Nanaimo bird report, December 15, 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, December 15, 2013:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo The morning was mostly cloudy with calm winds. Two Trumpeter Swans were walking on the ice of the pond as we arrived at the marsh. A Double-crested Cormorant flew over head A Virginia Rail sang its song from the marsh. We spotted a Barred Owl perched close to the trail giving us close long views.

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species: 

Trumpeter Swans, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Virginia Rail, Bald Eagle, Barred Owl, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Rock Pigeon,  Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow. 

Tuesday, December 10:

The Tuesday, Bird Walk went to the Shelley Road side of the Englishman River Estuary.
The morning was cloudy and just above freezing, and we were lucky enough to stay dry throughout the walk.  Several flocks of Common Murre were spotted flying over the water at the end of the estuary, and the distinct call of a Killdeer was also heard.  A Peregrine Falcon was perched in a tree in the marsh area, giving everyone a good view.

                            

                                        Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken.

Thirteen birders saw or heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese, American Widgeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-wing Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter,
Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Common Murre, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Shrike, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's  Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Anna's Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.  

Good birding

Rhonda 

P.S. Many thanks to Rhonda, Paul and John for leading this bird walk.  

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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 December 17 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 at about 9:10 am.
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The Sunday Bird Walk on December 22 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 Park of Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 am.
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“Christmas Bird Count”

Nanaimo, December 29, 2013

Contact the Birdstore at 250-390-3669

thebackyard@shaw.ca

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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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Link

http://coastaltarsands.ca/w1/videos/

 

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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