Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, June 28, 2011

Warbling Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning
was cloudy but warm. We saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler on an Arbutus Tree. Black
Swifts flew high over head at the start of the walk and Willow Flycatchers were
seen perched and singing on the top of bushes at the start of the walk and again
at the end of the walk. We saw two Warbling Vireos low in the bushes. There was
a Yellow Warbler perched and singing in a big leaf maple.

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Killdeer
Band-tailed Pigeon
Black Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo bird report, June 26, 2011

Violet-green Swallow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

"GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE"

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@...

Sunday June 26: 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny and warm. We spotted Harlequin Ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots and Marbled Murrelets on the water. A Violet-green Swallow was perched high on a snag giving us great views.

Twenty-two birders, saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds:
Canada Geese, Harlequin Duck, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron,
Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon
Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous
Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, California Quail, European Starling, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird,Song Sparrow, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Wednesday June 22:
A Common Nighthawk was seen flying high above the Highlands subdivision off
Rutherford Road in north Nanaimo.

A Barn Owl was seen along Michael Road in Cedar.

Tuesday, June 21:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River
Estuary in Parksville. The morning started out cloudy with a strong breeze but
it turned warm and sunny as the morning went on. We watched a family of Common Mergansers swimming very quickly along the river. Another family of Common Mergansers walked very quickly along the gravel bar. Six Great Blue Herons, two Turkey Vulture and two Bald Eagles flew above the mouth of the river. We saw three different Willow Flycatchers perched and singing on the top of bushes along the trail. There were four Yellow Warblers singing from bushes along the meadow, giving us great views.

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds.
Canada Geese, Mallard, Common Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pelagic
Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk,
Killdeer, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Black Swift, Rufous
Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren,
Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird,Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

Eight Red Crossbills were seen over Malaspina Road and Hammond Bay Road in
Nanaimo.

Saturday June 18:
An Osprey was seen flying over the upper lake at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

Friday June 10:
An Osprey was spotted perched on a stump near the upper lake at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.

************************************************** **
Arrowsmith Naturalists Meeting, "Members Night: The Sequel"
Monday June 27, 2011
Springwood School, Parksville.
************************************************** *
Everyone is invited 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 June 28, 2011 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail 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 along Industrial Way near Tuan Road at about 9:10 A.M. This will be the last Tuesday Bird walk for the summer. The bird walks will resume on September 6, 2011. Have a great summer!
************************************************** ****
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 03 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.
************************************************** ****
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 10 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs
Marsh off Bowen Road about 9:20 A.M
************************************************** ***
Good birding
Neil Robins


THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store
6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8
250-390-3669
thebackyard@...

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, June 21, 2011

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning started out cloudy with a strong breeze but it turned warm and sunny as the morning went on. We watched a family of Common Mergansers swimming very quickly along the river. Another family of Common Mergansers walked very quickly along the gravel bar. Six Great Blue Herons, two Turkey Vulture and two Bald Eagles flew above the mouth of the river. We saw three different Willow Flycatchers perched and singing on the top of bushes along the trail. There were four Yellow Warblers singing from bushes along the meadow, giving us great views.

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty species of birds.
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Killdeer
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Black Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Good birding,
Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

Nanaimo bird report, June 19, 2011

Wilson's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT

“GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

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 June 19: 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. It was cloudy but the rain held off until the end of the walk. The morning air was again filled with the songs of birds. The highlights included seeing a Black-throated Gray Warbler perched and singing at the top of a tall Cedar tree. The rich robin-like song of a Black-headed Grosbeak resonated through the woods. We heard and saw a Western Tanager high up in a conifer tree. A flock of American Robins was spotted mobbing a Barred Owl near the ground in the forest. There was an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Cassin's Vireo singing in the distance. A flock of Black Swifts flew high overhead.
Thirteen birders, including visitors from Seattle and Great Britian saw and heard the following forty species of birds: Mallard, Bald Eagle, Barred Owl, Eurasian Collared Dove, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, California Quail, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Black Swift, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellow-throat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbills and American Goldfinch.

Wednesday, June 15:
Purple Martins were seen flying over the Environmental Sciences Building at the Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.
A Red-eyed Vireo was seen along the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.

Tuesday, June 14:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with a cool wind.
We spotted Black Swifts flying high overhead. There were several male Rufous Hummingbirds doing their courting dives throughout the morning. A Willow Flycatcher was perched near the Beaver Ponds giving us great views. We heard Swainson's Thrush singing throughout the morning. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and a Cassin's Vireo were singing close by. We saw and heard the Black-headed Grosbeak high up in the top of a conifer tree.
Eight birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species of birds:
Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Black Swift, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin,Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Seventeen Caspian Terns and nine Spotted Sandpipers were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Monday June 13:
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was spotted on an ornamental cherry tree in the Divers Lake area of Nanaimo.

Two Caspian Terns were seen at the San Pariel side of Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

A Bullock’s Oriole was seen in a backyard in the 5200 block of Toms Turnabout in Nanaimo..

Sunday, June 12:
A Common Nighthawk was seen over Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.

A Western Kingbird was seen and photographed at Jordan River on the west side of Vancouver Island.

Saturday, June 11:
Evening Grosbeaks are visiting a backyard in the 2700 block of Neyland Road in Nanaimo.

A pair of Evening Grosbeaks is visiting feeders daily at the end of Douglas Road in Nanaimo.

Arrowsmith Naturalists Meeting,
Monday June 27, Springwood School, Parksville.
***************************************************
Everyone is invited 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 June 21, 2011 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 end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 A.M.
******************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on June 26 will be going to Neck Point in Parksville. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot at Neck Point Park off Hammond Bay 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
thebackyard@shaw.ca
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, June 14, 2011

Swainson's Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Beaver Ponds at Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with a cool wind.
We spotted Black Swifts flying high overhead. There were several male Rufous Hummingbirds doing their courting dives throughout the morning. A Willow Flycatcher was perched near the Beaver Ponds giving us great views. We heard Swainson's Thrush singing throughout the morning. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and a Cassin's Vireo were singing close by. We saw and heard the Black-headed Grosbeak high up in the top of a conifer tree.

Eight birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species of birds:
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cassin's Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Neil Robins
Parksville
British Columbia

PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM BEACH TUESDAY BIRD WALK, JUNE 07, 2011

MacGillivray's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went Lot Ten along the Little Qualicum River in Qualicum
Beach. The morning started out cloudy and cool, but finished sunny and warm. We
spotted a Chipping Sparrow carrying nesting material at the start of the walk.
We heard a MacGillivray's Warbler and then saw him singing on a tall bush near
the trail. A partial albino Brown-headed Cowbird, with a large white collar and
white spots on its head, was perched high at the top of a conifer tree. A
Warbling Vireo gathering nesting material gave us great views when he put in an
appearance just above us along the trail. Two Spotted Sandpipers flew into the
edge of the river for us to view. We watched as a family of four or five
Red-breasted Sapsuckers flew back and forth over the river for about fifteen
minutes. We caught a glimpse of a Wilson's and a Yellow Warbler in the willow
bushes near the river.

Twelve birders saw and hear the following thirty-four species of birds:
Canada Goose
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Spotted Sandpiper
Band-tailed Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

TUESDAY BIRD WALK, JUNE 07, 2011

Bald Eagle: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Hi birders,

The Tuesday bird walk on June 07, 2011 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at the Parksville Beach, Community Park aat the parking area in front of the Lions Playground at 9:00a.m. or at the end of Kinkade Road on the forest side of highway 19a at about 9:20 a.m.

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

British Columbia

Sunday bird walk, June 05, 2011

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 05, will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. We will meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Despard Avenue off Highway 4a at about 9:30 A.M.