Nanaimo bird report, September 16, 2012

Warbling Vireo: 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 September 16, 2012:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and warm. The highlights included seeing a Warbling Vireo feeding on a tall bush near the trail. We had two sightings of a large flock of Bushtit feeding and moving quickly through the bushes. The birders, as well as birding, also did a fair bit of blackberry munching throughout the morning.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:

Mallards,  Wood Ducks,  American Widgeon, Hooded Merganser,  Pied-billed Grebe,  Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk,  Rock Pigeons,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Eurasian-collared Dove,  Northern Flicker,  Anna’s Hummingbird, Common Raven, Steller’s Jay, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren,  Ruby-crowned Kinglet,  Bushtit, Cedar Waxwing,  American Robin,  Swainson’s Thrush,  Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow,  Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird,  Purple Finch,  Red-winged Blackbird,  American Goldfinch and House Finch.

 

Tuesday, September 11:

Forty-nine Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over Bowser today. 

A Northern Shrike, a Northern Harrier, Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln’s Sparrows were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and the wind and the seas were calm. The highlights included seeing three large flocks of American Widgeon flying over the water. We saw many Red-necked Grebes and Common Loons from the viewing platform off of Highway 19A. There were large numbers of Bonaparte’s Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Killdeer and Western Sandpipers on the Estuary.

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-species:

Canada Goose, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Doubled-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,Song Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling.

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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. *************************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on September 18, 2012 will be going to Columbia Beach. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Blvd. at about 9:20 am.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on Sunday September 23, 2012 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. We will meet at the bird store at   9:00 a.m. or the parking area at Rathtrevor Provincial Park at about 9:30 a.m.
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Monday September 24th Arrowsmith Naturalists

Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at  Knox United Church  at 7.30pm. (Please Note Change of Meeting Place.)  A chance to hear and share what will be happening at the BC Nature Conference to be held in Parksville.

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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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””Nature by the Salish Sea"

"Nature By The Salish Sea" is the title of BC Nature's Fall General Meeting which will be held at the Quality Resort Bayside from Sept 27th -30th. The meeting, organized by Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists, includes field trips, presentations, a banquet and a barbecue. For more information go to www.arrowsmithnats.org or phone 250-468-7475