Nanaimo bird report, May 11, 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, May 11, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and calm. The sighting of the morning was a House Wren which was seen near the area of the boat house. There was also a possible second House Wren seen at the north end of the park near the lockout point.

22 birders saw and heard the following thirty six (36) species:

Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Canada Geese, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, California Quail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Wren, Bewick’s Wren, European Starling, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, and American Goldfinch.

 

Saturday, May 10:

Western Tanager was seen in Stephenson Point, Nanaimo.

 

Sooty Grouse was heard calling up on Westwood ridge.

 

Friday, May 9:

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen in Buttertubs West marsh.

 

Tuesday, May 6:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm. Many Western Grebe’s, Pacific Loons, Marbled Murrelet and Common Murre were seen off shore from the viewing platform. We had excellent views of a Hammond’s Flycatcher as it rested and preened itself on a Cedar Tree just off the trail. Vaux’s Swifts and Black Swifts entertained us as they chased insects up high above us. We spotted a Willow Flycatcher feeding in a bush near the river. We heard and saw Black-throated Grey Warblers and heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers throughout the morning.

Fourteen birders, including visiting birders from Ottawa and California saw and heard the following sixty-four species:

Mallard, American Widgeon, Harlequin Duck, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Spotted Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk,

Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, Western Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker,

Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Vaux’s Swift, Black Swift, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Rufous Hummingbird, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Western Tanager,

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,

Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch and

American Goldfinch.

 

Monday, May 5:

Brown-headed Cowbird was seen at the bird feeders in a backyard at Rutherford and Hammond Bay road in Nanaimo.

 

Sunday, May 4:

5 American White Pelicans were seen flying past at French Creek.

 

Saturday, May 3:

Western Tanager was seen in a backyard at Boat Harbour in Cedar.

 

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

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 May 13, 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 9:00 am.

 

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

The Sunday bird walk on May 18 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot off Bowen road at about 9:15 a.m.

 

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

British Columbia rare bird alert link---

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

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

WildResearch link---

http://www.wildresearch.ca/

 

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

West coast environment link--

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

 

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

Good birding

Colin Bartlett.

 

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