The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 7 December 2014

Nanaimo bird report, December 07, 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, December 07, 2014:

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. Twenty-four Trumpeter Swans flew overhead in four different flocks.  Large numbers of Canada Geese and two Cackling Geese were resting on the marsh. Two Gadwall, several Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers moved through the marsh.  We heard a Virginia Rail just off the trail. American Robins were busy mobbing a Barred Owl who was perched on a tree close to us.  A Northern Waterthrush was spotted near the viewing platform straight across from the parking lot.

 

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Cackling Geese
Mallard
Gadwall
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ringed-necked Duck
Great Blue Heron
Glaucous-winged Gull
Virginia Rail
Bald Eagle
Barred Owl
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Eurasian Collared-Dove
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Steller's Jay
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Marsh Wren
Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbirds
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch
House Sparrow   

Friday, December 05:
A possible female Yellow Warbler was seen checking out a hummingbird feeder in a backyard along Cedar Place in the San Perial area of  Parksville.       

Wednesday, December 03:
A Townsend’s Warbler was visiting a backyard along Granite Park Road in Nanaimo.

Tuesday, December 02:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and cool with calm winds. The highlights included seeing an estimated two thousand Dunlin with large numbers of Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones feeding in tide pools and at the tide line. A flock of fourteen Brant flew in near the shore. A  Pigeon Guillemot, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Barrow’s Goldeneye were seen further offshore. A Brown Creeper with a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets caught our attention at the edge of the forest as they moved about quickly feeding in the bushes just off the trail.

Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Greater Scaup
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Long-tailed Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Dunlin
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow

Brant: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 

A Mute Swan was seen at Departure Bay Beach in Nanaimo 

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Sunday, December 14 --The Parksville/Qualicum Beach Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Sandra Gray at saninerr@shaw.ca

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Friday, December 19-- The 13th annual Nanoose Bay Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

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Sunday, December 28-- The Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Please contact Rhys Harrison at 248-5305 or rhysharrison@shaw.ca

 

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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 December 09, 2014 will be going to Deep Bay. Meet at the parking lot near the Lions Club Playground in Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Deep Bay Marina at about 9:35 a.m.

 

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The Sunday bird walk on December 14, 2014 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines 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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“READ AN INTERESTING NEW BOOK “

 

THE SEA AMONG US

THE AMAZING STRAIT OF GEORGIA

RICHARD BEAMISH AND GORDON McFARLANE

 

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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


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