Nanaimo bird report, June 30, 2013

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 June 30, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Hemer Provincial Park in Cedar. The morning was sunny and hot however we welcomed the coolness in the forest.  We saw a large number of Cedar Waxwing looking like a flock of Swallows hawking insects over the lake all morning.  We heard a Wilson’s Warbler singing near the trail and then we were entertained as he put on a show for us as he tried several times to capture a bug from a folded leaf until he was successful.

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

Mallard, Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Rufous Hummingbird,  Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,  Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Barn Swallow,  Cliff Swallow,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Swainson's Thrush,  American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler,  Common Yellowthroat,  Western Tanager,  Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,  Red-winged Blackbird,  American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow.

 

Wilson’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

 

Saturday, June 29:

A Great Horned Owl was seen just off Dickinson Road in north Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday June 25:

The morning was mostly cloudy, but no rain.  We were fortunate to see a Cooper's Hawk perched atop a tall evergreen, receiving quite a scolding from a crow.  

 17 birders (including visitors from Seattle) saw or heard 38 species.

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow,, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow,

Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird,

Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak.

 

 Olive-sided Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

A very special thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading the Birdwalk.

 

Monday, June 24:

“Rare bird alert-Rose-breasted Grosbeaks”

A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks has been seen visiting feeders in a yard at the top of Argyle Street just off 17^th Street in Port Alberni. Photo’s to follow.

 

Cedar Waxwings were seen in the Marsh behind Oliver Woods Rec. Center in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, June 20:

A Pair of Bullock’s Orioles were seen in the west marsh of Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

 

Monday June 10:

A Barred Owl was spotted in the Stephenson Pont area of Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, June 09:

Two Barred Owls were seen at Bowen Park in Nanaimo. 

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

We will not be doing the Tuesday Bird Walks over the summer months.  They will resume on September 03, 2013

*************************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on July 07 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 in upper Lantzville. at about 9:15 am.
*********************************************************
Good birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo

 

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, June 25, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to Top bridge trail in Parksville. The morning was mostly cloudy, but no rain.  We were fortunate to see a Cooper's Hawk perched atop a tall evergreen, receiving quite a scolding from a crow.  

 Cooper’s Hawk: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

17 birders (including visitors from Seattle) saw or heard 38 species.

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Cooper's Hawk

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

Swainson's Thrush

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Cassin’s Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Western Tanager

Dark-eyed Junco

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Black-headed Grosbeak 

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walks will resume on September 03, 2013. 

A very special thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading the bird walk today.

 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, June 18, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach with a quick stop at the viewing platform. The morning was mostly sunny with clouds.  We had a shower to end the morning. We spotted a Common Tern flying low over the water, two Marbled Murrelets and two Pigeon Guillemots from the viewing tower.  A flock of Black Swifts greeted us at Lot Ten along with a Black-throated Gray Warbler singing from the top of a tall Cedar Tree.  A Western Tanager entertained us from a tall snag. We heard a number of American Robins mobbing a predator and we discovered a Barred Owl perched next to the trunk of a Cedar Tree.  A pair of Spotted Sandpipers put on a show for us as they fed and chased one another along the edge of the river. 

Common Tern: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Seattle and Victoria saw and heard the following forty species:

Common Loon

Marbled Murrelet

Pigeon Guillemot

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Cooper's Hawk

Barred Owl

Common Tern

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Black Swift

Warbling Vireo

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red Crossbill

 

Spotted Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 25 will be going to The top Bridge Trail in Parksville. This will be the last Tuesday bird walk of the season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on September 03, 2013 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, June 16, 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, June 16, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville.  It was partly sunny and quite warm.  Common Yellowthroats were singing just off the road. A female American Kestrel was perched on a hydro line over the meadows. We head a Red-eyed Vireo singing for the longest time but we couldn’t get sight of him.  We spotted a Sharp-shinned Hawk perched high in a snag to finish the walk.

 American Kestrel: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Twelve birders including two visiting birders from Seattle saw and heard the following forty-six species:

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, California Quail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Bushtits, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, McGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill. 

 

Saturday, June 15:

 Common Nighthawks were seen over Morell Circle in Nanaimo.

 

A large number of Cedar Waxwings were seen in the 7200 block of Aulds Road in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, June 13:

 A Three-toed Woodpecker, A Gray Jay and Band-tailed Pigeon were seen at Paradise Meadows at Mount Washington.

 

A Common Nighthawk, a Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbills were seen at Miracle Beach

 

Wednesday, June 12:

A Black Swift and a Red-breasted Sapsucker were seen at Sproat Lake.

 

Tuesday, June 11:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was mostly cloudy with a few sunny periods. We were entertained by watching all of the many Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds at the feeders near the caretaker’s house.  A pair of Downy Woodpeckers was feeding at the suet feeders there.  A Pileated Woodpecker led us through the first part of the walk, first by chopping on a stump and then leading us for a long distance along the trail, feeding on the ground.  Our scopes gave us great views of a Townsend's Warbler singing at the top of a very tall conifer tree. We saw a lone Marbled Murrelet on the Strait of Georgia riding the waves. We spotted a Varied Thrush feeding in the grass at the meadow.  A Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Cedar Waxwing, a Red-winged Blackbird and a Yellow-rumped Warbler appeared at the marsh to put on a display for us.

 

             Black-throated Grey Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

        

Twenty birders, including two visiting birders from Ohio saw and heard the following thirty-five species:

Canada Geese, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Marbled Murrelet, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird,

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren,

Swainson’s Thrush, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Western Tanager, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and American Goldfinch. 

 

 A Black and White Warbler was reported at Spider Lake but there are no confirming photos.

***********************************************************************************
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 June 18, 2013 will be going to the Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at Lot Ten on the forest side of Highway 19a at Kinkade Road in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:30 a.m.

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 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 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
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, June 11, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was mostly cloudy with a few sunny periods. We were entertained by watching all of the many Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds at the feeders near the caretaker’s house.  A pair of Downy Woodpeckers were feeding at the suet feeders there.  A Pileated Woodpecker led us through the first part of the walk, first by chopping on a stump and then leading us for a long distance along the trail, feeding on the ground.  Our scopes gave us great views of a Townsend's Warbler singing at the top of a very tall conifer tree. We saw a lone Marbled Murrelet on the Strait of Georgia riding the waves. We spotted a Varied Thrush feeding in the grass at the meadow.  A Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Cedar Waxwing, a Red-winged Blackbird and a Yellow-rumped Warbler appeared at the marsh to put on a display for us.

             Black-throated Grey Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.   

        

Twenty birders, including two visiting birders from Ohio saw and heard the following thirty-five species:

Canada Geese

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Marbled Murrelet

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Brown Creeper

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Swainson’s Thrush

Varied Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Western Tanager

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee 

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Goldfinch

                         Pileated Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on June 18, 2013 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, June 09, 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, June 09, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.  It was  sunny but  windy throughout the morning.  We saw a Yellow Warbler perched and we listened to him singing to us.  We heard and then saw Purple Martins perched on the nest boxes on the estuary and flying out catching insects. A Barn Swallow put in a quick appearance.   We spotted a Northern Harrier low over the estuary hunting prey.  A large number of Cedar Waxwings were feeding on berries close to the trail.

Cedar Waxwings: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

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

Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck,  Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture,  Bald Eagle,  Northern Harrier,  Glaucous-winged Gull,  Band-tailed Pigeon,  Eurasian Collared Dove,  Belted Kingfisher,  Anna’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird,  Wilson’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Northern Flicker,  Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow,  Barn Swallow,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee,   Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper,  Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren,  Bushtit,  Golden-crowned Kinglet,  European Starling,  Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager,  American Robin,  Cedar Waxwing,  Black Headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow,  White-crowned Sparrow, ,  Red-winged Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin. 

Seven Brant Geese were seen at the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. 

Tuesday, June 04:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm, although it was a little cooler in the forest.

Two Cedar Waxwings greeted us at the start of the walk. We spotted a flock of Black Swifts dancing in the sky chasing insects. We heard Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, MacGillivray's Warbler and Wilson's Warblers singing during the walk.  We heard and then saw a Willow Flycatcher perched on top some low bushes close to the road hawking insects from the perch. There was a Northwestern Crow and a Sharp-shinned Hawk mobbing an Red-tailed Hawk high above us. We heard and saw a Common Yellowthroat singing from a perch on Scotch Broom close to the road.  Near the end of the walk a noisy flock of American Robins were mobbing a Great Horned Owl.

Twenty-three birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, Eurasian-collared Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Black Swift, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Red Crossbill. 

“RARE BIRD ALERT--Rose-breasted Grosbeak”

A pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks was seen at a feeding station, near Hess Road, in the middle of Gabriola Island. 

Sunday, June 02:

Over twenty Caspian Terns were seen on White Spit at the north end of Denman Island, near Comox. 

A very large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls was seen in the harbour at Comox.  

A Green Heron was seen in Von Donop Inlet at Cortes Island. 

Pine Grosbeaks were seen in the 2700 block of Neyland Road in Nanaimo.

 

Saturday, June 01:

“RARE BIRD ALERT---Rose-breasted Grosbeak”

A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen at a feeder in the Beachcomber area of Nanoose Bay.  Their usual habitat is east of the Rockies. 

Monday, Thursday, June 13:

7 pm, Nanoose Naturalists will hold their June Meeting at the Nanoose Library Hall in Nanoose Bay.  The speaker will be Geologist Tony Ransom and the topic ---"Earthquakes - Why We Should Be Concerned About the Next BIG ONE!"

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

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 June 11, 2013 will be going to the Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area at Moorecroft Park off Stewart Road from Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay at about 9:20 a.m.

 

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

 

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 16, 2013, will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue in Parksville at about 9:30 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, June 04, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm, although it was a little cooler in the forest.

Two Cedar Waxwings greeted us at the start of the walk. We spotted a flock of Black Swifts dancing in the sky chasing insects. We heard Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, MacGillivray's Warbler and Wilson's Warblers singing during the walk.  We heard and then saw a Willow Flycatcher perched on top some low bushes close to the road hawking insects from the perch. There was a Northwestern Crow and a Sharp-shinned Hawk mobbing an Red-tailed Hawk high above us. We heard and saw a Common Yellowthroat singing from a perch on Scotch Broom close to the road.  Near the end of the walk a noisy flock of American Robins were mobbing a Great Horned Owl.

 Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Twenty-three birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

American Kestrel

Great Horned Owl

Eurasian-collared Dove

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Hammond's Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Tree Swallow

Black Swift

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

McGillivray's Warbler 

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Red Crossbill

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, Junne 02, 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, June 02, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  The morning was mostly sunny with very strong winds throughout the morning. The highlights included seeing two Great Horned Owls being mobbed by American Robins.  A Yellow Warbler was singing from a perch not far from the parking area giving us great looks.
Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Turkey Vulture,  Canada Goose,  Mallard, Pacific Loon, Brant’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Caspian Tern, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot,  Belted Kingfisher, Anna’s Hummingbird,  Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,  Northwestern Crow,  Bushtit,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bewick’s Wren,  Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, Great Blue Heron,  Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin,  European Starling,  Orange-crown Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler,  White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow,  Red-winged Blackbird,  Brewer's Blackbird,  Brown-headed Cowbird,  House Finch,  American Goldfinch and  Red Crossbill.

Friday, May 31:
A  Whimbrel was seen at the Columbia Beach Ponds.
A Mourning Dove was seen in a backyard in the 5000 block of Broadway Road in Nanoose Bay.

Thursday, May 30:
A Magnolia Warbler was reported seen on Gabriola Island. There are no photos available to confirm this sighting.

Wednesday, May 29:
 A Western Tanager was spotted in a backyard along Bay Street in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, May 28:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side in Parksville.
The morning started with a slight drizzle, which soon tapered off, but with strong winds on the water side.  Highlights of the walk were the sight of a mother Killdeer with four young.  These little ones spent most of their time under the belly protection of the adult, but they did venture out giving us quick views.  We also spotted a Wilson’s Phalarope feeding with another adult Killdeer in the mud flats.  We had a great sighting of a Western Tanager perched on a branch in the meadow area, and three Cedar Waxwings perched atop a conifer.
Thirteen birders (including one visitor from Calgary), saw or heard the following 40 species.
Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Pelagic Cormorant, Harlequin Duck, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Wilson’s Phalarope,
Western Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Pacific-sloped Flycatcher, Willows Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Black-headed Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, American Goldfinch,
Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird and Red-winged Blackbird.

Monday, May 27:
The sky was full of Barn Swallows and Northern Rough-wing Swallows, Tree Swallows, Cliff Swallows and Violet-green Swallows over the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek. There were Red-necked Phalaropes, Wood Ducks, Mallards and Ring-necked Ducks on the ponds and two Western Wood-pewee’s were spotted in the bushes.

Saturday, May 25:
A Western Meadowlark was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary.
 A Northern Goshawk was seen having it’s dinner in the trees at back of the Englishman River estuary in Parksville.
A Whimbrel was being chased by a Black Oystercatcher at French Creek.
 A pair of Ring-necked Pheasants was seen crossing Wall Beach Road near Parksville.

Thursday, June 13:
7 pm, Nanoose Naturalists will hold their June Meeting at the Nanoose Library Hall in Nanoose Bay.  The speaker will be Geologist Tony Ransom and the topic ---"Earthquakes - Why We Should Be Concerned About the Next BIG ONE!"
***********************************************************************************
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 June 04 will be going to the Springwood Park in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Bay next to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue at about 9:10 a.m.
*******************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on June 09, 2013, will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking  area next to the entrance to the Living Forest Campground on Maki Road in south Nanaimo at about 9:25 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