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

Sunday 31 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 31, 2010


Surfbird: Ryan Cathers Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 31, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point in Nanaimo
The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds. The highlights including seeing several flocks of Bonaparte's Gull flying down the Strait of Georgia. We spotted several Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets low in the bushes near the trail. There was one Orange-crowned Warbler gleaning insects from the tree branches.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds.
Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet,Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Saturday October 30:
Two Trumpeter Swans were seen flying low over the Cat Stream near Beacon Hill Road in Nanaimo.

Friday October 29:
Six Snow Geese were seen resting on the grass at the far end of the Park, near the last parking area, at Parksville Bay.

Wednesday October 27:
"Rare bird alert-Palm Warbler:
A Palm Warbler was spotted along the east end of the Parksville wetlands off Lodgepole Avenue in Parksville. The Palm Warbler is normally found east of the Rocky Mountains.

Wilson's Snipe was seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo.

A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

A Wilson's Snipe was spotted in a front yard along Lost Lake Road in north Nanaimo.

Six Snow Geese were seen in with the Gulls on the grass at Parksville Bay in Parksville.

Tuesday October 26:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The surf was up and there was light rain and strong winds off the Strait of Georgia with us all morning. The highlights included seeing an Eared Grebe moving on the big waves offshore. We saw several flocks of Long-tailed Ducks moving in groups of four and five down the Strait of Georgia. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls California Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were claiming the Pebble Beach gravel bar as the tide receded. Several flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls playfully flew past.
Sixteen birders was and heard the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Eared Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs,
Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull,
Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch and House Finch.

A Varied Thrush, a Merlin, Steller's Jays, Northern Flicker, House Finches, Spotted Towhees, and Dark-eyed Juncos were seen in a yard near the corner of Rupert Road & Memorial Avenue in Qualicum Beach.

Monday October 25:
A Ruddy Duck was seen near the north-east corner of Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. If you start at the northern parking lot off Buttertubs, take the path to the left until it straightens out then look along the southern end of that first small bay. It was resting among the floating vegetation about 5-10 feet from the reeds.

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 meeting.
Karen Barry will share the results of the Coastal Waterbird Survey and the Beached Bird Survey.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Monday, November 22 at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School.
Parksville.
********************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and
around the Oceanside area.
**************************************************************
The Tuesday Bird Walk on November 02, 2010. will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area at the end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19A at about 9:10 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on November 07, 2010 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area at the end of Raines Road in South Nanaimo 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

Friday 29 October 2010

The Snow Geese are still at the bay


Snow goose at Parksville Bay: Bill Panke Photo

Hi birders,

Marilynne and I were at Parksville Bay today October 29, 2010 and saw the six Snow Geese near the last parking area on the grass side of the park, they were resting peacefully.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Thursday 28 October 2010

Snow Geese


Snow Goose: Bill Panke Photo.

Hi birders,

John Purves and Bill Panke both saw six Snow Geese on the grass at Parksville Bay in Parksville on October 27, 2010.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 26,2010


Eared Grebe; John Purves Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The surf was up and there was light rain and strong winds off the Strait of Georgia with us all morning. The highlights included seeing an Eared Grebe moving on the big waves offshore. We saw several flocks of Long-tailed Ducks moving in groups of four and five down the Strait of Georgia. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls
California Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were claiming the Pebble Beach gravel bar as the tide receded. Several flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls playfully flew past.

Sixteen birders was and heard the following thirty-nine species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 24 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 24, 2010


Bufflehead: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 24, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in
Parksville.
The morning was cloudy with heavy rain showers and a strong wind off the Strait
of Georgia. The highlights including seeing fourteen Buffhead and several Dunlin
and Green-winged Teal on the mudflats. A small flock of Sanderling flew over
heading down the island.
Fifteen hardy but wet birders saw and heard the following forty-six species of
birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Buffhead, Greater Scaup, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter,
Harlequin Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Horned
Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant,
Double-crested Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Dunlin, Sanderling,
Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern
Crow, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, Varied Thrush, European
Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird and House Finch.

Saturday, October 23:
Over ninety Greater White-fronted Geese, sixty Cackling Geese and three hundred
Green-winged Teal were seen at Holden Creek.

Two Northern Harriers, a Northern Shrike, a Wilson's Snipe and a flock of Cedar
Waxwings were heard and seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday October 19:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The
morning was sunny and warm with a light breeze off the water.
The big surprise of the morning was hearing and seeing a Common Nighthawk as we
walked through the campground. We saw several Pacific Loons on the Strait of
Georgia, but one of them was in full breeding plumage--it was a secular sight.
One lone Black Turnstone circled and landed near the shoreline. We watched a
Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the bushes next to us as
they moved about quickly, gleaning insects.
Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds.
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged
Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon,
Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, California
Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Nighthawk, Northern Flicker,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing,
Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple
Finch and House Finch.

Monday October 18:
A Varied Thrush was spotted in the 2700 block of Neyland 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 Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Speaker Elke Wind takes us into the world of amphibians with "Why did the Toad
Cross the Road?"
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School.
Parksville.
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
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 October 26, 2010. will be going to Columbia Beach.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in
front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the parking area off Admiral
Tryon Blvd. (Turn onto Columbia Drive from Highway 19A, across from Windsor
Plywood. Turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd. & go about 100 yards-- turn left
to the parking area)
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 31, 2010 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at
Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road.
*******************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

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

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 19,2010


Glaucous-winged Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The
morning was sunny and warm with a light breeze off the water.
The big surprise of the morning was hearing and seeing a Common Nighthawk as we
walked through the campground. We saw several Pacific Loons on the Strait of
Georgia, but one of them was in full breeding plumage--it was a spectular sight.
One lone Black Turnstone circled and landed near the shoreline. We watched a
Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the bushes next to us as
they moved about quickly, gleaning insects.

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds.
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Nighthawk
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 17 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 17, 2010


Anna's Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 17, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay.
The morning was clear with calm winds and seas.
The highlights of the morning included seeing a large migrating flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. We saw five Greater White-fronted Geese resting on the grass. A Junco with a mostly white head put in a quick appearance feeding on the ground in front of us. A large raft of Pacific Loon were far offshore. A Northern Shrike flew onto the beach near us and picked up some prey before flying away.
Eighteen birders, including three exchange students from Japan, saw and heard the following forty-seven species of birds:
Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Berwick's Wren, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.

Saturday October 16:
A male Anna's Hummingbird, giving a spectacular display of his red head is visiting feeders along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.

A Northern Pygmy Owl has been seen for the last number of days near the
Millstream River at Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

A Snow Goose was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese at the Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay.

Tuesday October 12:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
The morning was cloudy and cool with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.
The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of an immature Northern Harrier standing in the tall grasses. We watched the Harrier for about fifteen minutes before the he flew up and started hunting low over the field. We saw several migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers low down in the bushes. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched in a tree giving us good views. We watched as six Northern Flickers landed in a snag close to the trail--a few of the large number of Northern Flickers that we saw throughout the morning . A Greater Yellowlegs landed not far from us, calling out and giving us great views. We spotted a mixed flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in a low bush not far from us.
Eleven Birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species
Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, American Wigeon
Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Hooded Merganser,
Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, , Western Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Barred Owl, Black-bellied Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Sunday October 10:
Four Snow Geese were spotted flying towards the Nanaimo River Estuary heading west over the Nanaimo River.

Friday October 08:
A flock of American Pipit's were seen on a front lawn in the Brookwood and Colborne area of north 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 Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Speaker Elke Wind takes us into the world of amphibians with "Why did the Toad Cross the Road?"
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at Springwood School.
Parksville.
********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
November 11th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
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 October 19, 2010. will be going to the Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:20 A.M. (Please note there is a parking fee at the Park)
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on October 24, 2010 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store 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

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

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 12,2010


Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
The morning was cloudy and cool with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.
The big highlight of the morning was the sighting of an immature Northern Harrier standing in the tall grasses. We watched the Harrier for about fifteen minutes before the he flew up and started hunting low over the field. We saw several migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers low down in the bushes. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched in a tree giving us good views. We watched as six Northern Flickers landed in a snag close to the trail--a few of the large number of Northern Flickers that we saw throughout the morning . A Greater Yellowlegs landed not far from us, calling out and giving us great views. We spotted a mixed flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in a low bush not far from us.

Eleven Birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
California Quail
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barred Owl
Black-bellied Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Good birding!
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 10 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 10, 2010


Greater White-fronted Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 10, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
The morning was mostly sunny and calm.
The highlights including seeing large flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through the bushes throughout the morning. We watched four Greater White-fronted Geese fly over us and then land on the marsh beside three Gadwall. We saw several large flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons heading south. A Red-tailed Hawk circled above us at the end of the walk and spooked a flock of about forty Band-tailed Pigeons.
Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds.
Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Geese, Mallard, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Wood Duck, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Northern Flicker, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Steller's Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, House Finch and House Sparrows.

A Common Red Poll was spotted in with a flock of Pine Siskins along White Blossom Way in Nanaimo.

Saturday October 09:
Two Eurasian Collared Doves are at feeders in French Creek.

Tuesday October 05:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum Beach Estuary just north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was clear and quite cool, but the winds and seas, at low tide, were calm. The highlights included seeing a flock of over twenty Black Scoters just offshore from the viewing platform in Qualicum Beach. One Common Murre, a Pigeon Guillemot, two Western Grebes and a Marbled Murrelet were spotted further offshore. We saw large numbers of Horned Grebes and Common Merganser during the morning. We watched as a Peregrine Falcon flew low over the water chasing a duck just offshore at the estuary near the "A" frame house. There was a mixed flock of Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls,Thayer's Gulls, and Glaucous-winged Gulls frolicking in the water where the fresh water meets the salt water at the estuary.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species of birds:
Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt's Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Monday October 04:
"Rare bird alert--Hudsonian Godwit"
A Hudsonian Godwit was seen in with a Western Sandpiper, a Pectoral Sandpiper, two Short-billed Dowitchers and two Long-billed Dowitchers at the mud flats on the incoming tide at the Plummer road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The Hudsonian Godwit nest on the tundra from Alaska to Hudson Bay and normally migrate through the Canadian Prairies and along the Atlantic Ocean to southern Argentina.

Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird and House Finch were seen on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Thursday September 30:
Twelve Snow Geese were seen flying over Lewis Road in north Nanaimo.

Several Flocks of Sandhill Cranes were spotted flying over the Little Qualicum River Village.

Thursday September 27:
One Hundred and fifty greater White-fronted Geese were seen flying over the Hillier area near Coombs.

Wednesday September 26:
A Black-throated Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Western Tanager, two Anna's Hummingbirds, White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhee, Steller's Jays, and Dark-eyed Juncos were seen in the 100 block of Cathmont 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
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
Guest Speaker-- Dr. Bill Weller will give a talk and slide presentation on local Mushrooms.
October 14th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at 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 October 12, 2010. will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9 A.M. or the at the end of Shelly Road at about 9:20 A.M.
**************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on September 17, 2010 will be going to Nanoose Bay
We will meet at The Backyard Bird Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area behind the Church Camp, along Nanoose Beach Road (Turn off Highway 19 at 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

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 05,2010


Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum Beach Estuary just north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was clear and quite cool, but the winds and seas, at low tide, were calm. The highlights included seeing a flock of over twenty Black Scoters just offshore from the viewing platform in Qualicum Beach. One Common Murre, a Pigeon Guillemot, two Western Grebes and a Marbled Murrelet were spotted further offshore. We saw large numbers of Horned Grebes and Common Merganser during the morning. We watched as a Peregrine Falcon flew low over the water chasing a duck just offshore at the estuary near the "A" frame house. There was a mixed flock of Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls,Thayer's Gulls, and Glaucous-winged Gulls frolicking in the water where the fresh water meets the salt water at the estuary.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-seven species of birds:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer's Blackbird
House Sparrow

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Sunday 3 October 2010

Nanaimo bird report, October 03, 2010


Surfbirds at Neck Point: Ryan Cathers Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
********************************************
To report your sightings
phone the Store at 250-390-3669
e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

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

Birding in Central and South America:
www.wildbirdtours.ca

Identify backyard birds:
National Geographic Bird Identifier Site
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/backyard-bird-identifier/

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, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday October 03, 2010:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Neck Point in Nanaimo.
The morning was cloudy with light rain but the wind and seas were calm.
The highlights including seeing large flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Orange-crowned Warblers moving through the bushes throughout the morning. We watched as over twenty Surfbirds and four Black Turnstones were resting on the Point. There was a very large raft of mixed gulls offshore.
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds:
Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Mergangers, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Northwestern Crow, European Starling, California Quail, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, House Finch Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskins.

Saturday October 02:
Two Great Horned Owls were calling in the Dunsmuir Crescent area of Ladysmith.

A Hairy Woodpecker was spotted at Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach.

Two Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting a backyard along Dunsmuir Crescent in Ladysmith.

Thursday September 30:
A female Anna's Hummingbird was seen along Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.

A Cackling Goose was seen at the Morningstar ponds in French Creek.

Tuesday September 28:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds and seas.
At the beginning of the walk we spotted two Red-necked Phalaropes, not far from shore. Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Common Mergansers, Pacific Loons, Common Loons,
Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were on the ocean and a Western Grebe put in a quick appearance.
Flocks of Long-billed Dowitchers, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and Common Merganser flew over the Strait. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Common Terns, three Heermann's Gull and three Ring-billed Gulls on the Pebble Beach Gravel Bar. We spotted a Parasitic Jaeger harassing a flock of gulls far off shore on the Strait of Georgia at the end of the walk.
Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds:
American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope,
Parasitic Jaeger, Bonaparte's Gull, Heermann's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull,
Californian Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Tern, Marbled Murrelet, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,e
American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow,
Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

Monday September 27:
Twenty-one California Quail were seen in a back garden in the 2100 Wren Place in Nanaimo.

Red-breasted Nuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Steller's Jay, Dark-eyed Juncos and House Finches are at feeders in the 2300 Block of Marlborough Drive in Nanaimo.

Sunday September 26:
Two Anna's Hummingbirds are visiting feeders along Patrick Drive in French Creek and Stellar's Jays are visiting the same yard.

Steller's Jays, Bushtits, Dark-eyed Juncos, European Starlings, House Finches and American Robins were seen in the 2300 block Marlborough Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday September 23:
Four Sandhill Cranes were spotted on a farm in Nanoose Bay.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please
call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ 250-390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
**********************************
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting.
Guest Speaker-- Dr. Bill Weller will give a talk and slide presentation on local Mushrooms.
October 14th at 7 pm
at the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
**********************************
The Arrowsmith Naturalists meeting.
Monday, October 25th at 7.30 pm
at 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 October 05, 2010. will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach
We will meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park, at the parking area in front of 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 September 10, 2010 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
We will meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area of Buttertubs Marsh 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