The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Monday 31 March 2014

Hummingbirds I.D.

Re: Black-chinned Hummingbird at San Pariel.

 

After studying the photos of the bird that was identified as a Black-chinned Hummingbird, it turns out that he is actually an Anna’s Hummingbird. As we know Hummingbirds can be difficult to id and the lighting angle when observing them is critical.

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Sunday 30 March 2014

Nanaimo bird report, March 30, 2014

 

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, March 30, 2014: 
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We were greeted with the sighting of a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers at the start of the walk. The Warblers then spent the best part of the morning following us around the trail. Violet-green Swallows, Tree Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were flying low over the marsh all morning.  Spring is here!

 

 

Violet-green Swallow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Belted Kingfisher, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Steller’s Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow,  Eurasian-collared Dove, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Great Blue Heron, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler,  Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and House Sparrow. 

Saturday, March 29:
 A Black-chinned Hummingbird has been visiting a feeder in the Sand Pariel area of Parksville. 

A Sandhill Crane was seen at May Bennett Park in north Nanaimo. 

Friday, March 28:
A King Eider has been seen at the Little Qualicum River off the parking area on Surfside Drive in Qualicum Beach. 

Wednesday, March 26:
A bird that was similar in shape and size of a Blue Heron but had a white neck and front was seen at Buttertubs Marsh today.  

A Townsend’s Warbler was seen at a bird feeder in a back yard along Meridian Way in Parksville.   

A flock of Pine Siskins were spotted feeding and singing at the top of Alder trees just off the road along Corfield Street in Parksville.  

 Tuesday, March 25:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with light showers but we did see a few sunny periods.  There was a strong wing off the Strait of Georgia.  We started the walk with the sighting of a Red-breasted Sapsucker tapping on a tall tree.  An Anna’s Hummingbird perched on a tall bush near the trail. Two Band-tailed Pigeons landed in a tall conifer tree.  Four Eurasian Widgeons and four Gadwalls were feeding with a flock of American Widgeons.  A large flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along a gravel bar and a large flock of Pelagic Cormorants and Double-crested Cormorants flew past heading down the strait.     

 
                                          Pelagic Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo.       
                             
Fourteen birders including two visiting birders from Ontario saw and heard the following fifty-one species:
Canada Goose, Brant, American Wigeon, Eurasian Widgeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Barrows Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Doubled-crested Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Violet-green Swallow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and House Finch. 

A deceased Northern Cardinal was turned in to the store today.  The bird was found after hitting a window on Metral Drive back in December and has been in someone’s freezer since then.  This could be the first record for British Columbia. 

A Townsend’s Warbler was visiting a backyard in the Little Qualicum River Village.   

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

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. on 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 01, 2014 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 at about 9:10 am. 

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 06, 2014 will be going to the Nanaimo River estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 a.m. 

****************************************************************************  
British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
****************************************************************************

WildResearch link---

Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014
WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs. 

******************************************************************************
West coast environment link--

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

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
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Parksville/Qualicum beach tuesday bird walk, March 25, 2014

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with light showers but we did see a few sunny periods.  There was a strong wing off the Strait of Georgia.  We started the walk with the sighting of a Red-breasted Sapsucker tapping on a tall tree.  An Anna’s Hummingbird perched on a tall bush near the trail. Two Band-tailed Pigeons landed in a tall conifer tree.  Four Eurasian Widgeons and four Gadwalls were feeding with a flock of American Widgeons.  A large flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls,Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along a gravel bar and a large flock of Pelagic Cormorants and Doubled-crested Cormorants flew past heading down the strait.

 
                                               
 
                                           Pelagic Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                             
Fourteen birders including two visiting birders from Ontario saw and heard the following fifty-one species;
Canada Goose
Brant
American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pelagic Cormorant
Doubled-crested Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Violet-green Swallow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch              

 
                                                        
                                                           Anna’s Hummingbird: Marie Sprandel Photo.                           

The Tuesday bird walk on April 01 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Monday 24 March 2014

Surf scoters by the Thousands!!!

John Purves and I saw a huge raft of many thousands of Surf Scoters along with Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye, Mallards, American Widgeon, lessor Scaup, a Eurasian Widgeon, Bonaparte's Gulls, a few Black Scoters, Harlequin Ducks and Mew, California Gulls. These birds were seen between French Creek and Parksville Bay today at about 2:00 P.M.  
                                                            
 
                                                                          
                                                   Surf Scoters: John Purves Photo.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 23 March 2014

Nanaimo bird report, March 23, 2014

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT
" EXPLORE NATURE---GO BIRDING"


To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at 
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 23, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy but the water was like glass. We saw a large flock of Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones circle and land close to shore on the high tide line.  A Northern Harrier flew over head we watched as it headed across the Strait of Georgia.  Four Red Crossbills sang as they perched at the top of a conifer tree not far from us. We spotted six Yellow-rumped Warblers fly catching from the top of a tall tree.  A Rufous Hummingbird flew by and landed at the top of a very tall bush to finish off the morning walk.
Rufous Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo. 
 
Fourteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-five species:
Canada Goose, Brant, American Widgeon, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Murre, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier,  Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Anna’s Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird,  Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill.
                                    Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.  
 Tuesday, March 18:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with strong biting winds and rough seas. We saw a Savannah Sparrow perched on a log on the shore. Over thirty Long-tailed Ducks gave us a treat and flew in and landed not far from shore.  We were challenged as we looked for the ducks hiding in the wave’s further out on the Strait. There were many flocks of Surf Scoters flying just above the water throughout the morning. We spotted a Red-throated Loon not far off shore.  A mixed flock of Mew, California, Thayer's and Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting on a gravel bar close to shore. Thirteen Trumpeter Swans flew over the Strait at the end of the walk
 Trumpeter Swans: Ralph Hocken Photo. 
Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Trumpeter Swan, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Eurasian-collared Dove, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow. 
Five Trumpeter Swans and a Rufous Hummingbird were seen along Drew Road in French Creek. 
Monday, March 17:
Two Peregrine Falcons were seen playing tag from the top of Little Mountain just outside Parksville.
 
Saturday, March 15: 
  Two American Goldfinch were seen in a backyard along Drew Road in French Creek.  
***********************************************************************************
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. on 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 March 25, 2014 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 am.

****************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 30, 2014 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 9:20 a.m.
****************************************************************************  
British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  
****************************************************************************

WildResearch link---
http://www.wildresearch.ca/
Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014
WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs.

******************************************************************************
West coast environment link--
 
*******************************************************************************
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 18 March 2014

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, March 18, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with strong biting winds and rough seas. We saw a Savannah Sparrow perched on a log on the shore. Over thirty Long-tailed Ducks gave us a treat and flew in and landed not far from shore.  We were challenged as we looked for the ducks hiding in the waves further out on the Strait . There were many flocks of Surf Scoters  flying just above the water throughout the morning. We spotted a Red-throated Loon not far off shore.  A mixed flock of Mew, California, Thayer's and Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting on a gravel bar close to shore. Thirteen Trumpeter Swans flew over the Strait at the end of the walk.

 
                                                                                            
 
                                                                   Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.                           

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Trumpeter Swan
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
House Sparrow                                                                    

 

                                            Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on March 25, 2014 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Monday 17 March 2014

Sightings

 
                                     Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Two Peregrine Falcons were seen playing tag from the top of Little Mountain just outside Parksville. One of the Falcons stopped to preen itself on a snag just below the top of the Mountain. great views.
 
Neil Robins
Parksville
 

Sunday 16 March 2014

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, March 16, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  The morning was cloudy with a breeze off the water. We spotted two Pigeon Guillemots on the bay near the parking lot.  Eight Harlequin Ducks gave us great views as they moved close to shore.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler put in an appearance near the trail.  The Spotted Sandpiper preened on the rocky edge of the shore.  A Hutton’s Vireo serenaded us near the end of the walk.

 
                                   Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant,  Bufflehead, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Spotted Sandpiper, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, European Starling, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hutton’s Vireo, Anna’s Hummingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and Red-winged Blackbird.

We have had several reports from Chemainus to Parksville of Rufous Hummingbirds returning. 

 Thursday, March 14:
A Golden Eagle was seen over the flooded farm fields near Highway 1 and Mount Sticker Road (at the Crofton Turnoff) 

 Tuesday, March 11:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny a bit cool with calm winds making for a pleasant morning of birding. We saw several pairs of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the bushes along the trail. Four Gadwall were feeding just off the mud flats. Over one thousand Surf Scoters along with Greater Scaup, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Bufflehead. Six Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far off shore diving and swimming along with Harlequin Ducks. We were surprised with the sighting of a large flock of Bushtits feeding in the bushes at the end of walk. 

                                          Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Anna’s Hummingbird, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch and House Finch.  

Monday, March 10:
A Wilson’s Snipe was seen at the Cottonwood Golf Course in south Nanaimo. 

Sunday, March 09:
A Northern Shrike, ten Western Meadowlarks, two Short-eared Owls and a Northern Harrier were seen near the parking lot at the Nanaimo River Estuary on south Nanaimo.  

Violet-green swallows were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south 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. on 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 March 18, 2014 will be going to the 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 Tryon Blvd. at about 9:10 am. 

****************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on March 23, 2014 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:30 a.m. 

****************************************************************************  
British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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

Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014
WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs. 

******************************************************************************
West coast environment link--
*******************************************************************************

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
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, march 11, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny a bit cool with calm winds making for a pleasant morning of birding. We saw several pairs of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned  Kinglets in the bushes along the trail. Four Gadwall were feeding just off the mud flats. Over one thousand Surf Scoters along with Greater Scaup, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Bufflehead. Six Long-tailed Ducks were seen not far off shore diving and swimming along with Harlequin Ducks. We were surprised with the sighting of a large flock of Bushtits feeding in the bushes at the end of walk.
                         
                                                      Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Canada Geese
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Gadwall
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch 

The Tuesday bird walk on March 18 will be going to Columbia Beach. 

                                                               Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 9 March 2014

Nanaimo bird report, March 09, 2014

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, March 09, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay.  The morning was sunny and warm with calm seas.  We spotted two Mute swans on the estuary.  There was a Northern Shrike preening itself on a low bush.  A Eurasian Widgeon was seen in with a flock of American Widgeons.  Four Turkey Vultures were seen catching a thermo high above the trees.
Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Eurasian Widgeon, American Wigeon, Mallard,  Greater Scaup, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Western Grebe, Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher,  Great Blue Heron, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Killdeer, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,  European Starling, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird and Brewer’s Blackbird.  

                                                 Turkey Vulture: Ralph Hocken Photo 

A Brant was spotted in with a flock of Canada Geese near Mission on the mainland, a very unusual sighting. 

Saturday, March 08:
A Northern Shrike was seen near the parking lot at the Nanaimo River Estuary on south Nanaimo. 

Friday, March 07:
“Rare Bird Alert --Baikal Teal”
A male Baikal Teal has been spotted in a flooded field with Green winged Teal off Gordon Road at the Holden creek side of the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.
The Baikal Teal breeds in eastern Russia and winters in East Asia. 

Tuesday, March 04:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with wet snow falling but the wind was calm. We spotted two Pileated Woodpeckers moving up a tall snag. A pair of Common Mergansers and one Bufflehead was swimming down the river. A Belted Kingfisher flew noisily up the river. Several Brant, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and two Long-tailed Ducks were heading up the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a first of the season-- four Band-tailed Pigeons perched in a high tree.
                                                                 
                                                   Pileated Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.    

Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Mew Gull, California Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Varied Thrush, American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Belted Kingfisher, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird and Purple Finch. 

A Greater White-fronted Goose was seen in with a flock of Canada Geese at Maffeo Sutton Park in downtown Nanaimo.  

Monday, March 03:
Twenty-one Violet-green Swallows and two Tree Swallows were seen at Brannen Lake in north Nanaimo. 

Saturday, March 01:
”Rare Bird Alert-King Eider”
A King Eider was seen in with a flock of Brant at Parksville Bay in Parksville. 

The King Eider breeds along Northern Hemisphere Arctic coasts of northeast Europe, North America and Asia.   

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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. on 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 March 11, 2014 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:10 am. 

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The Sunday Bird Walk on March 16, 2014 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 a.m.

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British Columbia rare bird alert link---
 http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/  

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WildResearch link---

Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014 

WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs.

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West coast environment 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
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Swallows


                                                  Violet-green Swallows

There were two Tree Swallows and twenty-one Violet-green Swallows skimming across Brannon Lake in north Nanaimo on March 03, 2014.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, March 04, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with wet snow falling but the wind was calm. We spotted two Pileated Woodpeckers moving up a tall snag. A pair of Common Mergansers and one Bufflehead were swimming down the river. A Belted Kingfisher flew noisily up the river. Several Brant, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and two Long-tailed Ducks were heading up the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a first of the season-- four Band-tailed Pigeons perched in a high tree.                                               

 
                                                      Pileated Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.                                                            

 Twelve birders saw and heard the following forty-five species: 
Canada Geese
Brant
American widgeon
Mallard
Gadwall
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Belted Kingfisher
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch

                                      Common Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on March 11, 2014 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 2 March 2014

Nanaimo bird report, March 02, 2014

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, March 02, 2014:
The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The trails were snow filled but the snow from the trees was melting as we walked through the park. We saw a large number of Brown Creepers slowly climbing up several trees during the morning. Chestnut-backed Chickadees were singing as we walked on the trail. A Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet close to the trail gave us great views. 
Five birders saw and heard the following seventeen species:
Mallard, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Rock Pigeon, Pacific Wren,  Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and  House Sparrow.               

 
                                                          Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 Tuesday, February 25:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny with cloudy periods and the Strait of Georgia like a glass mirror.  Heavy snow covered the trails but the morning made for a pleasant walk. There were hundreds of Dunlin, a large number of Black-bellied Plovers and fifty Brant near the low tide line. We spotted four Red Crossbills singing from top a conifer tree. Long-tailed Ducks, Pacific Loons and five Common Murre were spotted further offshore.

                                                                   Red Crossbill: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Two birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:
Brant, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Common Murre, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Red Crossbill. 

A Clay-coloured Sparrow was seen near the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  

A Yellow-billed Loon was spotted at the mouth of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Thursday, February 27:
A Steller’s Jay is visiting feeders along Blueback Road in north Nanaimo.         
                                                                                                       
Friday, February 14:
A Rufous Hummingbird was seen along Drake Street and Brierly Hill in downtown 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. on 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 March 04, 2014 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am or at the end of Shelly Road (on the ocean side of highway 19a) at about 9:10 am.

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on March 09, 2014 will be going to Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 am or at the beach behind the Church Camp (off Highway 19 and Arlington Road) at about 9:20 a.m. 

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

British Columbia rare bird alert link---

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

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

WildResearch link---


Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip Announced – May 11, 2014

WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's 2014 Spring Pelagic Seabird Trip will run on Sunday May 11, 2014! Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will go towards running WildResearch’s research programs. 

******************************************************************************
West coast environment link--


*******************************************************************************
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
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com