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 here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, February 24, 2015


The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm, making for a great morning of birding. We spotted two American Dippers feeding along the river bank not far from us. We saw several Red-breasted Sapsuckers feeding and tapping the trees throughout the morning.  A Varied Thrush was singing atop a tall conifer and two other Varied Thrush were answering him as he sang.  American Robins were busy feeding and resting on the grassy area. We spotted a leucistic American Robin--a very colorful bird—scurrying on the ground giving us great views. A flock of Violet-green Swallows flew overhead hawking insects.  A Pileated Woodpecker was busy drumming on a snag near the end of the walk.
 
 
                                             
          Leucistic American Robin: John Purves Photo.                                        
 
Twenty birders saw and heard the following twenty-seven species; 
Canada Geese
Mallard
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
 American Dipper
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
  Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
European Starling
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Violet-green Swallow 
American Robin
 Varied Thrush
 Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
 
                                                                             

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on March 03,2015 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

 

Monday 23 February 2015

Red-throated Loon

Hi birders a Red-throated Loon was seen offshore from the Little Qualicum River Estuary,( the bird was seen past the large flock of Scoters from the parking area near the "A" frame house) great sighting!

Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 22 February 2015

Nanaimoo bird report, February 22, 2015


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, February 22, 2015:

The Sunday bird walk went the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was partly cloudy with sunny periods. The highlights included seeing three Gadwall near the mudflats. Several Steller’s Jays were singing throughout the morning. We saw several Pacific Loons were showing their breeding plumage on the ocean. Many flocks of Brant were moving up and down the Strait of Georgia.

 

 

Steller’s Jay:: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Twenty-nine birders saw and heard the following foty-eight species: 
Brant
Canada Geese
 Mallard
Gadwall
Bufflehead
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
American Widgeon
  Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Bald Eagle
Merlin
 Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
Steller’s Jay
 Common Raven
 Northwestern Crow
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
 Bewick's Wren
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
 Spotted Towhee
Purple Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin   

Saturday, February 21:
Two Rufous Hummingbirds we revisiting feeders in the Collage Heights area of Nanaimo. 

A Violet-green Swallow was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, February 17:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary.  The morning was calm, but unfortunately the fog remained over the water throughout the morning limiting our view. We saw a flock of Brant fly by at the viewing station and several Oystercatchers landed among the rocks.  There was also a Western Gull spotted just off shore.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler was spotted along the houses leading to the Estuary.  Surf Scoters were heard off in the fog at the end of our walk. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

17 birders saw or heard the following 35 species.
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
American Widgeon
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Anna’s Hummingbird  

Good birding,
Rhonda Fleming
Parksville 

Sunday, February 15: 
A Yellow-billed Loon was seen off Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

Friday, February 13:
A Cooper’s Hawk landed on top of a bird feeder in the San Pareil area of Parksville. 

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

Monday, February, 23rd:

The Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7 pm at Knox United Church, Parksville.

Guest Speaker--- Christopher Stephens will speak about Swainson’s Thrush.

 

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

 

Tofino-Shorebird –Festival

 

18th Annual May 1-3, 2015 


 

*********************************************************************************
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 February 24, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or the Hatchery parking lot off Claymore Rd (off Laburnum Rd) in Qualicum Beach at 9:15 a.m.


*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on March 01, 2015 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 Rains Road in south Nanaimo.at about 9:25 a.m.

 

*********************************************************************
British Columbia Rare Bird Alert link---
http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/

*******************************************************************************
A must read for those of us who live along the Strait of Georgia.


THE SEA AMONG US
THE AMAZING STRAIT OF GEORGIA
RICHARD BEAMISH AND GORDON McFARLANE

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

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday walk, February 17, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary.  The morning was calm, but unfortunately the fog remained over the water throughout the morning limiting our view. We saw a flock of Brant fly by at the viewing station and several Oystercatchers landed among the rocks.  There was also a Western Gull spotted just off shore.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler was spotted along the houses leading to the Estuary.  Surf Scoters were heard off in the fog at the end of our walk.
         
                                                                 Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

17 birders saw or heard the following 35 species.
Brant
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Widgeon
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Black Oystercatcher
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Anna’s Hummingbird
 
The Tuesday bird walk on February 24, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or the Hatchery parking lot off Claymore Rd (off Laburnum Rd) in Qualicum Beach at 9:15 a.m.
 
Good birding,
Rhonda Fleming
Parksville

Sunday 15 February 2015

Nanaimo bird report, February 15, 2015


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, February 15, 2015:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait but the sun shone for the rest of the morning. The highlights included seeing three Trumpeter Swans fly over the Strait of Georgia. We heard Red Crossbills at the start of the walk. Two Long-tailed Ducks were swimming close to shore giving us great looks. Several flocks of Surf Scoters were flying up the Strait. We heard a Hutton’s Vireo at the end of the walk. Common Murre, a Marbled Murrelet and a Pigeon Guillemot were seen further offshore. 

Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

Twenty-nine birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species: 
Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

 Mallard

Bufflehead

 Harlequin Duck

 Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Common Merganser

 Red-breasted Merganser

Long-tailed Duck

 Pacific Loon

 Common Loon

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Dunlin

Black Turnstone

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

 Pigeon Guillemot

Belted Kingfisher

 Bald Eagle

 Mew Gull

California Gull

 Thayer’s Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

 Common Raven

 Northwestern Crow

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtits

 Hutton’s Vireo

 Pacific Wren

 Bewick's Wren

 Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

 European Starling

 American Robin

 Spotted Towhee

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

 Song Sparrow

Pine Siskin 

Tuesday, February 17:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach. Fog over the Strait of Georgia greeted us at the start of the walk, but soon the sun showed it’s warm rays for good birding. Several small flocks of Brant Geese flew over the water. Long-tailed Ducks were rested on the strait offshore. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, Dunlin and Black Oystercatchers were feeding on the gravel bars.


                                             Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Brant

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Common Murre

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Common Raven

American Robin

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

 

Ring-billed Gull: Ralph Hocken.    

*************************************************************************************
Monday, February, 23rd:

The Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7 pm at Knox United Church, Parksville.

Guest Speaker--- Christopher Stephens will speak about Swainson’s Thrush.

 

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

 

Tofino-Shorebird –Festival

 

18th Annual May 1-3, 2015 


 

*********************************************************************************
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 February 17, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet
at the parking lot near the Lions Club Playground in Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.
*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on February 22, 2015 will be going to Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.. Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:25 a.m.

 

*********************************************************************
British Columbia Rare Bird Alert link---
http://www.bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/

*******************************************************************************
A must read for those of us who live along the Strait of Georgia.


THE SEA AMONG US
THE AMAZING STRAIT OF GEORGIA
RICHARD BEAMISH AND GORDON McFARLANE

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


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