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 by 8am the day of the walk.

Monday 16 May 2011

Nanaimo bird report, May 15, 2011


Spotted Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo.


Please remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.

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

Sunday May 15: 2011:
Both male and female Anna’s Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds are coming to feeders on Drew Road in French Creek.

The Sunday bird walk went to Morden Colliery Provincial Park in south Nanaimo and Quennel Lake in Cedar . The morning was cloudy with rain throughout the morning. The highlights included hearing Pacific Wrens, Brown Creepers, a Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrows. We did see a Black-throated Grey Warbler, a Yellow Warbler and a Wilson’s Warbler.
Seven birders saw and heard the following forty-nine species of birds: Canada Geese, Wood Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Flicker, Rufous Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Pacific Wren, Bushtit, European Starling, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Brewer’s Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, American Goldfinch,, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Saturday May 14:
Approximately 200 Vaux’s Swifts flew down a chimney and into a home in the 900 block of Bruce Avenue in Central Nanaimo. The residents of the house had a real challenge getting the Swifts out of the house.
A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at the Living Forest Campground, off Maki Road in south Nanaimo.
A Ring-necked Pheasant was spotted flying across Northwest Bay Road onto the farm yard in Nanoose Bay.
A Wilson’s Warbler was seen in a backyard in the Departure Bay Area of Nanaimo.

A male Western Tanager was seen in a garden in the 300 block of 4th Avenue in Ladysmith.

Friday May 13:
Two Caspian Terns were seen at Jack Point in the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
A Wilson’s Warbler was seen gleaning insects from cherry trees in the 2000 block of Marlborough Drive in Nanaimo.

Thursday May 12:
A Hammond’s Flycatcher was seen in the 2000 block of Marlborough Drive in Nanaimo.
A male Cinnamon Teal and three pairs of Wood Ducks were seen at Brookwood Marsh in North Nanaimo.

A Barred Owl was spotted at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
A White-throated Sparrow was seen near North Road and Ross Way on Gabriola Island.

Wednesday May 11:
A Ruffed Grouse was seen in a yard on the north side of Taylor Walk at the Little Qualicum River Village.

Tuesday May 10:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and very windy. The highlights included seeing an Osprey fly over head. We saw and heard five species of warblers ---Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and a Wilson's Warbler.
Thirteen birders including two birders visiting from New Zealand saw and hear the following forty-four species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon,
Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch and House Finch.

Male and female Brown-headed Cowbirds were seen at a feeder along Homestead Way in Ladysmith.

A Mourning Dove that has been hanging out in the area of Cosgrove Crescent and Argyle Avenue in Nanaimo.

Tuesday April 19:
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was spotted feeding on a peanut feeder in a backyard along Woodland Crescent in Port Alberni.
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Arrowsmith Naturalists Meeting
Monday May 30, 7.30 pm at Springwood School in Parksville.
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Nanoose Field Naturalists Meeting.
Thursday, June 09, 7 pm in the Library on Northwest Bay Road.
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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk on May 17, 2011 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 of Rathtrevor Provincial Park about 9:10 A.M.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on May 22 will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or under the Hydro Lines along Normarel Drive at about 9:20 A.M
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Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

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