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 

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 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.  

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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 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.

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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.

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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/

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
Email:  thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog:  www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com