Nanaimo bird report, July 27, 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, July 27, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. A pair of Cedar Waxwings were fly-catching from a Conifer tree just off the road.  We watched a Willow Flycatcher catching insects and then going into a nest.  A fledgling American Goldfinch was being fed by it’s parent in a tree not far from us.

 

Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Nine birders saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, House Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin..

 

Saturday, July 26:

Eleven Common Nighthawks were spotted hawking insects over the community Park in the Rivers Edge area near Parksville

 

Friday, July 25:

  A flock of Common Nighthawks was seen high above the Ugly Dwarf Meadows along highway19 near Nanoose Bay.

 

A Steller’s Jay and a Black-headed Grosbeak were seen in a backyard along Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo.

Steller’s Jay: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

A flock of twenty to twenty-five Black Swifts and Common Nighthawks were seen at the south end of Ladysmith.

 

Saturday July 19:

Six Western Sandpipers, four Least Sandpipers and two Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at 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 walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.

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

The Sunday bird walk on August 03, 2014 will be going to the Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or along Normarel Drive under the hydro lines in upper Lantzville at about 9:20 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
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

 

Nanaimo bird report, July 20, 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, July 20, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Ladysmith Harbour in Ladysmith. The morning was cloudy with light showers throughout the morning. We spotted two Black Swifts flying low above us at the start of the walk. We saw a large number of Purple Martins sitting on their nest boxes on the harbour. Purple Martins flew close by all morning giving us great looks.

 

                                             Purple Martins: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders saw and heard the following nineteen species:

Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Glaucous-winged Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Rock Pigeon Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow, Black Swift, Bewick’s Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, House Finch and American Goldfinch.

 

Thursday, July 17:

A family of Cooper’s Hawks were seen in the 2000 block of Woodside Place in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, July 15:

Please note:

This was the last Tuesday bird walk for the summer season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.  

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot.

It was a morning of birding by ear for the most part—there were not many birds out in the heat. We heard Northern Flickers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallows, Pacific Wrens, Swainson’s Thrush, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Red Crossbills, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. We spotted a fledgling Brown-headed cowbird perched on branch and watched as a Warbling Vireo came along and fed the cowbird.  It was a rather sad sight watching the little Vireo struggling to feed the huge cowbird. 

Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders including visiting birders from Ontario & Chemainus saw and heard the following thirty-two species:

Surf Scoter, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Swainson’s Thrush, Anna’s Hummingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.

     Turkey Vulture: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Sunday, July 13:

Forty Common Nighthawks were seen flying over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo.  

Monday, July 14:

A family of three Peregrine Falcons were seen along Linwood Place in 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 walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 27, 2014 will be going to the Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Despard Avenue in Parksville at about 9:20 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
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

 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, July 15, 2014

Please note:

This was the last Tuesday bird walk for the summer season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014.

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot.

It was a morning of birding by ear for the most part—there were not many birds out in the heat. We heard Northern Flickers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallows, Pacific Wrens, Swainson’s Thrush, Spotted Towhee, House Finch, Red Crossbills, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. We spotted a fledgling Brown-headed cowbird perched on branch and watched as a Warbling Vireo came along and fed the cowbird.  It was a rather sad sight watching the little Vireo struggling to feed the huge cowbird.

                                                       Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders including a visiting birders from Ontario & Chemainus saw and heard the following thirty-two species:

Surf Scoter

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Pacific Wren

Brown Creeper

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Anna’s Hummingbird

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

                                                       Turkey Vulture: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

This was the last Tuesday bird walk of the summer season. The Tuesday bird walks will resume on Tuesday September 02, 2014. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, July 13, 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, July 13, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and hot. We saw a Marbled Murrelet bobbing in the whitecaps off shore.  Several Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorants flew low over the water. We heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Swainson’s Thrushes and Red-breasted Nuthatches singing throughout the morning.

Pelagic Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:

Turkey Vulture, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Marbled Murrelet, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,  Belted Kingfisher,  Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Brown-headed Cowbird,  Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,  Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Anna’s Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin,  European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow and  American Goldfinch. 

Thursday, July 10:

Long-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers were seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  

Wednesday, July 09:

Two Caspian Terns were seen at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, July 08:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was sunny and hot but very comfortable in the forested areas. Several families of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were spotted high up in the trees.  Large flocks of Canada Geese and Common Mergansers rested along the gravel bars on the estuary.  Savannah Sparrows were singing and flycatching among the snags along the meadows.  Several bright American Goldfinch caught our eye as they flew near the top of the bushes.  We heard and then saw a Western Tanager perched at the top of a tall conifer tree near the end of the walk.

        Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species:

Canada Goose, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian-collared Dove, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow ,Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch. 

         American Goldfinch: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

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

You are invited to the 10th Annual Purple Martin Open House

at the Ladysmith Maritime Society community marina (follow the yellow signs)

on July 20 from 2 - 4 pm. Wear something PURPLE!!

 

Come help us celebrate the phenomenal return of Purple Martins this year

at the largest colony on Vancouver Island!

- see adult birds feeding nestlings

- learn more about the Purple Martins and the recovery program at our displays

- see baby birds being banded at 3 pm

Light refreshments will be available, including our famous purple (blueberry) milkshakes (while quantities last).

Please park in the upper parking lot. Walk down the stairs and come onto the wharf to the Welcome Centre where the tents are, beyond the big blue boat shed and museum.         ********************************************************************************** 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 July 15, 2014 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Hatchery in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform(off highway 19A) in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 20, 2014 will be going to the Ladysmith Harbour in Ladysmith. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the left gravel parking lot at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith at about 9:40 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
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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, July 08, 2014

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was sunny and hot but very comfortable in the forested areas. Several families of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were spotted high up in the trees.  Large flocks of Canada Geese and Common Mergansers rested along the gravel bars on the estuary.  Savannah Sparrows were singing and flycatching among the snags along the meadows.  Several bright American Goldfinch caught our eye as they flew near the top of the bushes.  We heard and then saw a Western Tanager perched at the top of a tall conifer tree near the end of the walk.

                  

                                Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-six species:

Canada Goose

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Least Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Belted Kingfisher

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

American Goldfinch

 

  

                                        American Goldfinch: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Check out this site re the Nanoose checklist by Hans Laue--

http://members.shaw.ca/halaue/Nanoose_Birdlist/

 

The Tuesday bird walk on July 15, 2014 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Hatchery. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform along highway 19a in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, Jult 06, 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, July 06, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Hemer Park in Cedar. The morning was cloudy with light showers but we did have a few sunny periods. We spotted a Barred Owl after we spotted an American Robin mobbing him.  A Western Tanager caught our attention as it flew into the bushes.  We had great looks at two Pacific-slope Flycatchers in the Cedar Trees.

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Three birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Barred Owl, Turkey Vulture, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, Rufous Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,  Willow Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow,  Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin,  Barn Swallow,  Cliff Swallow,   Chestnut-backed Chickadee,  Red-breasted Nuthatch,  Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler,  Wilson’s Warbler,  Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager,  Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,  European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Finch and  House Sparrow. 

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

An American Pipit was seen in a backyard in the Parkland subdivision in Nanaimo. 

Friday, July 04:

Two Greater Yellowlegs and forty Least and Western Sandpipers were seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville 

.A Western Tanager, a Cedar Waxwing, an American Goldfinch and a Black-headed Grosbeak were seen at the Bluff in Linley Valley west. 

Wednesday, July 02:

Thirty-seven American White Pelicans were seen flying over the south end of Chesterman Beach in Tofino. 

A white Common Raven (who looks huge, because of his color) was seen flying just west of the traffic circle at Memorial Drive and Rupert Street in Qualicum Beach.

 

Tuesday, July 01: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville.  The morning was very warm but cooled in the forest.  We saw and heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler  as it was feeding high up in the canapé.  We watched a family of Chestnut-backed Chickadees feeding high up near the top of the trees. Several Brown Creepers were spotted climbing and feeding along the trunks of the trees. Willow Flycatchers were singing from the top of the shrubs near the road. There were Common Yellowthroats as we walked along the road. 

 

Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:

Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, Bushtit, Swainson's Thrush,

American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, McGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Brown-headed Cowbird, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.  

Saturday, June 28:

 A male and female Bullock’s Oriole was seen in the west marsh of Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Saturday, June 21:

A Spotted Sandpiper was seen in Biggs Park in 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 July 09, 2014 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

 

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 13, 2014 will be going to Neck Point in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or the parking lot at Neck Point Park off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:30 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
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