Nanaimo bird report, August 31, 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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Sunday, August 31, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with cloudy periods. The highlight of the morning was hearing a Cassin’s Vireo singing continually from the top of a tree and catching glimpses as it moved. We also head a fledgling calling from the same area. We spotted a Hooded Merganser catch a frog and struggle as he swallowed it.

Eight birders including a visiting birder from the England saw and heard the following thirty-two species: 

Canada Geese, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, American Coot, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Steller’s Jay, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Cassin’s Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Finch and  House Sparrow.

 

 Hooded Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 Saturday, August 30:

A Steller’s Jay was seen feeding in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville

 

Steller’s Jay: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Friday, August 29:

 A Barn Owl was seen along the Ugly Dwarf Meadows close to the Gas Station at the top of Nanoose Hill along Highway 19. 

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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 Tuesday September 02 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Bay Community Park at the parking lot near the Lion’s Club playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m. 

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The Sunday bird walk on September 07, 2014 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 a.m.

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Nanoose Naturalists Meeting, September 11, 2014-- 7:00 P.M.

Nanoose Library Hall in Nanoose Bay.

Guest Speaker- Paula Wild- topic Cougars

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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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Visit www.bluedot.ca 

What's more important than the right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food?"-- David Suzuki

 

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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