Nanaimo bird report, May 20, 2012

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 May 20, 2012: The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with misty rain all morning. We saw an American Robin on the nest. A pair of Downy Woodpecker’s were going into a nest cavity on a snag just off the trail. An Anna’s Hummingbird was sitting on a nest and were observed a Bushtit’s sock nest and watched as Bushtits flew in and out. Nesting time is here!! We spotted a Virginia Rail make a quick appearance from the reeds of the Marsh.***************************************************************************** Twenty birders saw and heard the following forty-six species: Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, California Quail, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Eurasian-collared Dove, Rock Pigeon, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, Great Blue Heron, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow ****************************************************************************** Saturday May 19: A Barred owl was spotted at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. *************************************************************************** Thursday May 17: “Rare bird alert-Western Kingbird” A Western Kingbird was seen perched on a fence near South Road & Peterson Road on Gabriola Island. **************************************************************************************** A Bullock's Oriole was seen in a back garden in Ladysmith. *************************************************************** Tuesday, May 15: A special goodbye to Marion and Peter Coxon, who after spending five months on the Island, have returned to Australia. It has been been memorable having you spent time with us and a pleasure visiting and birding with you. **************************************************************************** The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was mostly sunny with a brisk wind. We heard and then saw a first of the year Yellow Warbler just off the trail. There were several Orange-crowned Warblers singing from perches in the low bushes. We had great views of three Semipalmated Plovers feeding on the low tide mud flats with a Killdeer. The male Common Mergansers were in stunning breeding plumage as they raced up the river just in front of us. A Northern Rough-winged Swallow put in a brief appearance over the river. *********************************************************************** Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-species: Canada Geese, Brant, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Bald Eagle, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Eurasian-collared Dove, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird and American Goldfinch. Caspian Terns were seen and photographed at Kye Bay in Comox. ************************************************************************************ Arrowsmith Naturalists meet Monday, May 28th, 7.30pm at Springwood School. We will hear speakers from the Nile Creek Enhancement Society talk about their work. Everyone welcome. ********************************************************************************** Nanoose Naturalists Meeting Thursday, June 14th at 5:30 pm Summer picnic BBQ for members at the home of Tony and Jenny Ransom. ************************************************************************************* 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 Birdwalk on May 22, 2012 will be going to the Lot Ten north of Qualicum Beach. We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Kinkade Road (on the mountain side of highway 19a) at about 9:20.a.m.****************************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday May 27, 2012 will be going to Morden Provincial Park in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Morden Provincial Park off Morden Road in south Nanaimo at about 9:30 a.m. ******************************************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo B.C. V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Fax: 250-390-1633 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com