Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 29, 2009

Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with rain causing the bird walk to be cut short. However, we did managed to find twenty-three species of birds during the the short time that we were out. We saw Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Black Oystercatchers, a Song Sparrow and Savannah Sparrows at the viewing tower of Highway 19A. At the Estuary we saw a large numbers of Gulls and American Wigeon before the rain began pelting down.

Ninteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-three species.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red Crossbill

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanamio bird alert, September 27, 2009

Lincoln's Sparrow: Jack Lasure 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 September 27, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny and windy but very comfortable. Among the highlights of the morning was a spectacular view of a female Northern Harrier hunting over the Estuary field. There were Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln Sparrows on the Estuary throughout the morning. There were an unusually large number of Common Ravens and Northern Flickers in the area.
Twenty-one birders heard and saw the following thirty-two species of birds:
Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow,
Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Saturday September 26:

An Adult Bald Eagle was seen slowly soaring low over a yard as nine California Quail arrived in the back yard in the 2500 Block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Wednesday September 23:
A Barred Owl was seen perched on a tree behind a deck, for at least an hour, on Protection Island.

Tuesday September 22:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
The tide was high and the sea was calm; the winds were calm and the sun was shinning making a great morning to be birding. The highlights of the morning included seeing two Western Grebes, three Pelagic Cormorants, a Pacific Loon and several Glaucous-winged Gulls in a small feeding frenzy on the water. We saw a Brandt's Cormorant and a raft of Surf Scoters on the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a flock of singing Red Crossbills on the top of a fir tree.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin,
European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill

Sunday September 20:
A Sharp-shinned Hawk was spotted scouting for prey at a bird feeder on Woodthrush Place 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-- Bruce Whittington, will be presenting a slide show on the
beautiful Haida Gwai.
Monday September 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday October 08, 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 September 29, 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 the viewing tower at highway 19a and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 04 will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the Buttertubs Marsh parking area off Bowen 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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 22, 2009

Surf Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville this week. The tide was high and the sea was calm. The winds were calm and the sun was shinning a great morning to be birding. The highlights of the morning included seeing two Western Grebes, three Pelagic Cormorants, a Pacific Loon and several Glaucous-winged Gulls in a small feeding frenzy on the water. We saw a Brandt's Cormorant and a raft of Surf Scoters on the Strait of Georgia. On the top a Fir Tree we spotted a flock of singing Red Crossbills.

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo bird alert, September 20, 2009

Killdeer: 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 September 20, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville..
The morning was sunny with light winds--a great morning for birding. Thirteen birders heard and saw the following thirty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Surf Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, California Quail, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Bushtit, Lincoln's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin.

Saturday September 19:
A large flock of Sandhill Cranes was heard over Spider Lake.

Thursday September 17:
"Rare bird alert-Red-Shouldered Hawk"
An adult Red-Shouldered Hawk was seen along Gillespie Road and Seedtree Road in East Sooke. The Red-shouldered Hawk is usually found along the west coast of the United States and in the eastern States.

Wednesday September 16:
Thirty Great Blue Herons were seen flying over the Englishman Falls Provincial Park.

Tuesday September 15:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach this week. The tide was very low exposing the far reaching rocky beach. The winds were strong, but the sun came out as the morning progressed. The highlights of the morning included seeing a total of fifty-three Black Oystercatchers feeding and resting along the tideline. Flocks of American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser and American Wigeon flew passed us over the water. The seabirds are beginning to return for the winter!
Ten birders saw the following twenty-two species of birds:
American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter , White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
House Finch.

Sunday September 13:
A Northern Pygmy Owl was observed hunting in a back yard in the 900 block of Nanaimo River Road in south Nanaimo. The Owl picked up an American Goldfinch from a feeder and as he flew away he hit the side of the house. He came back to sit in a near-by tree to catch his breath after "the snatch and crash".

Pileated Woodpeckers are visiting suet feeder along Harlequin Crescent in Nanoose.

A Trumpeter Swan, two Northern Harriers, Savannah Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Saturday September 12:
A Wandering Tattler was seen on Ballenas Island.

Pink-footed Shearwaters, Flesh-footed Shearwaters and Sooty Shearwaters were seen at Swiftsure Bank off Bamfield.

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-- Bruce Whittington, will be presenting a slide show on the beautiful Haida Gwai.
Monday September 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday October 08, 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 September 22, 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 the main parking lot Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:20 A.M. ( there is a parking fee at the Park)
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 27 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Regards,
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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, Septenber 15, 2009

Black Oystercatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach this week. The tide was very low exposing the far reaching rocky beach. The winds were strong, but the sun came out as the morning progressed. The highlights of the morning included seeing a total of fifty-three Black Ostercatchers feeding and resting along the tideline. Flocks of American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser and American Wigeon flew passed us over the water. The seabirds are beginning to return for the winter!

Ten birders saw the following twenty-two species of birds:
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Western Sandpiper
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanamo bird alert, September 13, 2009

Pacific Golden-Plover at the Englishman River Estuary: 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 September 13, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
The morning was sunny, calm and very comfortable. Nine birders heard and saw the following twenty-one species of birds: Mallard, Glaucous-winged Gull, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crown Kinglet, European Starlings, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin.

We also saw a Painted Turtle and a River Otter on the Millstone River.

Thursday September 10:
An American Kestrel was perched on a hydro line along Stanford Avenue, over looking a farm field in Parksville.

Tuesday September 08:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm--a great day to be birding. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Yellow Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from a short bush near the trail. Overhead were four Black Swifts hawking insects. We saw Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher along the mud flats at San Pareil. There were two Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Common Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls and Mew Gulls on the Strait of Georgia.

The most exciting highlight of the morning, however, was on the mud flats of the estuary. There we saw a Pacific Golden-Plover, who is a rare fall migrant along the Pacific Coast and who winters on Pacific Islands in south-east Asia and Australia. Alongside the Pacific Golden-Plover was an American Golden-Plover who is also a rare fall migrant, usually seen east of the Rockies and who winters in South America.
Twenty birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds--
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Horned Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Merlin,
American Golden-Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer,
Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull,
Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre,
Black Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin,
American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

An Osprey flew over a water hazard at the Arrowsmith Golf Course; a Coopers Hawk flew overhead and a Bufflehead was spotted on the water.

Sunday September 06:
Eight Turkey Vultures were seen fighting the wind over 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
Monday September 28, 2009 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday October 08, 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 September 15, 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 the parking area off Admiral Tryon Boulevard at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 20 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE BACKYARD'S SEMI-ANNUAL SEED SALE.
THE SALE ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH.


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

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

Pacific Golden-Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo


The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm--a great day to be birding. Among the highlights was the sighting of a Yellow Warbler and an Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from a short bush near the trail. Overhead were four Black Swifts hawking insects. We saw Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and a Long-billed Dowitcher along the mud flats at San Pareil. There were two Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, Rednecked Grebes, Common Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls and Mew Gulls on the Strait of Georgia.

The most exciting highlight of the morning, however, was on the mud flats of the estuary. There we saw a Pacific Golden-Plover, who is a rare fall migrant along the Pacific Coast and who winters on Pacific Islands in south-east Asia and Australia. Alongside the Pacific Golden-Plover was an American Golden-Plover who is also a rare fall migrant, usually seen east of the Rockies and who winters in South America.


Twenty birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species of birds--
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Merlin
American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Black Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Nanamo bird alert, September 06, 2009

Bonaparte's Gull at Columbia Beach: 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@...
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 September 06, 2009:
The Sunday Bird Walk was rained out!

A Solitary Sandpiper was seen at the Beaver Ponds at Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary
in Nanaimo.

Saturday September 05:
Over thirty Black Swifts were seen flying over Parksville Beach in Parksville.

Friday September 04:
Three Baird's Sandpipers were seen along the sandbar at Pebble Beach in Columbia
Beach.

A Cooper's Hawk was spotted in a backyard in the 700 block of Victoria Road in
Nanaimo.

Thursday September 03:
Twelve Red-necked Phalaropes were seen off shore from the breakwater at French
Creek. Further off shore, two Parasitic Jaegers were spotted chasing Gulls at
Columbia Beach.

An Anna's Hummingbird is visiting hanging fuchsias, and a Pileated Woodpecker
was seen feeding on blackberries in a backyard on Walkem Road in Ladysmith.

Tuesday September 01:
The Tuesday Bird Walk for the Oceanside area resumed this week and went to the
Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Highlights of the morning included watching as two Black-throated Gray Warblers
and a Warbling Vireo dropped out of the sky onto a big Ash Tree. Several
American Goldfinch moved through the bushes and we watched White-crowned
Sparrows moving through bushes and along the ground. A flock of Red Crossbills
nosily flew overhead. A Spotted Sandpiper flew across the river and then bobbed
his tail as he probed along the shore for food. A Barred Owl, perched on a low
branch, gave us impressive looks until he flew into the forest. After a few
minutes he gave a few calls to let us know he was still there.
Thirteen birders heard and saw the following forty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron,
Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, Killdeer, Spotted
Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon,
Barred Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar
Waxwing, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song
Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch,
House Finch, Red Crossbill and American Goldfinch.

Wednesday September 02:
Bonaparte's Gulls, Common Loons, Red-necked Grebes, Surf Scoters, White-winged
Scoters and a Pigeon Guillemot were seen at Deep Bay.

Saturday August 29:
A Northern Pygmy Owl was heard and seen along Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday August 26:
A Pacific Slope Flycatcher was seen near Parksville Bay in Parksville, landing
on a birdbath dripper and flying down into the middle of the dripper several
times.

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@...
**********************************
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 on September 08, 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 the parking area at the corner of Plummer Road and
Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 13 will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Bowen Park off
Bowen Road at about 9:20 A.M.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia

THIS IS THE LAST TWO WEEKS....

...OF THE BACKYARD'S SEMI-ANNUAL SEED SALE

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.

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

American Goldfinch: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk for the Oceanside area resumed this week and went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
Highlights of the morning included watching as two Black-throated Gray Warblers and a Warbling Vireo dropped out of the sky onto a big Ash Tree. Several American Goldfinch moved through the bushes and we watched White-crowned Sparrows moving through bushes and along the ground. A flock of Red Crossbills nosily flew overhead. A Spotted Sandpiper flew across the river and then bobbed his tail as he probed along the shore for food. A Barred Owl, perched on a low branch, gave us impressive looks until he flew into the forest. After a few minutes he gave a few calls to let us know he was still there.
Thirteen birders heard and saw the following forty-two species of birds:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Barred Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia