Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 30, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning started out cloudy with a cool wind, but turned sunny and warm. We saw an Orange-crowned Warbler and heard a Chipping Sparrow at the start of the walk. We heard and then had excellent views of a Cassin’s Vireo singing and feeding on a tree not far from the trail. Black-throated Gray Warblers were singing throughout the morning and one made an appearance late in the morning. 

             Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from Calgary saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Rufous Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Band-tailed Pigeon

California Quail

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Cassin’s Vireo

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin 

               Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, April 28, 2013

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, April 28, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  The morning was sunny and warm. We saw and heard Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Townsend's Warblers, Yellow Warblers and Wilson’s Warblers throughout the morning.

 

                    Yellow Warbler:: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species: 

Canada Geese, Harlequin Duck, Hooded Merganser,  Common Merganser,  Red-breasted Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle,  Black Oystercatcher,  Mew Gull,  Glaucous-winged Gull, Rufous Hummingbird, Hairy Woodpecker,  Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet , Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,  Golden-crowned Sparrow,  Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill,  Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch. 

Two Caspian Terns were seen on the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

 

Canada Goose, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Hammond's, Flycatcher,  Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Common Raven,Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Pacific Wren, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler,  Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, McGillivray’s Warbler, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin were seen along the power lines along the south edge of the City of Nanaimo.  

Saturday, April 27:

Golden –crowned and Lincoln's Sparrows, Townsend's Warblers   Black-throated Grey Warblers, Hermit Thrushes and a Hammond's Flycatcher were seen and heard along the Nanaimo River Road in south Nanaimo.  

Dark-eyed Juncos, a number of Golden-crowned Sparrows, Pileated Woodpeckers and Red-winged Blackbirds were seen along Haslam Road in south Nanaimo. 

Friday, April 26:

One Western Tanager and four Evening Grosbeaks were seen in Cinnabar Valley in south Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, April 23:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning started out cloudy and cool but soon turned sunny and warm. We spotted two American Dippers in the river. We saw and heard Yellow-rumped Warblers and Orange-crowned Warblers throughout the morning. We also heard and then saw a Black-throated Grey Warbler feeding high up in a deciduous tree near the trail. A Chipping Sparrow was perched and singing low in the bushes near the trail. A Red-breasted Sapsucker caught our attention as it appeared to be working on a nesting hole.  He flew to a low tree not far from us and started feeding on the sap, giving us great views.  As he was rhythmically tapping on the tree one could imagine him pounding out the Morse Code!

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following fifty species:

Brant , Mallard, American Widgeon, Surf Scoter , White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser , Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon , Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk,

Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Western Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow , Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper , Pacific Wren, American Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet , American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler,Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbills and Pine Siskin.  

Sunday April 21:

Over three hundred Greater White-fronted Geese and over five hundred Brant were seen flying over Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island. 

*****************************************************

 Thursday, May 09:

Nanoose Naturalists meet at 7 p.m. at the Nanoose Library Hall on NW Bay Road.  The club looks  forward to a video presentation by photographer, Eric Pittman, on Hummingbirds of Vancouver Island at our next meeting; Visitors are welcome.  For more info, call Joe at 250-468-1728.

************************************************************* 

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 April 30, will be going to the Top bridge Trail in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area near Tuan Road and Industrial Way off Highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

 **********************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on May 05, 2013, will be going to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or under the hydro lines along Normarel Drive Road off Superior Road in upper Lantzville at about 9:20 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

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 23, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning started out cloudy and cool but soon turned sunny and warm. We spotted two American Dippers in the river. We saw and heard Yellow-rumped Warblers and Orange-crowned Warblers throughout the morning. We also heard and then saw a Black-throated Grey Warbler feeding high up in a deciduous tree near the trail. A Chipping Sparrow was perched and singing low in the bushes near the trail. A Red-breasted Sapsucker caught our attention as it appeared to be working on a nesting hole.  He flew to a low tree not far from us and started feeding on the sap, giving us great views.  As he was rhythmically tapping on the tree one could imagine him pounding out the Morse Code!

 

Black-throated Grey Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following fifty species:

Brant

Mallard

American Widgeon

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Cooper's Hawk

Bonaparte's Gull

Mew Gull

Western Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Rough-winged Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

American Dipper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbills

Pine Siskin

 

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 30, 2013 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

British Columbia

Nanaimo bird report, April 21, 2013

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, April 21, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south in Nanaimo.  The morning was windy and cloudy with a few sunny periods. We had great looks at a Lapland Longspur feeding in the tall grasses on the estuary. One Lesser Yellowlegs and twenty Greater Yellowlegs were feeding along the gravel bar on the river. A Short-eared Owl was spotted on the ground not far from us. A Northern Shrike was perched in a bush on the estuary. A flock of over sixty Greater White-fronted Geese flew high overhead heading north.

                               Lapland Longspur: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-four birders, including visiting birders from Calgary, saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:

Greater White-fronted Geese, Canada Goose,  Great Blue Heron,   Common Mergansers,  Green-winged Teal,  Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Shrike,  Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture,  Short-eared Owl,  Northern Harrier,  Red-tailed Hawk, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker,  Common Raven, Northwestern Crow,  Violet-green Swallows,  Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Tree Swallows,  Belted Kingfisher,  American Robin, European Starling,  Lapland Longspur, Spotted Towhee,   White-crowned Sparrow,  Savannah Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Song Sparrow.

Saturday, April 20:

Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Douglas Avenue and 7^th Avenue in Nanaimo.   

Wednesday, April 17:

A Lapland Longspur was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday, April 16:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. We saw and heard several Orange-crowned Warblers throughout the morning.  A Common Yellowthroat entertained us from a perch on some Scotch broom next to the road giving us great views.  An American Kestrel was perched in a tree along the farmer’s field. We spotted a Great Horned Owl with a fledgling as well as two pairs of Townsend's Warblers on the way back to the parking area to finish off a great morning of birding.

 

                              Common Yellowthroat: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-five birders including visiting birders from Lethbridge saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Geese, Ring-necked Pheasant, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, Anna's Hummingbird,
Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch and Pine Siskin. 

Sunday, April 14: Three Common Yellowthroats, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers were seen at the Nanoose Estuary in Nanoose Bay. 

An Osprey was seen heading south on Highway 19 coming from Harewood Mines Road in Nanaimo. 

**************************************************

Arrowsmith Naturalists - GENERAL MEETING  Knox United Church, 345 Pym, Parksville, on Monday April 22 @ 7:30 p.m.
Topic: Bear Smart Program  Speaker: Crystal McMillan

*************************************************************

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 April 23, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Hatchery. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach near Garrett Road at about 9:15 a.m.

*************************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 28, 2013, will be going to Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Moorecroft Regional Park off Stewart Road at about 9:20 a.m.
************************************************************************************

Here is an interesting website re-the Coastal Tar Sands-http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/

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

Parksville/ Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, April 16, 2013

                                                    

American Kestrel: John Purves Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. We saw and heard several Orange-crowned Warblers throughout the morning.  A Common Yellowthroat entertained us from a perch on some Scotch broom next to the road giving us great views.  An American Kestrel was perched in a tree along the farmer’s field. We spotted a Great Horned Owl with a fledgling as well as two pairs of Townsend's Warblers on the way back to the parking area to finish off a great morning of birding.

Twenty-five birders including visiting birders from Lethbridge saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Geese

Ring-necked Pheasant

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

American Kestrel

Great Horned Owl

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin  

    Common Yellowthroat: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 23, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Hatchery. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground or at the viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach near Garrett Road. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, April 14, 2013

 

Evening Grosbeaks: Malcom Photo.

 

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, April 14, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  The morning was mostly cloudy with a few sunny periods. We watched a pair of Brown Creepers building a nest under the bark of a tree.  Four Evening Grosbeaks were feeding on the Maple Tree buds giving us great views. We heard a Hutton’s Vireo and Pacific Wrens singing during the morning.

Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Calgary and Wisconsin saw and heard the following thirty-one species:

Canada Goose,  Mallard, Bufflehead, Turkey Vulture,  Bald Eagle, Barred Owl,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Anna's Hummingbird,  Rufous Hummingbird,    Pileated Woodpecker,  Steller's Jay,  Common Raven,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Pacific Wren,  Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush,  European Starling,  Hutton's Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler,  Yellow-rumped Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,  Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. 

 

A Mountain Bluebird, fourteen Greater Yellowlegs, a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Western Meadowlark and a Northern Harrier were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.  

Saturday, April 13:

 ATownsend’s Solitaire and a Wilson’s Snipe were seen on the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Friday, April 12:

A Chipping Sparrow was visiting a backyard feeder along Meridian Way in Parksville.  

Thursday, April 11:

Sixteen Greater Yellowlegs were seen off Macki Road in south Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, April 09:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach and French Creek. The morning was cloudy with light rain and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing two Clark’s Grebes in with about twenty Western Grebes not far from shore. We spotted several Common Murre, two Rhinoceros Auklet, two Marbled Murrelet and a Pigeon Guillemot on the Strait. Three Yellow-rumped Warblers were feeding in a tall Alder Tree near French Creek.  A Fox Sparrow put in a quick appearance at the end of the walk. 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brandt’s Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco , Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch , Pine Siskin and House Sparrow. 

Monday, April 08:

A Black Headed Grosbeak was seen in a yard along Parkview Avenue in Parksville.

 **************************************************

Monday, April 22:

Arrowsmith Naturalists - GENERAL MEETING  Knox United Church, 345 Pym, Parksville @ 7:30 p.m.

Topic: Bear Smart Program  Speaker: Crystal McMillan  

*************************************************************

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 April 16, 2013 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville.  We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue, at about 9:10 a.m. 

.************************************************************************************* 

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 21, 2013, will be going to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road in Nanaimo at about 9:30 A.M.

************************************************************************************ 

Here is an interesting website re-the Coastal Tar Sands-

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/

 

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

Parksville/ Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 09, 2013

              Pigeon Guillemot: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach and French Creek. The morning was cloudy with light rain and a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. The highlights included seeing two Clark’s Grebes in with about twenty Western Grebes not far from shore. We spotted several Common Murre, two Rhinoceros Auklet, two Marbled Murrelet and a Pigeon Guillemot on the Strait. Three Yellow-rumped Warblers were feeding in a tall Alder Tree near French Creek.  A Fox Sparrow put in a quick appearance at the end of the walk.

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:

Canada Goose

Brant

Eurasian Widgeon

American Widgeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Clark’s Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Rhinoceros Auklet

Marbled Murrelet

Pigeon Guillemot

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 16 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. 

 

 

 

Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville 

Here is an interesting website re-the Coastal Tar Sands-

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/

 

 

Townsend's Solitaire

              Townsend's Solitaire: John Purves Photo.

 

Two Townsend’s Solitaire were seen along Mariner Way  in San Peril, Parksville, fly catching and perched in front of the houses, just past the mud flats.

Sixty Western Grebes were seen off shore from Mariner Way. 

Nanaimo bird report, April 07, 201

                   

Bushtits: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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, April 07, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo
The morning was cloudy with a strong wind blowing throughout the morning.  A large flock Violet-green Swallows, Tree Swallows, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow and a Barn Swallow were hawking insects just above the marsh at the start of the walk. We spotted two Bushtits busy  building a nest above the trail. A Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Common Yellow-throat  were seen near the trail.  Marsh and Bewick’s Wrens were singing their songs during the morning.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck,  Bufflehead,   Hooded Merganser,  Pied-billed Grebe, Turkey Vulture,  Bald Eagle,  Sharp-shinned Hawk,  Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Brewer’s Blackbird, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eurasian-collared Dove, Rock Pigeon, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Bewick’s Wren,  Marsh Wren,  Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Great Blue Heron,  American Robin, Cedar Waxwing,  European Starling,  Yellow-rumped Warbler,   Spotted Towhee,  Song Sparrow,  Fox Sparrow,  White-crowned Sparrow, Common Yellow-throat,  Golden-crowned Sparrow,  Red-winged Blackbird,  House Finch, Pine Siskin and House Sparrow.

Three Townsend's Solitaires, a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a large number of  Orange-crowned Warblers were seen along the power line right of way in the Harwood area of Nanaimo.
 
Tuesday, April 09:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloud but warm with calm winds. We heard Bewick's Wrens, Pacific Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows singing their songs throughout the morning.
A flock of Red Crossbills greeted us from high up in the tall trees. We spotted two Band-tailed Pigeons and three Yellow-rumped Warblers high up on the snags across the river. One juvenile Peregrine Falcon was perched on a snag on the estuary giving us great views through the scopes. We saw several large flocks of Brant and small flocks of Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. The bird of the morning showed up on the meadows--a Mountain Bluebird! The Bluebird was perched on top of a small bush, leaving once in a while to hawk insects only to return to perch and give us great views.  A Northern Shrike was perched not far from the Bluebird also hunting from small bushes. The scopes provided good close up views. We spotted Orange-crowned Warblers feeding fairly high up in the trees. A Barred Owl was spotted roosting low in a cedar tree as we finished the walk. 
Sixteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-three species:
Canada Goose, Brant, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, California Quail, Common Loon,
Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle , Peregrine Falcon, Northern Shrike, Barred Owl, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird , Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Mountain Bluebird, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin

Thursday, April 04:
A Northern Shrike was seen in a backyard along Tamara Drive in Nanaimo.
***********************************************
Thursday, April 11:
The Nanoose Naturalists look forward to a presentation by photographer, Terry Thormin on Dragonflies of Vancouver Island at our next meeting; 7 pm  at the Nanoose Library Hall on NW Bay Road.  Visitors are welcome.  For more info, call Joe at 250-468-1728.
 
**************************************************************
Monday, April 22:
Arrowsmith Naturalists - GENERAL MEETING - at Knox United Church, 345 Pym, Parksville @ 7:30 p.m.
Topic: Bear Smart Program Speaker: Crystal McMillan
*************************************************************
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 April 09, 2013 will be going to Columbia Beach.
We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area, off Admiral Tryon Blvd. and Columbia Drive , on  the Oceanside of highway 19a, at about 9:10 a.m.

.*************************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 14, 2013, will be going to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Morrell off Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 A.M.
************************************************************************************
Here is an interesting website re-the Coastal Tar Sands-
http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/

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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, April 02, 2013

                                                        

Mountain Bluebird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloud but warm with calm winds. We heard Bewick's Wrens, Pacific Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows singing their songs throughout the morning. 

A flock of Red Crossbills greeted us from high up in the tall trees. We spotted two Band-tailed Pigeons and three Yellow-rumped Warblers high up on the snags across the river. One juvenile Peregrine Falcon was perched on a snag on the estuary giving us great views through the scopes. We saw several large flocks of Brant and small flocks of Long-tailed Ducks flying up and down the Strait of Georgia. The bird of the morning showed up on the meadows--a Mountain Bluebird! The Bluebird was perched on top of a small bush, leaving once in a while to hawk insects only to return to perch and give us great views.  A Northern Shrike was perched not far from the Bluebird also hunting from a small bushes. The scopes provided good close up views. We spotted Orange-crowned Warblers feeding fairly high up in the trees. A Barred Owl was spotted roosting low in a cedar tree as we finished the walk.

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following sixty-three species:

Canada Goose
Brant

Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard

Gadwall
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser
California Quail
Common Loon

Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

Northern Shrike

Barred Owl
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin

Varied Thrush

Mountain Bluebird
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin  

The Tuesday bird walk on April 9 will be going to Columbia Beach. 

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville. 

Here is an interesting website re-the Coastal Tar Sands-

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, April 01, 2013

                              Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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, March 31, 2013:
Two Great Horned Owls were calling and a Northern Saw-whet Owl was calling a mate at Morell Circle in Nanaimo.

Male Rufous Hummingbirds have been reported from Hammond Bay Road, Dawkins Lane, Nanaimo, Cinnabar Valley, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and River’s Edge, Nanoose Bay.  Spring is here for sure!

Seventy Bald Eagles. along with a huge flock of gulls, were seen at Deep Bay.

Rufous Hummingbirds, Orange-crowned Warblers, a Red-breasted Sapsucker and a Hutton's Vireo were seen along the power lines at Harewood Mines Road in Nanaimo.

Saturday, March 30:
A large number of Savannah Sparrows, a Northern Harrier, five Greater Yellowlegs, a Eurasian Wigeon, a Northern Rough-winged Swallow was among the Tree and Violet-green Swallows and two Western Meadowlarks were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday, March 26:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds off the Strait of Georgia. Large numbers of Pine Siskins were with us throughout the morning. We saw huge flocks of Red Crossbills in the forest and huge rafts of seabirds on the Strait. A Red-tailed Hawk perched close to the trail giving us great views to finish off a perfect morning of birding. A special thanks to John Purves for leading this morning’s bird walk!
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-four species.
Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Harlequin Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Western Grebe, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Murre, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Black Oystercatcher, Eurasian-collared Dove, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Violet-green Swallow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Pine Siskins and House Finch.

A Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported seen in a backyard in the 3400 Block of Harris Crescent at Whisky Creek.

Monday, March 25:
Five Western Grebes were seen on the Strait of Georgia off the breakwater at French Creek.

Three Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen at Qualicum Beach.

Friday, March 22:
Large numbers of Violet-green Swallows were spotted flying over the river at Nanaimo River Regional Park in south Nanaimo.

***********************************************************************
Thursday, April 11:
Nanoose Naturalists look forward to a presentation by photographer, Terry Thormin, on Dragonflies of Vancouver Island at our next meeting; 7 pm  at the Nanoose Library Hall on NW Bay Road.  Visitors are welcome.  For more info, call Joe at 250-468-1728.

***********************************************************************
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 April 02, 2013 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
We will meet at Parksville Bay at the Lion's Playground parking area in Parksville at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of highway 19a, at about 9:10 a.m.
.*************************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 07, 2013, will be going to Buttertubs in Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs off Bowen Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 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