Nanamo bird alert, August 30, 2009

Pectoral Sandpiper: 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 August 30, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach
The morning was sunny and very comfortable. Highlights included seeing an Osprey hovering over the water looking for fish. We watched two Belted Kingfisher fishing and then perching to eat the fish. Two Greater Yellowlegs entertained us. We watched two White-crowned Sparrows flycatching from a perch. We observed Red Crossbills, through the scope as they perched at the top of tall Fir Trees.
Twenty-four birders heard and saw the following thirty-seven species of birds.
Common Loon, Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Turkey Vulture, Merlin, Osprey, California Quail, Semipalmated Plover, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbill, House Finch.

Saturday August 29:
Two Semipalmated Plovers, one Western Sandpiper and two Spotted Sandpipers were seen at Wall Beach in Nanoose Bay.

Thursday August 27:
Two Bonaparte's Gulls were seen at the Little Qualicum River Estuary north of Qualicum Beach.

Wednesday August 26:
A Great-horned Owl was seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

Tuesday August 25:
Twelve White-crowned Sparrows were visiting feeders in a backyard in the 5700 block of Broadway Road in Nanaimo.

Monday August 24:
Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, a Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Peregrine Falcon were seen at Holden Creek (Nanaimo River Estuary) in south Nanaimo.

Three Red-necked Grebes, in breeding plumage and two Common Loons, in worn breeding plumage, were seen at San Pariel (Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville).


For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Guest Speaker, Richard Crowley of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve.
Thursday September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 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 RESUMES ON SEPTEMBER 01, 2009
The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 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 the parking area at the end of Shelly Road off the oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 06 will be going to Biggs Road and Doumont Road in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at the corner of Biggs Road and Doumont Road at about 9:20 A.M.

*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

THE BACKYARD'S SEMI ANNUAL SEED SALE

CONTINUES........

NOW IS THE TIME TO STOCK UP ON BIRD SEED
FOR THAT BUSY WINTER BIRD FEEDING!

SAVE 15 % ON MINIMUM $100.00 PURCHASE

ON JUGS, 20LB and 40LB BAGS OF BIRD SEED.

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

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

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

Nanamo bird alert, August 23, 2009

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 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 August 23, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo
The morning was sunny but windy. Highlights included seeing a Great Horned Owl at two different locations. We saw two Spotted Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Sandpiper and five Western Sandpipers at Sunshine Beach.
Fifteen birders heard and saw the following twenty-seven species of birds:
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Great Horned Owl, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, California Gull, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's
Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbills and Pine Siskin.

Over thirty young American Goldfinch were seen in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Anna's Hummingbirds are coming to feeders on Cypress Bowl Place in Nanaimo.

Saturday August 22:
Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders along Eagle Crescent in Nanaimo.

Friday August 21:
A Northern Shoveler was seen on a marsh off Brookwood Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday August 20:
A Great Horned Owl was seen by Haslam Creek near the Cassidy Inn in south Nanaimo.

Five Eurasian Collared Doves and two California Quail are visiting feeders in a backyard in the 700 block of Sanderson Road in Parksville.

Wednesday August 19:
A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was spotted in a large dead Oak tree along the dike at the west side of Buttertubs Marsh. At the same time there was a very vocal Merlin in the tree 'next door'. The Peregrine flew out about 80 metres, picked something up off of the surface of the pond, and returned to the same tree to eat it.

A very vocal Steller's Jay was heard and seen at the west end of Westwood Lake 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 September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 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 RESUMES ON SEPTEMBER 01, 2009

The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 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 the parking area at the end of Shelly Road off the oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 30 will be going to Columbia Beach.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (turn off Highway 19a at Columbia Drive across from Windsor Plywood, follow Columbia Drive to the tee intersection at Admiral Tryon Blvd., turn right and go about 100 yards and turn left onto the parking area) at about 9:30 a.m.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

Nanamo bird alert, August 16, 2009

Solitary Sandpiper: 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 August 16, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.The morning was windy but sunny and warm. Highlights included seeing three Lesser Yellowlegs, a Least Sandpiper and a Western Sandpiper feeding in the mud along the shoreline of the river. A female Northern Harrier was hunting over the estuary.
Eleven birders heard and saw the following twenty species of birds:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Common Mergangers, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Glaucous-winged Gull, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Raven, European Starling, Brown-headed Cowbird, Chipping Sparrow, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Saturday August 15:
A female Northern Harrier was spotted flying over Somenos Marsh in Duncan.

Three Common Nighthawks were seen over highway 19 and Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay.

Two Eurasian Collared Doves was heard and seen along Rushton Avenue in Parksville.

Common Nighthawks were seen over the Government Weigh Scale at Parksville.

Thursday August 13:
A large flock of Red Crossbills were seen on a tree along Cave Road at Horne Lake.

Tuesday August 11:
One Semipalmated Plover was seen at the Admiral Tryon pools at Columbia Beach.

Two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at French Creek.

A Solitary Sandpiper was seen at Copley Park in Upper Lantzville.

Three Western Sandpipers were seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side.

Sunday August 09:
Two Heermann's Gulls were seen along the tide line at Columbia Beach.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 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 Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Tuesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Tuesday bird walks on September 01, 2009.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 23 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

THE BACKYARD'S FALL SEED SALE

BEGINS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2009

NOW IS THE TIME TO STOCK UP ON BIRD SEED
FOR THAT BUSY WINTER BIRD FEEDING!

SAVE 15 % ON MINIMUM $100.00 PURCHASE

ON JUGS, 20LB and 40LB BAGS OF BIRD SEED.

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

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

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

SUSAN CRAYSTON

SUSAN CRAYSTON
It is with great sadness that we want to let you know that Susan Crayston suddenly passed away on July 28, 2009. We will all remember her with fondness for her friendship and her willingness to share. We will miss you, Susan.

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Bird alert, August 09, 2009

Cedar Waxwings: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Alert

SUSAN CRAYSTON
It is with great sadness that we want to let you know that Susan Crayston suddenly passed away on July 28, 2009. We will all remember her with fondness for her friendship and her willingness to share. We will miss you, Susan.

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669f
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 August 09, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.
The morning was cloudy and very comfortable. Highlights of the morning included seeing Black-bellied Plovers on the estuary, twelve Band-tailed Pigeons perched on a snag across the creek and a Brown Creeper was feeding on a cedar tree not ten feet from us.
Twelve birders heard and saw the following forty species of birds.
Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Black-bellied Plovers, Glaucous-winged Gull, California Gull,Band-tailed Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, House Finch and Red Crossbill.

Saturday August 08:
A Great Horned Owl, a Bald Eagle and a Merlin were calling in the forest off Despard Avenue in Parksville.

A Great Horned Owl was seen at Neck Point.

Wednesday August 05:
A Eurasian Collared Dove was heard and seen along Pintail Avenue in Qualicum Beach.

Tuesday August 04:
Five Semipalmated Plovers were seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side on the mud flats.

Three Caspian Terns were seen at Columbia Beach.

Monday August 03:
A Least Sandpiper and a Spotted Sandpiper were seen at French Creek.

Saturday August 01:
A Virginia Rail was heard in the 5900 block of Waterton Drive in Nanaimo.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 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 Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the
Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Tuesday mornings will not be held during the
summer months. We will resume the Tuesday bird walks on September 01, 2009.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 16 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Bird alert, August 02/09

Least Sandpiper: 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:
htt

p://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 to 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 August 02, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a bit of wind to make it quite comfortable.
the shorebirds are making their way back and the highlights included seeing Sanderling, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and a Long-billed Dowitcher probing the mud flats for their food. We watched a Willow Flycatcher hawking insects. We saw three Common Loons, Surf Scoters, a White-winged Scoter, a Greater Scaup, and a Black-bellied Plover fly low over the Strait of Georgia.
Sixteen birders heard and saw the following forty species of birds.
Canada Goose, Common Loon, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Greater Scaup, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Long-billed Dowitcher, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Mew Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird,Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Willow Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Red Crossbill, House Finch, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.

Tuesday July 28:
A Merlin perched for a long period of time on a fence in the Joanna Terrace area near Diver Lake in Nanaimo.

Monday July 27:
A Wandering Tattler was seen at the mouth of French Creek. It left after a few minutes heading east towards Parksville.

Six Common Nighthawks were seen flying over Meridian Way in Parksville.

Sunday July 26:
Twenty-three Common Nighthawks were seen overhead hawking insects as they flew in a west direction over Stanford Avenue in Parksville.

Twenty-five Bonaparte's Gulls in breeding plumage, six Mew Gulls, twenty Black Turnstones and twenty Surf Scoters were seen at the gravel bar at Pebble Beach on Columbia Beach.

A Merlin was spotted chasing Dragonflies at McGregor Marsh in north Nanaimo.

Saturday July 25:
Fourteen Common Nighthawks flew over a house in the 2800 block of Kilpatrick Road, off Jinglepot 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 September 10, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Monday September 28, 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 Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store's weekly bird walk in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area on Tuesday mornings will not be held during the summer months. We will resume the Tuesday bird walks on September 01, 2009.
*******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on August 09 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area near the entrance to the Living Forest Campground on Maki Road (across from Southgate Mall) at about 9:20 a.m.

*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia