Nanaimo bird report, September 29, 2013

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
” EXPLORE NATURE-GO BIRDING”

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, September 29, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning started out sunny and warm but we finished the walk early when heavy rain started falling.

We spotted seven Pectoral Sandpipers feeding on the gravel bar not far from the parking area. Four Sandhill Cranes flew in low above us and landed in the grassy area towards Holden Creek.  A small flock of American Pipits flew over us as they headed towards Holden Creek.
Seven hardy birders saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:

Great Blue Heron, Sandhill Cranes, Green-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Belted Kingfisher,  European Starling,  Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk,  Northern Harrier,  Pectoral Sandpiper, American Pipits,  Glaucous-winged Gull, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing,  Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Brewer’s Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Finch. 

 

Pectoral Sandpiper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

A Townsend’s Warbler was seen in with ten Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek.

 

A Wilson’s Snipe was spotted in a backyard at Craig Bay in Parksville.

 

Saturday, September 28:

 A flock of nine Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over the Englishman River in Parksville. 

 

Tuesday, September 24:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning started out cloudy with light rain but ended with a little bit of sunshine and no rain. Throughout the morning we saw and heard a large number of American Robins and Northern Flickers. We spotted a pair of Cooper’s Hawks perched side by side on a snag across the river. Many Pacific Loons and a few Common Murre were seen flying low just above the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. A Savannah Sparrow was perched on a low bush in the meadows giving us great looks. We watched as nine Turkey Vultures were catching a thermo and heading down the island.

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

Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Merganser,  Red-breasted Merganser, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Common Murre, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow , White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch , House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch

 

Cooper’s Hawk; Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 “Rare Bird Alert-Blue-Footed Booby”

A Blue-footed Booby was seen and photographed near Telegraph Cove off Stubbs Island.

 

Sunday, September 22: 

“RARE BIRD ALERT—Sabine ’s Gull”

A Sabine’s  Gull was seen off shore at Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay

 

 A Common Tern was spotted at Columbia Beach. 

 

A Wilson’s Snipe and an American Tree Sparrow were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

 

Wednesday, September 25:

A Lapland Longspur was seen near College Drive at Fifth Street and Highway 19  in Nanaimo.

 

Thursday, September 26:

”Rare Bird Alert-Great Egret”

A Great Egret was seen from the Viewing Platform at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

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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 October 01 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or the main parking area at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 am.

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The Sunday Bird Walk on October 06 will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot off Bowen Road on Buttertubs Drive at about 9:15 am.
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British Columbia rare bird alert link--- http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
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WildResearch link---http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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How does the Hummingbirds tongue work?—Check this video--

 

http://player.vimeo.com/video/68897592

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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