Nanaimo bird alert, January 31, 2010

American Goldfinch: 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 January 31, 2010:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
The morning was cloudy but the winds were calm.
We saw a Cooper's Hawk perched in a tall tree overlooking the marsh and another Cooper's Hawk circling above the marsh. There were Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskins feeding on an Alder Tree. We spotted a young, very light coloured Northern Shrike on the Osprey Nest in the middle of the marsh. The Northern Shrike moved to three different perches before a Merlin spotted him and chased him away. We had close views of an male Anna's Hummingbird as he perched on the top of a low bush. A female Anna's Hummingbird joined the male and they both soured to about thirty feet in the air and disappeared. Mating time is here!
Fifteen birders found the following forty-two species of birds:
Greater White-fronted Geese, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, California Quail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Merlin, Rock Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Saturday January 30:
A White-throated Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow, a Eurasian Wigeon, a Northern Harrier, a Western Meadowlark and a Short-eared Owl were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Thursday January 28:
A Northern Saw-whet Owl is calling in the woods near the dairy farm fields in Cowichan Station, just South of Duncan.

A pair of Great Horned Owls were seen nesting in a woods in Cowichan Station, south of Duncan.

Wednesday January 27:
A Trumpeter Swan with a white and gold collar was seen in a field near the TransCanada Highway and Mount Sicker Road.

Two Snow Geese and three Cackling Geese were seen in with a flock of over 600 Canada Geese in a field off Cowichian Road south of Duncan.

Tuesday January 26:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds and sea.
There were over twenty Black Turnstones on the rocks just off shore at the viewing platform and twelve Black Oystercatchers and one Black-bellied Plover on the gravel bar. A large raft of Black Scoters were singing offshore at the Little Qualicum Estuary near the parking area. Further offshore a huge flock of Pacific Loons along with Common Loons and Gulls were in a raft that stretched from the tip of Texada Island to Chrome Island. During the morning the Pacific and Common Loons flew from one end of the raft to other. We saw over forty Trumpeter Swans on the River.
Eight birders saw the following thirty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher,
Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco and Red-winged Blackbird.

An American Kestrel was seen in a backyard near Hallberg and Timberlands Road in Ladysmith.

Sunday January 24:
A Merlin was seen hunting in a garden in the 5400 block of Altavista 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
Guest Speaker, Carolyn Masson. Topic is The Status Of The Garry Oak Ecosystems.
Thursday February 11, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
Nanoose Library,
Nanoose Bay
**********************************
Arrowsmith Naturalists
Guest Speaker Guy Monty
Monday February 15, 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 February 02, 2010 will be going to the Deep Bay.
We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the Deep Bay Marina parking lot at about 9:35 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on February 07, 2010, 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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, January 26, 2010

Black-bellied Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds and sea.
There were over twenty Black Turnstones on the rocks just off shore at the viewing platform and twelve Black Oystercatchers and one Black-bellied Plover on the gravel bar. A large raft of Black Scoters were singing offshore at the Little Qualicum Estuary near the parking area. Further offshore a huge flock of Pacific Loons along with Common Loons and Gulls were in a raft that stretched from the tip of Texada Island to Chrome Island. During the morning the Pacific and Common Loons flew from one end of the raft to other. We saw over forty Trumpeter Swans on the River.
Eight birders saw the following thirty-five species of birds:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Nanaimo Bird Alert, January 24, 2010

Black Oystercatcher: 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 January 24, 2010:
The Sunday bird walk went to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. It was a windy, dull morning, but pleasant enough for birding. The highlights included seeing a Merlin perched in a tall Alder Tree at the start of the walk. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched all morning overlooking the estuary. We watched as a Peregrine Falcon flew in and circled to land in it's usual perch. We noticed another Peregrine Falcon circling above the first perching Falcon.

Twelve birders found the following thirty-seven species of birds:
Canada Goose, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, House Finch and Pine Siskin.

Saturday January 23:
"Rare bird alert- Tricolored Blackbirds"
Seven Tricolored Blackbirds were seen by a well experienced birder at and around a bird feeder in Quathaski Cove on Quadra Island.

Friday January 22:
A Varied Thrush was seen in a backyard in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday January 21:
A Merlin was spotted in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Wednesday January 20:
A Cooper's Hawk was seen in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 19:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with a stiff wind off the Strait of Georgia, but the rain held off until near the end of the morning.
Among the highlights were the sighting of six Common Murres and several flocks of Pacific Loons heading down the Strait of Georgia. We saw a flock of Dunlin and Black Turnstones and one Greater Yellowlegs along French Creek .
Eight birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser , Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher,
Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch,
Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

Sunday January 17:
The Sunday bird walk went to El Charco del Ingenio, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The day started chilly but sunny. sweater weather, but by noon it was very warm, shirt sleeve weather. I saw various wonderous birds.
One birder found the following forty seven species of birds:
Cactus wren, Curved Bill Thrasher, Brown Towhee, Scott's Oriole, Clay Coloured Sparrow, Broad Billed Hummingbird, Inca Dove, Cassins Kingbird. Caracaras (many), Great Kiskadee, Long Tailed Gracle, House Sparrow, Vermillion Flycatcher (very common), Turkey Vulture, Cattle egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Rock Pigeon, Raven, Loggerhead Shrike, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Lesser Gold Finch, Killdeer, House Finch, Ruddy Duck, Green Winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Shoveller, Mexican Duck, Ring Necked Duck, American Widgeon, Lesser Scaup, White Faced Ibis, Black Necked Stilt, American
Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, American Coot, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, White Collared Seed Eater, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Western Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher, American Kestrel, and White Tipped Dove.
Happy Birding!
John Coulson

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 January 25, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.
Springwood School
Parksville
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists
Thursday February 11, 2010 @ 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 January 26, 2010 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the Viewing Platform at Highway 19A and Garrett Road in Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on January 31, 2010, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs (Bowen Road entrance) at 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.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, January 19, 2010

Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with a stiff wind off the Strait of Georgia, but the rain held off until near the end of the morning.
Among the highlights were the sighting of six Common Murres and several flocks of Pacific Loons heading down the Strait of Georgia. We saw a flock of Dunlin and Black Turnstones and one Greater Yellowlegs along French Creek .
Eight birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo , Vancouver Island, Bird Alert, January 17, 2010

Song Sparrow: 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 January 17, 2010:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was very windy and the Strait of Georgia was very rough. We saw seven Bald Eagles and a Red-tailed Hawk was perched on the tall perching snag. A large flock of handsome Northern Pintails were seen in the tall grasses on the estuary. A small flock of Mew Gulls gathered on the estuary.
Eight birders found the following twenty-eight species of birds:
Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, American Wigeon, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco.

Saturday January 16:
A Northern Goshawk was spotted flying across the Englishman River in Parksville.

A Northern Harrier was seen flying low over the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

A male Anna's Hummingbird was seen in courtship behavior over a little marsh behind Longwood Station in north Nanaimo. He would climb to about 35 feet in altitude, pause, then dive and give a loud 'ping' call as he ended the descent. He then rose to about 15 feet and hovered while calling three repeats of the typical 'zinc-zinc' call. He repeated this about a half dozen times.

A White-throated Sparrow, five Golden-crowned, a Northern Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and a Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Over seventy Dark-eyed Juncos, several pairs of Anna's Hummingbirds (the females are gathering nesting material in the area) and a Varied Thrush are visiting feeders along Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

A flock of about 40 Trumpeter Swans flew east along the Millstone River, over Buttertubs Marsh, and disappeared, going towards Gabriola Island.

Friday January 15:
A Rufous Hummingbird was spotted in the 600 block of Beaconsfield Road in Nanaimo.

Thursday January 14:
Three American Tree Sparrows were seen along the hedgerow to the right of the Oak tree at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Wednesday January 13:
A large flock of Pine Siskins and eighteen House and Purple Finch were seen in a back yard along Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 12:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelley Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The 12º morning was partly cloudy with calm winds--a great morning to be birding.
The highlights of the morning included seeing a Peregrine Falcon looking down at us from a high perch on a snag as he preened himself. As we watched, he was joined by another Peregrine Falcon on a nearby snag. We spotted four mature Bald Eagles along the Estuary. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew to a perch high up in a Fir Tree. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a snag overlooking the Estuary. A small flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets gave us spectacular views as they gleaned insects from some low small shrubs about four feet from us.
A Merlin made a quick appearance, while we doing the tally at the end of the walk, making the total predators of the morning five.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail,
Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon,
Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, 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, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Sunday January 10:
A Cooper’s Hawk and a Downy Woodpecker were seen at Buttertub’s 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 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 January 19, 2010 will be going to the Columbia Beach.
We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral Tyron Bld. at about 9:15 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on January 24, 2010, will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road in Parksville 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

Pakrsville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, January 12, 2010

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelley Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The 12º morning was partly cloudy with calm winds--a great morning to be birding.
The highlights of the morning included seeing a Peregrine Falcon looking down at us from a high perch on a snag as he preened himself. As we watched, he was joined by another Peregrine Falcon on a nearby snag. We spotted four mature Bald Eagles along the Estuary. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew to a perch high up in a Fir Tree. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on a snag overlooking the Estuary. A small flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets gave us spectacular views as they gleaned insects from some low small shrubs about four feet from us.
A Merlin made a quick appearance, while we doing the tally at the end of the walk, making the total predators of the morning five!

Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-three species of birds:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
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
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo Bird Alert, January 10, 2010

Downy Woodpecker: 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 January 10, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo. The wind was strong at the first of the morning but calmed considerably as the morning progressed.
The highlights of the walk included seeing an male Anna's Hummingbird perched in a tree not far from us. Several flocks of Pacific Loons were spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Fox Sparrow caught our attention as it sang from a perch on the low shrubs. A large flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were feeding on shrubs close to the ground. A large flock of Pine Siskins were feeding in the Alder Trees near the parking lot.
Nineteen birders found the following forty species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Bufflehead, Harlequin Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Black Oystercatcher, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, California Quail, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bushtits, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill.

Two American Tree Sparrows were seen in with a large flock of Dark-eyed Juncos along the long Hedgerow at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Saturday January 09:
A White-throated Sparrow was spotted in with over a dozen Golden-crowned Sparrows
in the area between the large Oak Tree and the River at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

A Northern Pygmy Owl was heard calling near a backyard in the 2100 block of Lancashire Avenue in Nanaimo.

Friday January 08:
A Northern Saw-Whet Owl was seen perched in a tree in a yard on Riverbend Road along the Nanaimo River in Cassidy.

Thursday January 07:
Two pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were doing courtship displays on Sunset Beach and two immature Bald Eagles, a Pileated Woodpecker, two Harlequin Ducks, two Common Goldeneye, two Pacific Loons and a Winter Wren were all seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

A Great Horned Owl was seen in the 3400 block of Stevenson Point Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday January 05:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with fog over the water. The highlights included being greeted at the start of the walk by a large number of Bushtits, Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows moving through the small bushes near the parking lot. Two Western Grebes, a very large raft of Surf Scoters and over two hundred Common Murres were observed offshore. Several small flocks of Pacific Loons were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. There were several Seals and Sea-lions resting not far from the shoreline
Fourteen Birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species of birds.
Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill.

A Merlin was seen visiting a backyard in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.

A Townsend's Warbler was seen visiting a suet feeder in a backyard in the 6200 block of Rose Place in Nanaimo.

Tuesday December 29, 2009:
A Pine Grosbeak was seen visiting feeders along Scarsdale 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.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on January 12, 2010 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on January 17, 2010 will be going to Nanoose Bay.
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at behind the Church Camp off Highway 19 and Arlington 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, January 05, 2010

Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with fog over the water. The highlights included being greeted at the start of the walk by a large number of Bushtits, Dark-eyed Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows moving through the small bushes near the parking lot. Two Western Grebes, a very large raft of Surf Scoters and over two hundred Common Murres were observed offshore. Several small flocks of Pacific Loons were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. There were several Seals and Sea-lions resting not far from the shoreline.

Fourteen Birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species of birds.
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo Bird Alert, January 03, 2010

Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken.

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 January 03, 2010:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy but the winds were calm and that made for a very comfortable birding morning. The highlights included seeing two small flocks of Trumpeter Swans, two large flocks of Bushtits and three Anna's Hummingbirds. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched in a tall Fir Tree at the start of the walk. A Cooper's Hawk was perched in the same Fir Tree at the end of the walk.
Twenty-one birders found the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Trumpeter Swans, Mallard, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Hooded Mergansers, Common Merganser, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, California Quail, Rock Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtits, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Saturday January 02:
A Mute Swan, twelve Trumpeter Swans and a Pileated Woodpecker was seen at the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.

Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergangers, Common Goldeneye and Ring-necked Ducks were seen on Divers Lake in Nanaimo.

An Anna's Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders in the 70 block of Beach Street in Comox.

Four Long-tailed Ducks were spotted off the point at Deep Bay.

Wednesday December 30:
Twelve Evening Grosbeaks and Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the 500 block of Temple Street in Parksville.

Tuesday December 29:
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 Merganser
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-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
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

Sunday December 27, 2009
The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 under cold foggy/cloudy conditions but clearing in the afternoon. In total, 86 people participated in the count this year as field observers and about 15-20 more counted birds at their feeders tallying a grand total of 120 species and 21 633 individuals.

Wednesday December 23:
A Parasitic Jaeger was seen from the Duke Point Ferry for about five minutes from 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.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on January 05, 2010 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville..
We leave the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:10 A.M.
*****************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on January 10, 2010, will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo..
Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park 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