Nanaimo bird report, Aug.

Turkey Vulture: 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
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Sunday August 05, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny and warm.  We saw five Cedar Waxwings hawking insects from high up on a Fir Tree just off the road, giving us great views.
Four Turkey Vultures circled overhead for most of the morning.  We heard a flock of Purple Martins overhead.
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Four birders saw and heard the following eighteen species:
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Turkey Vulture,  Northern Flicker,  Willow Flycatcher,  Western Wood-Pewee, Common Raven,  Northwestern Crow,  Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Common Yellowthroat,  Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and House Finch.
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Friday, August 03:
Ten to twelve Common Nighthawks were seen circling over the end of Wren Place in Nanaimo.
A Barred Owl was seen and photographed along the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
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Wednesday, August 02:
Twelve Common Nighthawks were seen heading south over the 500 block of Louise Road in Ladysmith.
Over twenty-four Common Nighthawks were spotted hawking insects over a house along Marlborough Drive in Nanaimo.
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Tuesday July 31:
Fifteen Common Nighthawks were seen flying high above the Craig Street Market in Parksville.
A  Pied-billed Grebe was on it’s nest in the marsh at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo and a  Merlin was seen feeding from the surface of the marsh.
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Saturday, July 28: A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen visiting feeders along Lost Road in Nanaimo.
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Monday, July 23
A male Painted Bunting has been reported at a birdfeeder in Ucluelet, on the west side of Vancouver Island.
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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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Tuesday bird walks have stopped for the summer season. We will resume the Tuesday bird walks on September 04, 2012.  Have a great summer.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday August 12, 2012 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking area near the entrance to Living Forest Campground on Maki Road at about 9:20 A.M.
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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
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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.