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, February 17, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was clear with calm winds. The highlights included seeing the first Turkey Vulture that the Birdwalk has seen this season soaring high up in the sky. We saw three Eurasian Widgeon on the estuary. Large numbers of Greater Scaup, Scurf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were on the water.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Greater Scaup, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Killdeer, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Downy Woodpecker, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbills, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird and Pine Siskin.
Friday, February 15:
“Rare Bird Alert- Citrine Wagtail”
The Citrine Wagtail has been seen again 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.
One hundred and twenty Brant were seen at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.
A Northern Pygmy Owl was seen in Yellow Point south of Nanaimo.
Tuesday, February 12: Monday, February 25:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a few light showers throughout the morning. A large mixed flock of Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, Dunlin and two Black Oystercatchers greeted us at the tide line as the bird walk began. The large flock lifted several times giving us great views as the huge cloud of shorebirds danced over the water. The big surprise of the morning was the sighting of a Northern Goshawk that passed overhead and then disappeared into the forest. Flock after flock of Common Murre flew down the Strait of Georgia just above the water for most of the morning. Four Pine Grosbeaks were spotted feeding on the buds on an apple tree not far from the trail near the old homestead.
Fifteen birders including visiting birders from Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-five species:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,
Bald Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Pacific Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Pine Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Grosbeak.
A Turkey Vulture was seen over Turner and Uplands Road in Nanaimo.
Monday, February 11:
Twelve Cedar Waxwings were seen along the Long Lake Trail in Nanaimo.
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Monday, February 25:
Arrowsmith Naturalists will meet at 7.30pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.
Guest speaker will be Ramona de Graff. Her talk "Forage Fish" All are welcome.
For more info phone 250-752-7588.
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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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The Tuesday bird walk on February 19, 2013 will be going to Port Alberni.
We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 8:00 a.m. and drive up to Port Alberni.
Sandy McRuer will meet us at Victoria Quay in Port Alberni at 9:00 a.m.
We will go onto the Somass Estuary for the bird walk.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on February 24, 2013, will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road in Nanaimo at about 9:15 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
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