Parksville/Qualicum Beach-Tuesday bird walk

California Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. Eighteen birders saw and heard forty-four species of birds.

The morning was clear with sunny periods and the winds were calm. We had good a view across the Strait of Georgia with our spotting scopes. Long lines of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Greater Scaup were heading up the Strait. Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, two Horned Grebes and two Barrow's Goldeneye spent most of the morning just off-shore. A large flock of Common Murres headed up the Strait and there were several Common Murres resting on the water a long way from shore. Thousands of Gulls streamed overhead, heading up island, all morning. Two Black-bellied Plovers and a Killdeer were feeding near the gravel bar. We saw large flocks of California Gulls, Mew Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and a few Ring-billed Gulls roosting on the leeward side of the gravel bar. We watched a White-crown Sparrow sing from the top of a bush. As we were leaving the parking area at the end of the walk we
spotted a Merlin attempt to catch a small bird.

Eighteen birders found the following forty-four species of birds on February 24, 2009:
Canada Goose
Brant
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow

Glaucous Gull at Parksville Community Park

Glaucous Gull at Parksville Beach, Vancouver Island:
Mike Ashbee Photo.

A Glaucous Gull has been seen since Friday February 20 and is still at Parksville Community Park in Parksville Bay.

The Gull is in with the flock of Gulls near the Vollyball sand courts on the grass area.

NANAIMO BIRD ALERT, February 22, 2009

Brant Geese in flight: 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 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 February 22, 2009
The Sunday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in
Parksville. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Peregrine Falcon perched on a stump for the whole morning and four flocks of Brant Geese flying low over the water. We saw many flocks of Common Murre, Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters heading down the Strait of Georgia. Rafts of Red-breasted Mergangers, along with Pacific Loons and Common Loons, were spotted not far off shore.
Twenty-two rain soaked birders saw and heard the following forty-eight species of birds:
Canada Goose, Brant Geese, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Common Murre, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin and House Finch.

Saturday February 21:
A Cinnamon Teal and a Snow Goose were seen at Somanos Marsh in Duncan.

Friday February 20:
A large flock of Cedar Waxwings were spotted at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
One Herring Gull, three Western Gulls, one Glaucous Gull. several Thayer's Gulls and about three hundred Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen at the Parksville Community Park at Parksville Bay.

Thursday February 19:
"Rare bird alert-Northern Hawk Owl"
The Northern Hawk Owl was seen today along Morden Road in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday February 17:
Three Turkey Vultures were seen riding the thermals over Copley Ridge in Upper Lantzville.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay.
Sixteen birders saw and heard forty-six species of birds. It was an ideal day for birding. The skies were sunny and the wind was calm. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of twelve Long-tailed Ducks within ten feet of the shore at the point. There were other Long-tailed Ducks out further on the water but the ones near shore were a spectacular sight. Not far off shore Black Scoters were singing their song. Large rafts of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Harlequin Ducks and Common and Pacific Loons were seen further out from shore. A lone Western Grebe was spotted through our scopes not far from Denman Island. On shore we saw a
Hutton's Vireo hawking insects from a snag. Ten Golden-crowned Sparrows were spotted feeding on the ground near a short bush. Large flocks of singing House Finches kept us entertained throughout the morning. We spotted a Cooper's Hawk perched high up in a large bush. Two Bald Eagles spent the morning looking over the Bay from high atop a Fir Tree. On the way back to Parksville, we spotted two Pigeon Guillemots at Nile Creek.
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Greater Scaup, Lesser 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, Western Grebe,
Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Hutton's Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen in a yard in the Eaglecrest area of Qualicum Beach.

A Townsend Warbler was seen in bushes and Brant Geese were seen on the water near Beach Club Resort in Parksville.

Monday February 16:
Cooper's Hawk, an Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskins, a Pileated Woodpecker and Song Sparrows are visiting a backyard along Doehle Avenue in Parksville.

Sunday February 15:
A Pine Grosbeak was feeding on berries on a Arbutus tree in the 900 block of Nanaimo River 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
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday February 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Guest Speaker Pamela Wesley will speak about the invasive plant situation on the Island.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday March 12, 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 February 24 , 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 meet at the parking area off Admiral Tylon Boulevard ( Turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a go to Admiral Tylon Boulevard turn right and go about 100 meters and turn left onto a parking area near the ocean) at about 9:15A.M.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 01, 2009, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or meet at the Butterubs parking area off Bowen Road at about 9:15 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

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

Long-tailed Duck, Deep Bay, Vancouver Island:
Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Deep Bay.

Sixteen birders saw and heard forty-six species of birds. It was an ideal day for birding. The skies were sunny and the wind was calm. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of twelve Long-tailed Ducks within ten feet of the shore at the point. There were other Long-tailed Ducks out further on the water but the ones near shore were a spectacular sight. Not far off shore Black Scoters were singing their song. Large rafts of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Harlequin Ducks and Common and Pacific Loons were seen further out from shore. A lone Western Grebe was spotted through our scopes not far from Denman Island. On shore we saw a Hutton's Vireo hawking insects from a snag. Ten Go
lden-crowned Sparrows were spotted feeding on the ground near a short bush. Large flocks of singing House Finches kept us entertained throughout the morning. We spotted a Cooper's Hawk perched high up in a large bush. Two Bald Eagles spent the morning looking over the Bay from high atop a Fir Tree. On the way back to Parksville, we spotted two Pigeon Guillemots at Nile Creek.

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of birds:
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Lesser 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
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Rock Pigeon
Hutton's Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow

Good birding!
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

NANAIMO BIRD ALERT, February 15, 2009

American Dipper: 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 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 February 15, 2009.
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary on a very windy but clear sunny morning. The highlights of the morning included the sighting of both a male and female Northern Harrier flying low over the field looking for prey. The female Northern Harrier flushed out two Western Meadowlarks, who land in a tree and perched to allow us to have some great looks through the spotting scopes. At the far end of the estuary we spotted a total of twenty-nine Great Blue Herons standing like fence posts in a field.
Thirteen birders found the following twenty-seven species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Saturday February 14:
"Rare bird alert--Northern Hawk Owl"
The Northern Hawk Owl was seen off Morden Road in south Nanaimo.

Friday February 13:Twelve House Finches were seen on the trees beside Cedar Road near Hill Road in Ladysmith.

Twenty-seven California Quail were visiting a back yard in the 2100 block of Wren Road in Nanaimo.

Two Western Gulls were seen on the High School playing fields in Duncan.

Thursday February 12:
Four Varied Thrush, twelve Dark-eyed Juncos, three Chestnut-backed Chickadees, one Hutton's Vireo, one Bewick's Wren, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, one Brown Creeper, two Northern Flicker, one Spotted Towhee, two House Finches, one Anna's Hummingbird and a Downy Woodpecker are visiting a backyard along Jade Avenue in Nanaimo.

A Silver Pheasant was spotted near Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

Wednesday February 11:
" Rare bird alert--Great Gray Owl"
A Great Gray Owl was seen on Quadra Island. This species of owl is usually seen in Northern Canada and rarely seen on Vancouver Island.

Tuesday February 10:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Twelve hardy birders saw and heard seventeen species of birds.
The winds were strong from the southeast and seas were rough with heavy pounding surf and the blustery rain and snow followed us all morning. It was an awesome scene seeing the sea in it's dark winter stormy mode.
The big surprise of the morning was the sighting of a flock of over two hundred Brant Geese flying near the shore. A large flock of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the tide line and we spotted an American Golden Plover feeding in with the Black-bellied Plovers. A Common Loon and a Yellow-billed Loon were riding the surf offshore. Long lines of Surf Scoters and American Wigeon flew just above the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Brown Creeper feeding as it climbed a big Fir Tree. A fast flying Red-tailed Hawk flew over us heading south.
Twelve birders found the following seventeen species of birds:
Brant , American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Loon,
Yellow-billed Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-bellied Plover,
American Golden-Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull,
Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull and Brown Creeper.

Monday February 09:
Cooper's Hawk, an Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskins, a Pileated Woodpecker and Song Sparrows are visiting a backyard along Doehle Avenue in Parksville.

Sunday February 08:
Two American Dippers were spotted just downstream of the Englishman River bridge 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
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday February 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Guest Speaker Pamela Wesley will speak about the invasive plant situation on the Island.
Springwood School
Parksville
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday March 12, 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 February 17, 2009 will be going to Deep Bay.
Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's
Playground at 9:00 A.M. Or meet at the parking area at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on February 22, 2009, will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or meet at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island--Tuesday bird walk

Yellow-billed Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
Twelve hardy birders saw and heard seventeen species of birds.
The winds were strong from the southeast and seas were rough with heavy pounding surf and the blustery rain and snow followed us all morning. It was an awesome scene seeing the sea in it's dark winter stormy mode.

The big surprise of the morning was the sighting of a flock of over two hundred Brant Geese flying near the shore. A large flock of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the tide line and we spotted an American Golden Plover feeding in with the Black-bellied Plovers. A Common Loon and a Yellow-billed Loon were riding the surf offshore. Long lines of Surf Scoters and American Wigeon flew just above the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Brown Creeper feeding as it climbed a big Fir Tree. A fast flying Red-tailed Hawk flew over us heading south.

Twelve birders found the following seventeen species of birds on February 10, 2009:
Brant
American Wigeon
Buflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Loon
Yellow-billed Loon
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Brown Creeper

Northern Hawk Owl along Morden Road: 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 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 February 08, 2009:
" Rare bird alert--Northern Hawk Owl"
The Northern Hawk Owl along the Morden Road in south Nanaimo has been seen everyday since Saturday January 24, 2009 and is still in this same area today. The owl is a rare sighting on Vancouver Island, however it can be seen east and north of the interior of British Columbia, as well as across the rest of Canada.

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay. On a very calm but overcast morning ten birders found the following thirty-four species of birds: Canada Geese, American Wigeon, Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Thayer's Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, American Robin, European Starling, Red-wing Blackbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crown Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin.

A low flying Peregrine Falcon flew over the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store in Nanaimo this morning.

Saturday February 07:
A Barred Owl was perched in a California Red Cedar tree in a garden in the 400 block of Stewart Avenue in Nanaimo.

Friday February 06:
A Northern Harrier was seen over Woodthrush Place in Nanaimo.

Thursday February 05:
Six Evening Grosbeaks, Northern Flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpecker, Steller's Jays, Bushtits, Pine Siskins, California Quail, Varied Thrushes, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, House Finches and a Coopers Hawk have been visiting a backyard in the Falcon Court area of Aerie Estates in French Creek.

Wednesday February 04:
Two Great-horned Owls were seen along Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.

A Northern Harrier, a Merlin and a Short-eared Owl were spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday February 03:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Thirteen birders saw and heard forty-nine species of birds. The winds and seas were calm and the sun was shinning. It was a great day to be birding!
The highlights of the morning included the sighting of a flock of five hundred Dunlin and a small flock of Black-bellied Plovers flying down the Strait of Georgia. An Eurasian Wigeon was spotted among the American Widgeons that were feeding near the shoreline, two Gadwall in the estuary swam slowly away from us. We heard two Pileated Woodpecker calling close by and then we watched as they flew over the river giving us a quick view. We saw a Bewick's Wren and a Fox Sparrow in a low bush near the viewing tower. A Cooper's Hawk was perched in a low bush and there were Golden-crowned Sparrows in the nearby bushes. Two flocks of busy Bushtits and a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets flew by us in some low bushes next to the trail. We saw a large number of Bald Eagles and Northern Flickers perched in the trees throughout the walk.
Thirteen birders found the following forty-nine species of birds:
Canada Goose, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead,
Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Dunlin,
Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Sunday February 01:
Over twenty Bushtits were visiting suet feeders near Wild Place near 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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday February 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Guest speaker Gary Kaiser will present a programme on the Marbled Murrelet.
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday February 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Guest Speaker Pamela Wesley will speak about the invasive plant situation on the Island.
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 February 10, 2009 will be going to the 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 meet at the main parking lot (the last parking lot before the campground) at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:15 A.M.
"Please note there is a parking fee at Rathtrevor."
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on February 15, 2009, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or meet at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo

Parksville/Qualicum Beach (Oceanside) Tuesday bird walk

Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Thirteen birders saw and heard forty-nine species of birds. The winds and seas were calm and the sun was shinning. It was a great day to be birding!

The highlights of the morning included the sighting of a flock of five hundred Dunlin and a small flock of Black-bellied Plovers flying down the Strait of Georgia. An Eurasian Wigeon was spotted among the American Wigeons that were feeding near the shoreline, two Gadwall in the estuary swam slowly away from us. We heard two Pileated Woodpecker calling close by and then we watched as they flew over the river giving us a quick view. We saw a Bewick's Wren and a Fox Sparrow in a low bush near the viewing tower. A Cooper's Hawk was perched in a low bush and there were Golden-crowned Sparrows in the nearby bushes. Two flocks of busy Bushtits and a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets flew by us in some low bushes next to the trail. We saw a large number of Bald Eagles and Northern Flickers perched in the trees throughout the walk.

Thirteen birders found the following forty-nine species of birds on February 03, 2009:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch

Northern Hawk Owl at Morden Road: 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 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 February 01, 2009:
" Rare bird alert--Northern Hawk Owl"
The Northern Hawk Owl along the Morden Road in south Nanaimo has been seen everyday since Saturday January 24, 2009 and is still in this same area today.

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. On a very windy winter stormy morning eleven hardy birders found the following twenty-six species of birds: Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin.

Saturday January 31:
Nine California Quail, House Finch, Chest-backed Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhee and a partial albino American Robin were seen in the 1600 block of Bowen Road in Nanaimo.

A collard Trumpeter Swan was spotted along Cowichan Bay Road in Duncan.

A Snow Goose was spotted at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

A flock of Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans and seven Killdeer.ere spotted at the Westhaven Farm off highway one and the Crofton exit.

Wednesday January 28:
A Northern Harrier was spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 27:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. Seven birders saw and heard thirty-eight species of birds. The winds were brisk, the surf was up and rolling into shore and there were some snow flurries through-out the morning.
The highlights of the morning included the sighting of six Trumpeter Swans and four Great Blue Herons resting in the estuary when we arrived. Two Common Murres raced down the Strait of Georgia just above the water . There were large flocks of Greater Scaup, Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Bufflehead not far from shore. We saw several species of Gulls including hundreds of Mew Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, fifty Thayer's Gulls, six Western Gulls, hundreds of Glaucous-winged Gulls and two Glaucous Gulls. Further offshore we spotted a Red-throated Loon, four Pacific Loons, three Horned Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe and a Brandt's Cormorant riding the strong waves. We spotted a Red-tailed Hawk perched on a tall tree across the estuary.

Seven birders found the following thirty-eight species of birds.
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous Gull, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.

A Snow Goose was seen at Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

A Male Eurasian Wigeon was seen with over seventy American Wigeon at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville.

Monday January 26:
"Rare bird alert- Northern Hawk Owl"
A Northern Hawk Owl has been spotted along Morden Road in south Nanaimo. The owl is a rare sighting on Vancouver Island, however can be seen east and north of the interior of British Columbia, as well as across the rest of Canada.

A Red-breasted Sapsucker, a Downy Woodpecker and Northern Flickers were seen along Vista View Crescent in the Rocky Point area of Nanaimo.

An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting feeders in the 7200 block of Aulds Road in Nanaimo.

A Peregrine Falcon was seen in the 1600 block of Brierly Hill in Nanaimo.

Sunday January 25:
Eight Steller's Jays, six Varied Thrush, Song Sparrows, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Pileated Woodpeckers are visiting feeders along Pheasant Terrace in the Diver Lake area of Nanaimo.

A sharp-shinned hawk landed on a window awning in the pre-100 block of Prideaux Street, near the Millstone River 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
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The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday February 12, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Guess speaker Gary Kaiser will present a programme on the Marbled Murrelet.
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
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Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday January 26, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
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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.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 03, 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 meet at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19A at about 9:10 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on February 08, 2009, will be going to Nanoose Bay.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or meet behind the Church camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:20A.M.
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Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo