Nanaimo bird report, July 15, 2012

************************************************************************************************************************ Pied-billed Grebe: 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 July 15, 2012: The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with a cool breeze and light rain showers. Highlights included seeing a pair of Pied-billed Grebes building a nest. We spotted Purple Martins hawking insects high overhead. Twenty-five birders, including two visiting birders from the United Kingdom, saw and heard the following thirty-five species. Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, American Widgeon, Hooded Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, California Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Vaux’s Swift, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Black-headed Grosbeak, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow. *************************************************************************************** Saturday July 14: Forty- Common Nighthawks were seen over Woodlands School near Meredith Road and Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo. A Merlin nest has been spotted on Gainsberg Road in Deep Bay. ************************************************************************************** Wednesday July 11: A Great Horned Owl was sighted at Neck Point Park today. The owl was seen just off the trail that leads to Sunset beach from the parking lot. Just follow the continuous one note call of the robins that will be near the owl. ***************************************************************************************** Tuesday July 10: A Green Heron was seen and photographed near the Viewing Tower at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. *********************************************************************************** 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. ************************************************************************************* Tuesday bird walks have stopped for the summer season. We will resume the Tuesday bird walks on September 04, 2012. Have a great summer. ************************************************************************************* The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday July 22, 2012 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:30 am. ********************************************************* 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 ************************************************************************************* You are invited to the 8th Annual Purple Martin Open House at the Ladysmith Maritime Society marina (follow the yellow signs) on July 29 from 1 pm - 4 pm. Wear something PURPLE!! Come and help us celebrate the return of Purple Martins at the largest colony on Vancouver Island! - see adult birds feeding nestlings - learn more about the birds and the recovery program at our displays - see baby birds being banded at 2 pm and 3 pm Light refreshments will be available, including our famous purple (blueberry) milkshake (while quantities last). Please park in the upper parking lot. Walk down the stairs and come down onto the wharf to the social dock where the tents are (beyond the big blue boat shed and museum). Please forward this invitation to others who may be interested in attending. Hope to see you there. Cheers, Charlene ************************************************************************************* WANTED Have you seen these birds? Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) have been released in Maple Bay as part of a species recovery program. These rare native songbirds may be foraging and nesting in your area! We need your help to find them so that we can record their nesting locations and habitat use, and monitor and care for them. General Identification Tips Smaller than a robin, about 5.5 inches, with a thin bill. Found in open habitat, pastureland, Garry Oak meadows; perched on fence lines or low branches. Some of the birds are wearing coloured leg bands—please note the colours if you can! To learn more about the Bring Back the Bluebirds Project, see www.goert.ca/bluebird. Please help us watch for Western Bluebirds and contact us immediately if you think you see them: bluebird@goert.ca; 250-383-3427. 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