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Tuesday 26 November 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 26, 2013

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach.  The morning was mostly sunny and the winds were calm.  The sea was like glass except near the horizon where it was foggy.  We saw a large number of Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Pacific Loons and Common Loons on the Strait of Georgia.  Three Long-tailed Ducks were off shore on the Strait.  Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Dunlin and Black Turnstones were resting on the gravel bar at Pebble Beach.                            

                                           Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                                       
 
                                  Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following fifty species:
Canada Goose
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow 

The Tuesday bird walk on December 03 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

 
                                         Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 24 November 2013

Nanaimo bird report, November 24, 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, November 24, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was partly cloudy with mostly calm winds.  We saw and heard a large number of American Robins throughout the morning. We spotted two Yellow-rumped Warblers just off the trail. There were Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers on the rocks just off the shore.

Yellow-rumped Warbler:  Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following forty species:

Harlequin Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers,  Bufflehead, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Brant Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstones, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers, Common Murre, Bald Eagle,  

  Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,  European Starling, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin,  Varied Thrush,   Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.

 

Saturday, November 23:

Three Canvasback ducks were seen in with a flock of Ring-necked Ducks on the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek.

 

An American Kestrel was spotted at the Nanaimo Airport in south Nanaimo.

 

Tuesday, November 19: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The surf was up and the Strait of Georgia was filled with white caps making for a wild windy morning of birding. We spotted a flock of Dunlin on the gravel bar at the viewing platform.  Further offshore there were Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants riding the surf.  A Northern Shrike entertained us from a short bush near the road.  Nine Black Turnstones were huddled against the wind along the rocky shore. Trumpeter Swans flew above us, singing as they moved. Hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls, a Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls gathered and bathed in the fresh water of the Estuary. One lone Glaucous Gull perched on a gravel bar close to shore allowing us to study him.         

                                                        
                                     Glaucous Gull: John Purves Photo.

Twelve birders, including two birders from Alberta, saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:

Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-wing Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter,

White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Shrike, Dunlin, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, European Starling, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch.

 

A Sooty Grouse was seen along Drew Road and Highway19a in French Creek 

Monday, November 25:
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7.30 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.  Topic - ‘In Stream Fish Habitat – Restoration Works’-- Speaker Sean Wong, biologist with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

***********************************************************************************
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 November 26 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the parking area off Admiral Tyron Bld. at about 9:20 am.
****************************************************************************

The Sunday Bird Walk on December 01 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or beach behind the church camp off Highway 19a and Arlington Road at about 9:15 am.
****************************************************************************

British Columbia rare bird alert link---

 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
****************************************************************************

WildResearch link---
http://www.wildresearch.ca/

 

The 2013 data report for the banding project at Buttertubs West Marsh is available at the following link:
http://web.viu.ca/demerse/birds/VIU_Banding_Report_2013.pdf

The report highlights songbird and owl banding, swallow nest box monitoring, volunteer effort and training, and public demonstrations and education.

Let me know if you have any questions, or would like to find out more about our results.

Thanks again to everyone.
Enjoy!
Eric Demers

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

 

 

 

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 19, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The surf was up and the Strait of Georgia was filled with white caps making for a wild windy morning of birding. We spotted a flock of Dunlin on the gravel bar at the viewing platform.  Further offshore there were Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants riding the surf.  A Northern Shrike entertained us from a short bush near the road.  Nine Black Turnstones were huddled against the wind along the rocky shore. Trumpeter Swans flew above us, singing as they moved. Hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, California Gulls, a Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls gathered and bathed in the fresh water of the Estuary. One lone Glaucous Gull perched on a gravel bar close to shore allowing us to study him.         

 Glaucous Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo. 
                               Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twelve birders, including two birders from Alberta, saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-wing Teal
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Shrike
Dunlin
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch

The Tuesday bird walk on November 26 will be going to the Columbia Beach.

*********************************************
                                     Sooty Grouse: Paul & Rhonda.

Hi,

On our way home we saw something on the side of the road.  Just north of Drew Rd. and on the Island Highway (west side) we observed a Sooty Grouse.

 

I following it for several minutes with it less then ten feet from me.  We turned onto Drew Rd. and went back for more views.  It actually walked towards me and was, at one point only three feet in front of me.  It was not afraid of me.

 

It seemed like it wanted to cross the road so I herded it with my walking stick to try to cross.  Then it decide to go back to the west ditch.  The line up of cars in both directions were very patient as I directed it back to the ditch.  They must have thought I was taking my chicken for a walk!  It did flap it’s wing ands achieved take-off but only flew maybe five feet.

Just another day in Oceanside,
Rhonda and Paul
****************************************

We had a Northern Shrike land on our cherry tree this afternoon in Parksville. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 17 November 2013

Nanaimo bird report, November 17, 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, November 17, 2013: 

The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.. The morning was partly clear and calm wind seas.  We spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched in its usual perch for most of the morning. A large flock of Canada Geese with two Snow Geese flew over us and landed near the mud flats.

 

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Twenty birders saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swan, American Widgeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-wing Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Killdeer,  Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Belted Kingfisher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker,  Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer’s Blackbird and House Finch. 
 

A Canvasback duck was spotted in with a large flock of Hooded Mergansers at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
 

Saturday, November 09:
A pair of Ruddy Ducks, a Greater White-fronted Goose, and seventy Trumpeter Swans were seen at Quennel Lake in Cedar.
 

Three American Black Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, four Cackling geese and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen near Doole Road  in Cedar.
 

Four Northern Shrike and two Wilson’s Snipe were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.  

Wednesday, November 13:
A Northern Waterthrush was seen at edge of the pond near the parking lot at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, November 12: 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was windy and cloudy with sunny periods and a light shower during the morning. A large flock of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the tide line when we arrived at low tide. We saw many Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes on the choppy Strait of Georgia. Several flocks of American Wigeon, Mallard and Common Goldeneye flew down the Strait. We had great close views of several Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets on the walk through the forest.

                                                                                   
                   
      Common Goldeneye: Ralph Hocken Photo.

                                                                                                                        

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull,

California Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Brown Creeper, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch,House Finch, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.
 

“Rare bird alert-Brown Booby”

A Brown Booby was seen on a fishing boat three miles off Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island.


A Greater White-fronted Goose, a Cackling Goose, a Long-tailed Duck and three Townsend's Warblers were seen at Brannen Lake in Nanaimo.

 

One male and one female Redhead ducks were seen at Diver Lake in Nanaimo.
 

Four Townsend's Warblers were spotted at Bowen Lake in Nanaimo.


An Orange-crowned Warbler was seen along the Maki Road trails near Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.

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

Monday, November 25:

Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7.30 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.  Topic - ‘In Stream Fish Habitat – Restoration Works’-- Speaker Sean Wong, biologist with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.


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

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 November 19 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the viewing platform off highway 19a in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

 

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on November 25 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 am.
****************************************************************************

British Columbia rare bird alert link---

 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
****************************************************************************

WildResearch link---
http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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

 

The 2013 data report for the banding project at Buttertubs West Marsh is available at the following link:
http://web.viu.ca/demerse/birds/VIU_Banding_Report_2013.pdf

The report highlights songbird and owl banding, swallow nest box monitoring, volunteer effort and training, and public demonstrations and education.

Let me know if you have any questions, or would like to find out more about our results.

Thanks again to everyone.
Enjoy!
Eric Demers

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


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

 


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

 

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 12, 2013

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was windy and cloudy with sunny periods and a light shower during the morning. A large flock of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the tide line when we arrived at low tide. We saw many Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes on the choppy Strait of Georgia. Several flocks of American Wigeon, Mallard and Common Goldeneye flew down the Strait. We had great close views of several Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets on the walk through the forest.                      

 
Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                              

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Brown Creeper
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch
House Finch
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

 

Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on November 19 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 10 November 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, November 10, 2013: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was Cloudy and cool and mostly calm winds.  We spotted a large mixed flock of  Bushtits, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Chestnut-backed Chickadees high up in the oak trees.  Six Gadwall and ten Hooded Mergansers were on the marsh.

Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo
Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Trumpeter Swans,  Canada Geese,  Mallard,  Hooded Merganser,   American Widgeon,  Gadwall,  Bufflehead,  Wood Duck,   Ringed-necked Duck,  American Coot,  Pied-billed Grebe,  Bald Eagle,  Cooper’s  Hawk,  Red-tailed Hawk,  Merlin,  Great Blue Heron,  Glaucous-winged Gull,  Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon,  American Robin, Anna’s Hummingbird,  Bushtits,  Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven,  Marsh Wren,  Bewick’s Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow,Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow. 

Saturday, November 09:
A pair of Ruddy Ducks, a Greater White-fronted Goose, and seventy Trumpeter Swans were seen at Quennel Lake in Cedar. 

Three American Black Ducks,  Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, four Cackling geese and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen near Doole Road  in Cedar. 

Four Northern Shrike and two Wilson’s Snipe were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

Thursday, November 07:  
A Mourning Dove was spotted at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, November 05: 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cloudy with calm winds and the water was like a glass mirror. The surprise of the morning was the sighting of a Surfbird feeding in with a mixed flock of Dunlin, Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers on the near shore. We spotted a flock of over two hundred Dunlin on the far shore away from the Marina. We saw large rafts of Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Bufflehead throughout the morning. 
                                Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo
Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Trumpeter Swan, Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Western Grebe, Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Dunlin, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Killdeer, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Rock Pigeon, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and Purple Finch .  

Sunday, November 03:
Forty-five juvenile Snow Geese landed in a field next to McCoy lake on the outskirts of Port Alberni.  

Thursday, November 14:
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.
Guest speaker will be John Neville and he will talk about the Raptors of
Canada.

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

 

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 November 12 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park about 9:10 am.

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

 

The Sunday Bird Walk on November 17 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of Highway 19a at about 9:25 am.

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

 

British Columbia rare bird alert link---

 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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

 

WildResearch link---

http://www.wildresearch.ca/

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

 

The 2013 data report for the banding project at Buttertubs West Marsh is available at the following link:

http://web.viu.ca/demerse/birds/VIU_Banding_Report_2013.pdf

The report highlights songbird and owl banding, swallow nest box monitoring, volunteer effort and training, and public demonstrations and education.

Let me know if you have any questions, or would like to find out more about our results.

Thanks again to everyone.

Enjoy!

Eric Demers

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

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

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, November 05, 2013

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cloudy with calm winds and the water was like a glass mirror. The surprise of the morning was the sighting of a Surfbird feeding in with a mixed flock of Dunlin, Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers on the near shore. We spotted a flock of over two hundred Dunlin on the far shore away from the Marina. We saw large rafts of Harlequin Ducks, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Bufflehead throughout the morning.                        

Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Rock Pigeon
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch  

Surfbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
The Tuesday bird walk on November 12 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. 

Good birding!
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 3 November 2013

Nanaimo bird report, November 03, 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, November 03, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with a mild wind. We saw a Snow Goose feeding just off the river. Three
Trumpeter Swans flew over us. We watched a Short-eared Owl hunt for prey just above the grass. A Northern Shrike was perched on a short bush and then went searching for prey. We saw four Northern Harriers throughout the morning. Several Western Meadowlarks gave us great views.
Eighteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species:
Trumpeter Swan, Snow Goose, Mallard, American Wigeon,  Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Northern Pintail, Green-wing Teal  Common Merganser,  Great Blue Heron, Black Turnstones,  Bald Eagle, Short-eared Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Shrike, Thayer’s Gull,  Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker,  Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,  European Starling, Western Meadowlark,  American Robin, March Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Purple Finch.

 


Short-eared Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Friday, October 25:
A Northern Saw-whet Owl and a Great Horned Owl were spotted at the Vancouver Island University Woodlot in Nanaimo.  
 

 Monday, October 28:
An American Kestrel was seen along Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay.
 

Sunday, October 27:
A Northern Hawk Owl was seen at Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.
 

A Hutton’s Vireo, a Varied Thrush, a Steller’s Jay and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen at Buttertubs West in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, October 29:   
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny but cool with calm winds. We spotted a large flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees feeding on a low conifer giving us great close views. Over one hundred Bonaparte's Gulls were bathing in the water with a large mixed flock of other gulls. Five Long-tailed Duck’s were diving and swimming just offshore. A raft of Bufflehead and one lone Common Goldeneye were floating on the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Northern Shrike chasing prey and then heading back to it’s perch on a short bush. We spotted a Wilson’s Snipe feeding at the end of the little pond just off the trail.

 


Wilson’s Snipe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Montana and Victoria saw and heard the following fifty species:
American Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Wilson’s Snipe, Eurasian-collared Dove, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northern Shrike, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and House Finch

Bonaparte's Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Thursday, November 14:
The Nanoose Naturalists meeting will be held at 7 pm at the Nanoose Library Hall.
Guest speaker will be John Neville and he will talk about the Raptors of
Canada.
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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 November 05 will be going to Deep Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or the Deep Bay Marina parking lot at about 9:40 am.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on November 10 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road 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/

Avian Images link----


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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