Nanaimo bird report, Decenber 16, 2012

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT -----” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.

Sunday, December 16, 2012:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The morning was clear but quite cool. The highlights included seeing a flock of twenty Common Redpolls, a large flock of about two hundred Pine Siskins, twenty Varied Thrush and large numbers of American Robins. We were entertained by three Merlin flying about chasing one another, calling the whole time.

Seven birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese, Mallard, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Coot, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Barred Owl, Hooded Mergansers, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Rock Pigeon, Steller’s Jay, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Six Evening Grosbeaks were seen in a yard at French Creek.

Friday, December 14,

“Rare Bird Alert- Citrine Wagtail”

The Citrine Wagtail is still being seen in Courtenay.

Directions to specific location: From Courtenay, cross the 17th St. Bridge (Courtenay River). Turn right onto Comox Road (Dyke Rd) until the Pumping Station on the right hand side of the road. There is a dirt road across the road with a For Sale sign on the left. Walk up the dirt road towards the steel chain blocking vehicle access. The Wagtail has been observed next to the dirt road, at the furthest brush pile.

Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls and a Northern Shrike were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday, December 11:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a few sunny periods and wind off the Strait of Georgia. A male Anna’s hummingbird perched on a snag just off the trail giving us great looks at the colorful Hummer. The resident Northern Harrier put in a quick appearance as it flew over the estuary and disappeared behind some bushes. A Northern Shrike perched in a tall conifer overlooking the estuary. Later the Shrike perched on a short bush just past the viewing platform not twenty feet from us. A flock of Common Murre flew just above the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. A flock of Evening Grosbeaks flew over the trail. We watched a male Downy Woodpecker feeding in a low bush with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet feeding on the bush just below him.

Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-five Species:

Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead,

Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre,

Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow,

Common Raven, Eurasian Collared Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin.

A Greater White-fronted Goose was seen in with a flock of Canada Geese in Maffeo Sutton Park in downtown Nanaimo.

“ Rare Bird Alert-Citrine Wagtail”

A juvenile Gyrfalcon was seen and photographed cruising over the field before the Citrine Wagtail was spotted in Courtenay today by birders from Washington State.

Monday, December 10:

A Snowy Owl was seen in the 5400 block of Kenwill Drive in Nanaimo.

Saturday, December 08:

Forty Trumpeters swans were seen at the Big Qualicum River Estuary.

“Rare Bird Alert--Citrine Wagtail” The Citrine Wagtail was seen in the same location at Courtney by birders from Nanaimo.

Saturday December 01:

A Snowy Owl was spotted beside Hub City Gravel Pit on Nanaimo River Road.

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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 December 18, will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park In Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 A.M. ************************************************************************************ The Sunday Bird Walk on December 23, 2012 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 A.M. ********************************************************************************* Christmas Bird Count----Nanaimo, December 30, 2012 Contact: Ryan Cathers at ryancathers@yahoo.com or phone 250-714-3947. *********************************************************************************** Christmas Bird Count—Duncan, January 1, 2013. Contact: Derrick Marven at marven@shaw.ca or phone 250-758-8504 ********************************************************************************** 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