird Walks in 2009:
Morden Colliery Historic Park
Hemer Provincial Park
Beck Creek
Nanaimo River Estuary
Neck Point Park
Buttertubs Marsh
Bowen Park
McGregor Marsh
Linley Valley
Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary
Legacy Marsh
Nanoose Bay
Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay
Rathtrevor Provincial Park
Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary
Springwood Park
Columbia Beach
The Little Qualicum River Estuary.

The number of participants varied (usually depending on the weather!) from five to forty birders, with an average of fifteen birders per walk. We saw and heard the following 160 species of birds:

Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Sanderling
Pectoral Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Great Horned Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
Black Swift
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northern Shrike
Cassin's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Wednesday 23 December 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS & THE VERY BEST FOR 2010


Varied Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo.

From all of us at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Colin, Denise, Tyler, Lexi, Carlo, Carol, Jessica, Neil & Marilynne

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, Tuesday bird walk, December 22, 2009


Killdeer: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with a cool breeze off the choppy sea.
At the beginning of the morning, we spotted six Long-tailed Ducks and twelve Horned Grebes from the viewing platform off of Highway 19A. There were thirteen Great Blue Herons on the estuary. One lone Killdeer flew noisely past us. A large raft of singing Black Scoters were not far from shore and a hugh flock of Gulls were seen near the horizon. The highlight of the morning, however, was the sight of forty-four Trumpeter Swans at the mouth of the Qualicum River.

Four birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch


Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 21 December 2009

Nanaimo Bird Alert, December 20, 2009.



Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday December 20, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
The morning was cloudy with a strong brisk wind off the water.
The highlights included seeing a Bewick's Wren and a Varied Thrush feeding along side the trail. The Varied Thrush was tossing leaves, looking for bugs and the Bewick's Wren was gleaning insects off the low bushes. Pacific Loons flew in long line just above the water, heading down the Strait of Georgia. Neck Point Park has expanded recently, with some great new View Points along the water.
Five birders saw and hear the following thirty-four species of birds:
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Harlequin Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Anna's Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Black Oystercatcher, California Quail, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow and Red Crossbill.

Saturday December 19:
Male and female Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 300 block of Fourth Avenue in Ladysmith.

Thursday December 17:
A male Townsend's Warbler was seen in with a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees at Roberts Memorial Park on Yellow Point Road in Cedar.

A Purple Finch, hundreds of Pine Siskins, two Townsend's Warblers, a murder of Northwestern Crows, a Barred Owl, Varied Thrush and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting a backyard in the 1000 block of Stymie Close in the Eaglecrest area of Qualicum Beach.

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders in the 4100 block of Gulfview Drive in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 15:
The Tuesday Birdwalk was cancelled because of the snowy weather and roads.

Sunday December 13:
356 Ancient Murrelets were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia from Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast.

Monday December 07:
A Lewis Woodpecker was seen at Cathedral Grove near Highway 4.

Christmas Bird Counts, 2009:
Volunteers are needed to help with the Bird Studies Canada annual Christmas bird count in all areas. Count birds at your home feeders or join a small team in the field. All levels of experience are welcome.

Sunday, December 27, 2009: Nanaimo CBC:
Contact Carlo Pavan--nanaimoite@gmail.com

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
Thursday January 14, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 22, 2009 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the viewing platform at Highway 19A and Garnet Road at about 9:20 A.M.
*********************
There will not be a Tuesday Bird Walk on December 29.
The Tuesday bird walks will resume on January 05, 2010.
*****************************************************
There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on December 27, 2009.
The Sunday Bird Walks will resume on January 03, 2010.
*******************************************************

Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us at
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store...
Colin, Carlo, Tyler, Neil, Carol, Jessica, Denise, Lexi and Marilynne

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Sunday 13 December 2009

Nanaimo bird alert, December 13, 2009


Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.


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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday December 13, 2009:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanoose Bay.
The morning was cloudy with snow flurries but the winds were calm.
The highlights included seeing a Greater White-fronted Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese and an Eurasian Wigeon in with a flock of American Wigeons. We spotted a Red-tailed Hawk perched high in a snag. There was a very large raft of Northern Pintail in the estuary. Five Trumpeter Swans put on a display as they left the estuary heading up island.
Five birders saw and hear the following thirty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Killdeer, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.

Saturday December 12:
Five Trumpeter Swans were seen on the fields of the Ugly Dwarf Meadows in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday December 08:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was sunny with calm winds but it was a little nippy at -7c. The sea was like glass, giving us ideal conditions to observe the large rafts of seabirds that were out on the water.
The highlights of the morning included seeing and hearing a large raft of singing Black Scoters near the shoreline. One Dunlin and one Black-Bellied Plover made an appearance not five feet from us along the shoreline. There were a large number of White-winged Scoters and a smaller raft of Surf Scoters not far from out on the water. Four Trumpeter Swans flew up island near Denman Island. A Pigeon Guillemot, along with two Marbled Murrelets, stayed off the point for the best part of the morning, giving us great long looks. The Long-tailed Ducks entertained us all morning with their singing as they swam close to shoreline at the Point.
Thirteen birders saw and hear the following thirty-eight species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe,
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Bushtit, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, House Sparrow

Monday December 07:
A Flock of White-throated Sparrows was seen near the Viewing Platform at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Four Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at Quennell Lake in Cedar.

One Brant Goose, a Short-eared Owl and Northern shrike were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Sunday December 06:
Purple and House Finch, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, White Crown Sparrows, three Northern Flickers, twenty-four California Quail and a pair of Downy Woodpeckers were seen in a backyard along Admiral Tyron Bld. in Columbia Beach.

Christmas Bird Counts, 2009:
Volunteers are needed to help with the Bird Studies Canada annual Christmas bird count in all areas. Count birds at your home feeders or join a small team in the field.
All levels of experience are welcome.

Friday, December 18, 2009: Nanoose/Lantzville CBC
Contact Rhys Harrison--rhysharrison@shaw.ca or (250) 468-5466.

Sunday, December 20, 2009: Parksville / Qualicum Beach CBC:
Contact Sandra Gray--saninerr@shaw.ca

Sunday, December 27, 2009: Nanaimo CBC:
Contact Carlo Pavan--nanaimoite@gmail.com

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
Thursday January 14, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 15, 2009 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the viewing platform at Highway 19A and Garnet Road at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 20, 2009 will be going to the Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore 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

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 08,2009



Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was sunny with calm winds but it was a little nippy at -7c. The sea was like glass, giving us ideal conditions to observe the large rafts of seabirds that were out on the water. The highlights of the morning included seeing and hearing a large raft of singing Black Scoters near the shoreline. One Dunlin and one Black-Bellied Plover made an appearance not five feet from us along the shoreline. There were a large number of White-winged Scoters and a smaller raft of Surf Scoters not far from out on the water. Four Trumpeter Swans flew up island near Denman Island. A Pigeon Guillemot, along with two Marbled Murrelets, stayed off the point for the best part of the morning, giving us great long looks. The Long-tailed Ducks entertained us all morning with their singing as they swam close to shoreline at the Point.
Thirteen birders saw and hear the following thirty-eight species of birds:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Bushtit
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
House Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 7 December 2009

Nanaimo Bird Alert, December 06, 2009


Barrow's Goldeneye on the Nanaimo River: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday December 06, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny with a bit of wind near the water. The highlights included seeing a Short-eared Owl and a Northern Harrier fly near the group, low over the estuary. We watched a Northern Shrike perch in a tall shrub and then move to other shrubs nearby. At least twelve Western Meadowlarks entertained us all morning as they perched in trees and flew into the grass right in front of us.
Nine birders saw and heard the following twenty- seven species of birds:
Trumpeter Swan, Great Blue Heron, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, European Starling, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Friday December 04:
An Eurasian Collared-Dove has been visiting feeders along Dunster Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday December 03:
A female Anna's Hummingbird was seen at feeders in the 1100 block of Pintail Drive in French Creek.

A Townsend's Warbler, Varied Thrushes, Anna's Hummer, Bewick's Wrens, Spotted Towhees, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Robins, Northern Flickers, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Song Sparrows and flocks of Bushtits are visiting feeders in the 1100 block of Stymie Close in the Eaglecrest area of Qualicum Beach.

Wednesday December 02:
A Great Horned Owl was seen near the Millstone River at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 01:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and cool with calm winds--a great day for birding.
The highlights of the morning included seeing and hearing the song of two White-winged Crossbills that were in with a flock of Red Crossbills at the top of a tall Fir Tree. We saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker, two Downy Woodpeckers, a Hairy Woodpecker and several Northern Flickers feeding along tree trunks. We looked in vain for a sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker to complete our woodpecker species. Two Eurasian Wigeons were in with a flock of American Wigeons on the estuary. One Bonaparte's Gull was in with the many Mew Gulls and we saw all three merganser species--Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser and Red-breasted Mergansers.
Thirteen birders saw the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern 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, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

November 29:
Two Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders along Patrick Drive in Parksville.
An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting feeders at the north end of Jinglepot Road, off Mostar Road in Nanaimo.

November 22, 2009:
A Mountain Bluebird was seen along the shoreline, by the Kinsman hut at Tsulquate Park in Port Hardy.

A Barred Owl was seen at the end of Douglas Avenue in Nanaimo.

Christmas Bird Counts, 2009:
Volunteers are needed to help with the Bird Studies Canada annual Christmas bird count in
all areas. Count birds at your home feeders or join a small team in the field.
All levels of experience are welcome.


Friday, December 18, 2009: Nanoose/Lantzville CBC
Contact Rhys Harrison--rhysharrison@shaw.ca or (250) 468-5466.

Sunday, December 20, 2009: Parksville / Qualicum Beach CBC:
Contact Sandra Gray--saninerr@shaw.ca

Sunday, December 27, 2009: Nanaimo CBC:
Contact Carlo Pavan--nanaimoite@gmail.com

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
Thursday December 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 08, 2009 will be going to the Deep Bay.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the marina near the cafe at Deep Bay at about 9:30.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 29 will be going to the Nanoose Bay Estuary in Nanoose Bay.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or behind the Church Camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:10 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Townsend's Solitaire

Barrow's Goldeneye on the Nanaimo River: Ralph Hocken Photo.




A Townsend's Solitaire was sighted Sunday December 06, 2009 in the Lantzville Foothills
on semi-cleared, southfacing slope amongst Arbutus with lots of berries.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 01, 2009


Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and cool with calm winds--a great day for birding.
The highlights of the morning included seeing and hearing the song of two White-winged Crossbills that were in with a flock of Red Crossbills at the top of a tall Fir Tree. We saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker, two Downy Woodpeckers, a Hairy Woodpecker and several Northern Flickers feeding along tree trunks. We looked in vain for a sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker to complete our woodpecker species. Two Eurasian Wigeons were in with a flock of American Wigeons on the estuary. One Bonaparte's Gull was in with the many Mew Gulls and we saw all three merganser species--Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser and Red-breasted Mergansers.
Thirteen birders saw the following fifty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern 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
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Good birding!
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 29 November 2009

Nanaimo bird alert, November 29, 2009




Short-eared Owl at the Nanaimo River Estuary: Ralph Hocken Photo.


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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday November 29, 2009:
Three male Red-winged Blackbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, California Quail and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 2500 block of Lyburn Crescent in Nanaimo.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Rathrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We had a morning with a stiff wind off the water but sunny periods making it rather pleasant.
The big surprise of the morning was when we heard and saw an American Kestrel fly from the top of a tall Fir tree. It is unusual to see an American Kestrel in forested areas. We saw eight Brant Geese near the tideline and Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones on a narrow gravel bar. There was a Red-throated Loon on the surf not far offshore. A flock of Red-crossbills kept us looking upwards all morning.
Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species of birds:
Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Black Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstones, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill.

Thursday November 26:
A Nashville Warbler was seen in a backyard in Columbia Beach.

Hundreds of Barrow's Goldeneye were seen along the Nanaimo River.
Four Short-eared Owls and several Western Meadowlarks were seen on the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Wednesday November 25:
A Palm Warbler was seen with a Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The Palm Warbler was seen along the long Hawthorn hedgerow to the right of the tall Oak Tree.

Tuesday November 24:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and the winds off the water were brisk. The highlights of the morning included watching three flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese and one flock of Snow Geese as they flew high overhead heading down the Island. We saw one lone Brant Goose in with a flock of Mallards near the shoreline and two other larger flocks over the water. Bufflehead, Horned Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific Loons and Common Loons were further offshore. We watched as eight male and female Purple Finch and three Varied Thrush ate the berries on a low bush near the marsh area.
Nine birders saw and head the following forty-three species of birds: Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red Crossbill.

Christmas Bird Counts, 2009:

Volunteers are needed to help with the Bird Studies Canada annual Christmas bird count in
all areas. Count birds at your home feeders or join a small team in the field.
All levels of experience are welcome.


Friday, December 18, 2009: Nanoose/Lantzville CBC
Contact Rhys Harrison--rhysharrison@shaw.ca or (250) 468-5466.

Sunday, December 20, 2009: Parksville / Qualicum Beach CBC:
Contact Sandra Gray--saninerr@shaw.ca

Sunday, December 27, 2009: Nanaimo CBC:
Contact Carlo Pavan--nanaimoite@gmail.com

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
Thursday December 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on December 01, 2009 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the Oceanside end of Shelly Road at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on December 06 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M. .
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 24, 2009



Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and the winds off the water were brisk. The highlights of the morning included watching three flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese and one flock of Snow Geese as they flew high overhead heading down the Island. We saw one lone Brant Goose in with a flock of Mallards near the shoreline and two other larger flocks over the water. Bufflehead, Horned Grebes, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacific Loons and Common Loons were further offshore. We watched as eight male and female Purple Finch and three Varied Thrush ate the berries on a low bush near the marsh area.
Nine birders saw and head the following forty-three species of birds:
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Brant
Amrican Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Mountian Bluebird



Mountian Bluebird:Kevin Storey Photo.



A Mountian Bluebird was seen along the shoreline, by the Kinsman hut at Tsulquate
Park in Port Hardy on Sunday November 22, 2009.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, bird alert, November 22, 2009



Red-necked Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday November 22, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. Check Shaw Cable channel 04, on Tuesday November 24, in the evening, for coverage of this birdwalk!
The morning was cloudy, the winds were calm and the tide was high. The highlights of the morning included seeing three Pelagic Cormorants, a Great Blue Heron, over thirty Surfbirds, a Dunlin, eight Black Turnstones and three Black Oystercatchers on the rocks not far from the shoreline. We watched several Orcas feeding near the horizon as they moved down the Strait of Georgia.
Eight birders heard and saw the following thirty-seven species of birds:
Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Goldeneye,
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Dunlin, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Surfbird, Black-bellied Plover, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,
Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill.

Saturday November 21:
A Palm Warbler was seen with a Yellow-rumped Warbler at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The Palm Warbler was seen along the long Hawthorn Hedgerow on the right of the tall Oak Tree.

Eight Trumpeter Swans were seen flying over Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Friday November 20
A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen on a fence post in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.

Thursday November 19:
Steller's Jays, California Quail, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Finches, Varied Thrush, Northern Flickers and an Anna's Hummingbird are visiting feeders in along Cloke Road in Ladysmith.

Eight California Quail were seen in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Tuesday November 17:
The Tuesday bird went to Columbia Beach. There were light rainshower's for most of the morning, but we were fortunate enough to have a reprieve from them for an hour. The surf was up on Strait of Georgia and the seas were choppy. The highlights of the morning included seeing several flocks of Black-bellied Plovers, a Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstones and Dunlin heading to the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. Five flocks of over four hundred Bonaparte's Gulls flew past us and a flock of about a hundred stopping at the gravel bar. We saw two Ancient Murrelets racing just above the water down the Strait. Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls gave us good views as they roosted on the gravel bar.
Seven birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds.
American Wigeon, Mallard , Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Ancient Murrelet, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and House Finch.

A large flock of Trumpeter Swans were seen in the fields off Cedar Road in Cedar.

One Short-eared Owl, one Northern Harrier, two Northern Shrikes, five Western Meadowlarks, two Cackling Geese and a Lincoln's sparrow were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Monday November 16:
A Trumpeter Swan was seen on the marsh at Hemer Provincial Park in Cedar.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen in the 3000 block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Saturday November 14:
Two male Anna's Hummingbirds and a Townsend Solitaire were seen feeding in a backyard along Drew Road in French Creek.

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
Guest speaker, Haida Bolton will talk about "Camp Uganda, an educational camp in the Wildlife Education Centre for underprivileged Uganda Children and their parents."
Monday November 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday December 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 24, 2009 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:15 A.M. Pleas note there is a parking fee at the park.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 29 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:30 A.M. Please note there is a parking fee at the park.
.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 17, 2009



Bonaparte's Gull at Columbia Beach: Ralph Hocken Photo.
The Tuesday bird went to Columbia Beach. There were light rainshowers for most of the morning, but we were fortunate enough to have a reprieve from them for an hour. The surf was up on Strait of Georgia and the seas were choppy. The highlights of the morning included seeing several flocks of Black-bellied Plovers, a Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstones and Dunlin heading to the gravel bar at Pebble Beach. Five flocks of over four hundred Bonaparte's Gulls flew past us and a flock of about a hundred stopping at the gravel bar. We saw two Ancient Murrelets racing just above the water down the Strait. Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls gave us good views as they roosted on the gravel bar.

Seven birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds.
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Ancient Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 15 November 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, bird alert, November 15, 2009



Snow Goose: John Purves Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday November 15, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
The rain fell all morning and it was very windy. The highlights included seeing a Barred Owl perched in full view on a branch. A small flock of unidentified Shorebird flew over us. A Wilson's Snipe circled around us for several minutes.
Five birders heard and saw the following twenty-seven species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Wood Duck, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Wilson's Snipe, Great Blue Heron, Barred Owl, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Rock Pigeon, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and House Sparrows.

A first fall female Common Yellowthroat was seen in a backyard in Columbia Beach.

Saturday November 14:
Three Trumpeter Swans were seen flying over a field off highway 19, between Nanoose Bay and Parksville.

One Brant Goose was seen at the Parksville Beach Community Park in with a flock of American Wigeon.

One Snow Goose was seen in with a flock of Canada Geese at Winchelsea School Grounds along Renz Road in Parksville.

Steller's Jays and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders along Benson View Road opposite Witchcraft Lake in Nanaimo.

An American Dipper was seen in a stream that runs into Witchcraft Lake in Nanaimo.

A Chukar was seen alongside Church Road by the three-way stop in Parksville.

Four Steller's Jays and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 4600 block of Lost Lake Road in Nanaimo.

An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting feeders along Valewood Drive in Deerwood Estates in north Nanaimo.

Friday November 13:
One Snow Goose and three Cackling Geese were seen in with a large flock of Canada Geese in the Winchelsea School grounds along Renz Road in Parksville.

A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen scouting the feeders in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Thursday November 12:
Three Short-eared Owls, two Northern Harriers, two Eurasian Wigeon and a Northern Shrike were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Four Brant Geese were seen offshore heading south from Yellowpoint in Cedar.

Tuesday November 10:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with showers but the sea was calm. A Varied Thrush greeted us as we started the walk. The highlights included the sighting of a Red-tailed Hawk perched high in a tall tree overlooking
the estuary and the flooded mudflats. Three Gadwall, four Northern Shovelers and a flock of Dunlin shared the incoming tide on the mud flats. A male and female Long-tailed Duck, Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Double-crested Cormorant and Pelagic Cormorant were playing hide and seek with us by diving and popping up out of the water.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds:
Canada Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon ,
Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Ancient Murrelet, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch and Pine Siskin.

Sunday November 08:
Three Rufous Hummingbirds were seen visiting feeders along Cosgrove Crescent in Nanaimo.

Three Greater White-fronted Geese. three Cackling Geese and two Gadwall were seen at Buttertubs Marsh 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
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Guest speaker, Haida Bolton will talk about "Camp Uganda, an educational camp in the Wildlife Education Centre for underprivileged Uganda Children and their parents."
Monday November 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday December 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 17, 2009 will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tyron Bld. at about 9: 15 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 22, 2009 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot of Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 10, 2009




Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with showers but the sea was calm. A Varied Thrush greeted us as we started the walk. The highlights included the sighting of a Red-tailed Hawk perched high in a tall tree overlooking the estuary and the flooded mudflats. Three Gadwall, four Northern Shovelers and a flock of Dunlin shared the incoming tide on the mud flats. A male and female Long-tailed Duck, Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Double-crested Cormorant and Pelagic Cormorant were playing hide and seek with us by diving and popping up out of the water.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Ancient Murrelet
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 8 November 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, bird alert, November 08, 2009



Sharp-shinned Hawk at Lantzville: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday November 08, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning started with light showers but the rain stopped and it was a pleasant morning for birding. The highlights included seeing a constant stream of thousands upon thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls flying into the mouth of the Little Qualicum River Estuary. We could see huge feeding frenzies of seabirds and gulls stretching along the horizon through the scopes. A flock of thirty Black Turnstones flew past low over the water. There were a large number of Bald Eagles were perched on the high Fir Trees along the river. At least ten Great Blue Herons were roosting on the estuary.
Nine birders heard and saw the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch and House Finch.

Saturday November 07:
"Rare bird alert-Black-headed Gull"
A winter plumaged Black-headed Gull was seen roosting with Glaucous-winged and Mew Gulls south of Qualicum Bay. The Black-headed gull is normally found in Europe, but is fairly common in Newfoundland and is found along the west coast of North America where it joins Bonaparte's Gull flocks.

Four Cackling Canada Geese and three White-fronted Geese were seen again today at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Friday November 06:
A pair of Great Horned Owls were seen in Millstone Valley in East Wellington.

Four Cackling Canada Geese and three White-fronted Geese were seen in with about two hundred Canada Geese at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Wednesday November 04:
A Spotted Sandpiper, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Common Mergangers were seen from Sebastion Road in Lantzville.

A Clark's Nutcracker was seen feeding among the drift logs high on the beach at Carmanah Point on the west side of Vancouver Island.

Tuesday November 03:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy and very windy at times with an occasional glimpse of the sun. The highlights of the morning included seeing thirteen Great Blue Herons resting among the tall grass on the estuary across from the houses at the start of the walk. We spotted twenty Bald Eagles perching on the tall fir trees along the river. There was a very large flock of Bonaparte's Gulls near the estuary. We watched as the gulls lifted from the water to put on their tern like show--moving in a cloud, dipping and diving as they flew. Dunlin and Black Turnstones moved along the gravel bars throughout the morning. There were several Sea Lions and Seals off shore along with Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone,
Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird and House Finch.

Sunday November 01:
A Northern Pygmy Owl was seen in a backyard along Garry Oak Drive in Nanoose Bay.

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
Guest Speaker Entemologist Evelyn Stokkink will talk about the life of the
Ambrosia Beetle.
Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday November 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 10, 2009 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 15 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at Buttertubs Marsh off
Bowen at about 9:20 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 03, 2009



Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy and very windy at times with an occasional glimpse of the sun. The highlights of the morning included seeing thirteen Great Blue Herons resting among the tall grass on the estuary across from the houses at the start of the walk. We spotted twenty Bald Eagles perching on the tall fir trees along the river. There was a very large flock of Bonaparte's Gulls near the estuary. We watched as the gulls lifted from the water to put on their tern like show--moving in a cloud, dipping and diving as they flew. Dunlin and Black Turnstones moved along the gravel bars throughout the morning. There were several Sea Lions and Seals off shore along with Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Monday 2 November 2009

Northern Pygmy-Owl




Northern Pygmy-Owl at Nanoose Bay: Photo by Pat.

A Northern Pygmy-Owl was seen in a backyard along Gary Oaks Drive in Nanoose Bay on Sunday November 01, 2009.

Sunday 1 November 2009

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, bird alert, November 01, 2009



Red-tailed Hawk: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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 this 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

Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with:
http://www.birdingpal.org/

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

Sunday November 01, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanoose Estuary in at Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny and calm until the near the end of the walk, when it turned quite windy.
We saw three different Red-tailed Hawks--one was perched in a large bush near the church camp, one was perched in the tall perching snag above a Great Blue Heron and the third Hawk was up high above the tree line being harassed by two Common Ravens. A Merlin flew in above us and circled around and then headed west and disappeared. We observed a Cooper's Hawk circling above the trees, moving higher and higher into the sky. Three Dunlin were resting on the shoreline of the incoming tide. We spotted an Eurasian Wigeon among a flock of American Wigeon.
Fifteen birders heard and saw the following forty species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, Dunlin, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, American Robin, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.

Saturday October 31:
A Northern Shrike and three Short-eared Owls were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

An Anna's Hummingbird was seen feeding from garden fuchsia in the 2500 Block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Friday October 30:
Two Wilson's Snipe, one Long-billed Dowitcher, two Eurasian Wigeon and an American/Eurasian Hybrid Wigeon were seen at Holden Creek side of the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Thursday October 29:
A large flock of American Wigeon, Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Black Turnstone and a flock of Dunlin were seen at the Parksville Bay at low tide.

Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant,
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit and Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Canada Geese and one Cackling Goose, American Coots, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks, Greater Scaup and a Hooded Merganser were seen at Craig Bay in Parksville.

Tuesday October 27:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was partly cloudy with strong winds making the Strait of Georgia very choppy. The highlights of the morning included seeing a flock of Dunlin along the tide line. White-winged, Surf and Back Scoters, Pacific and Common Loons, Pigeon Guillemot and Common Mergansers were further offshore. Inland, near the marsh we came across a large mixed flock of songbirds including Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Hutton's Vireo, Varied Thrush and a Townsend's Warbler.
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-four species of birds:
American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Dunlin, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hutton's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
American Robin, Varied Thrush, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Red Crossbill and American Goldfinch.

Fifteen Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at Holden Creek in south Nanaimo.

A flock of eleven Trumpeter Swans and one juvenile Northern Harrier were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary, Raines Road side.

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
Guest Speaker Entemologist Evelyn Stokkink will talk about the life of the Ambrosia Beetle.
Thursday November 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday November 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday 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 Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around
the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 03, 2009 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the Viewing Platform on Highway 19A and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 08 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the Viewing Platform on Highway 19A and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:30A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD
Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250.390.3669
250.390.1633 fax
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com