Nanaimo bird report, May 25, 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.

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It is with great sadness that we want to let you know that Ryan Cathers passed away on May 17, 2014.  Ryan was a humble, passionate and dedicated young man with a quick smile who worked with us at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store for the past three years.  Our hearts are with his family and Deni. 

We will miss you Ryan.

Colin, Denise, Ralph, Marilynne and Neil

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Sunday, May 25, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers all morning. We saw several Western Tanagers throughout the walk giving us great looks at them.  We had great close looks at a flock of Violet-green Swallows as they flew close by forging insects over the grass and lake.  We had a rare look at an elusive Swainson's Thrush low in the bushes.

Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:

Turkey Vulture, Mallard,  Hooded Merganser,  Rufous Hummingbird,  Anna’s Hummingbird,  Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,  Pacific-slope Flycatcher,  Warbling Vireo, Violet-green Swallow,   Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Brown Creeper,  Golden-crowned Kinglet. Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush,  American Robin,  Orange-crowned Warbler,  Black-throated Gray Warbler,  Common Yellow-throat,  Wilson's Warbler,  Yellow Warbler,  Western Tanager,  Spotted Towhee,  Black-headed Grosbeak,  Red-winged Blackbird,  Song Sparrow,  Dark-eyed Junco,  Purple Finch and  American Goldfinch.

 

Tuesday, May 20:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and warm, albeit a little cool in the forest.We had excellent looks at two Northern Rough-winged Swallows as they moved from the trees to their nest in the river bank. They picked up nesting material from the gravel just in front of us near the river and made their way into the nest hole. A female Black-headed Grosbeak was also gathering nesting material from the river bank and flying off only to return to get more material. Nesting time is here!!  We were entertained by the Black-headed Grosbeaks and Warbling Vireos singing throughout the morning.

 

        Black-headed Grosbeak: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

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

Pacific Loon, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Surf Scoter, Belted Kingfisher, California Quail, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing,Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird and American Goldfinch.

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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 27, 2014 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville at the parking lot near the Lions Club playground at 9:00 am. or at the west end of Despard Avenue at about 9:10 a.m.

 

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The Sunday bird walk on June 01, 2014 will be going to Morden Colliery Provincial Park in south Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the end of Morden Road at about 9:30 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/

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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