Nanaimo bird report, May 18, 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 18, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers. A Black-headed Grosbeak flew in low for a look at us at the beginning of the walk and then serenaded us with his rich song for most of the morning. An Osprey flew over the marsh twisting and turning before flying away. We saw and heard several Yellow Warblers throughout the morning.

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

Canada Goose Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser,  Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Osprey, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, Brown Creeper, Great Blue Heron, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crown Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-wing Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and House Sparrow. 

Two Common Nighthawks were seen over Morrell Circle in Nanaimo.  

Caspian Terns were seen at Entrance Island. 

Friday, May 16:

  An Evening Grosbeak has been visiting bird feeders along Laguna Way in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, May 13:

We had a beautiful sunny morning for the bird walk, with only a slight breeze.  The Yellow Warbler could be heard and seen many times throughout the morning.  We also spotted two Semipalmated Plovers in the estuary, as well as a small flock of Least Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper.  There was also a Long-billed Dowitcher along the water edge in the flats.

16 birders, including one visitor from Oliver, B.C. saw or heard the following 47 species:

Canada Geese, Brant, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Common Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Mew Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Ring-necked Pheasant, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Pacific-sloped Flycatcher.

Good birding,

Rhonda

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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 May 20, 2014 will be going to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum beach at about 9:20 a.m.

 

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The Sunday bird walk on May 25 will be going Linley Valley in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the end of Burma Road at about 9:15 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/

On May 11, 2014, 81 birders went to sea on WildResearch’s pelagic seabird fundraiser. Details from the trip and the official trip list follows below.

Birding was slow as we headed out on the open water, a few Sooty Shearwaters and single Pink-footed Shearwater darted about. Shearwater numbers slowly increased, and at 21 km from shore we spotted our first Tufted Puffin.  Two Black-footed Albatross appeared and were circling the ship with one adult LAYSAN ALBATROSS!

The Laysan Albatross came in close the boat 10-15 times and then drifted off, only to return about 10min later, giving everyone on board a great view. This was the bird of the trip! The Laysan Albatross is one of the species that makes it difficult to fall asleep the night before the pelagic trip, given how difficult it is to see in British Columbia. But there it was circling close to the ship for all to see.

At 40km from shore , a Parasitic Jaeger flew in front of the boat. This was a surprise because normally we see many Jaegers and Skua during our previous pelagic trips. The next exciting species was the Wandering Tattlers; we saw a small flock of three individuals. A flock of Wandering Tattlers on BC’s coast would be unusual. A flock of wandering tattlers offshore was real surprise! The second most exciting bird was a Manx Shearwater, seen from the stern of the ship. On the return trip back to Ucluelet, we spotted another five tufted puffins. 

Overall, the trip was great. The weather was fantastic: dry, sunny, and the seas were relatively calm. 

Many people are to thank for organizing the pelagic trip logistics. Big thanks to Ian Thomas and Jay Brogan for chumming in the albatross, Russell Cannings for spotting and calling out birds, and the Captain and Crew of the MV Francis Barkley, for keeping us safe and going the extra mile to help us spot great seabirds. Thanks also to everyone that participated in WildResearch’s Spring 2014 Pelagic Trip fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you all on our next pelagic trip!

And thanks again to all our participants! Looking forward to seeing you out on our next trip.

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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