Yellow 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 August 21, 2011:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm. We saw a large number of Bushtits, Yellow Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and a Warbling Vireo near the parking area along Jingle Pot Road.
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Osprey, Virginia Rail, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Black Swift, Barn Swallow, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Bushtit, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo,, Cedar Waxwing, American Robin, Western Tanager, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch and House Sparrow.
Saturday August 20:
Purple Martins, Cedar Waxwings, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warblers and Black-throated Grey Warblers were seen at the Morningstar Ponds at French Creek.
Three Greater Yellowlegs and several Sandpipers were seen on the Englishman River, Plummer Road side, in Parksville.
Over twenty Common Nighthawks were seen flying over Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.
A Bewick’s Wren is visiting yards in the 800 block of Harewoods Mines Road in Nanaimo.
Friday August 19:
A flock of Common Nighthawks were seen hawking insects over Twiggly Wiggly Road in Nanaimo.
Over twenty Common Nighthawks were seen flying over Arrowsmith Street in French Creek.
Four Common Ravens were spotted hanging around a nest in Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.
Thursday August 18:
An Osprey was seen flying over Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
Wednesday August 17:
An American Dipper was spotted at the upper lake in Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.
Tuesday August 16:
Sixteen Common Nighthawks were spotted flying heading west low over houses in the one hundred block of Meridian Way in Parksville.
A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at French Creek today on the marina side of the Creek.
A Barred Owl chick was seen at Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo.
Monday August 15:
The early birders went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. We spotted a Sanderling in with a large flock of Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers. We heard Red-breasted Nuthatch singing throughout the morning. We saw two Barn Swallows dipping and diving for insects above the water.
Seven birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species of birds:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, White-winged Scoter, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte's Gull,
Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.
Sunday August 15:
A Peregrine Falcon was spotted flying over the top of Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo.
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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.
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The Tuesday Bird Walk season has come to a close. The bird walks will resume on September 6, 2011. Have a great summer!
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The Sunday Bird Walk on August 28 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. 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.
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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
“Pelagic birding trip in September”
WildResearch, a Vancouver base non-profit, is pleased to be offering a pelagic birding trip departing from Ucluelet on the Sunday the 18th September 2011. The ship we will be using is the M.V. Frances Barkley, a 39m (128ft), 300 ton coastal freighter. The cost per person is $200 for WildResearch members.
For details visit: www.wildresearch.ca
