Nanaimo bird report, March 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, March 15, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was
cloudy with calm winds.  Buffleheads were on the Nanoose Bay in large numbers. Two male and one female Eurasian Widgeon were seen on the estuary in with a flock of American Widgeon. A Northern Shrike perched on a sng giving us great views. A male Yellow-rumped Warbler in bright breeding plumage flew in to the top of a short tree giving us a good view of his summer color! 

Ten birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Geese

 Eurasian Widgeon

 American Wigeon

 Mallard

 Northern Pintail

 Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

 Common Goldeneye

 Barrow's Goldeneye

 Hooded Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

 Pelagic Cormorant

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Belted Kingfisher

 Great Blue Heron

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Common Loon

 Bald Eagle

Northern Shrike

  Killdeer

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

 European Starling

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

 Red-winged Blackbird

 Brewer’s Blackbird

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 

Saturday, March 14:

A Northern Shrike, a Red tail Hawk, a Rough-legged Hawk a Osprey,  Western Meadowlarks and a  Bald Eagle were seen at the Nanaimo river Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Over one hundred Common Ravens were seen playing over Jack Point Park in south Nanaimo.

Several Violet-green Swallows were seen flying over Buttertubs Marsh west. 

Twelve Tree Swallows were spotted at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.

Eight Lesser Scaup were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Friday, March 13:

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen visiting feeders at south end of Gabriola Island.  There have been several reports in Nanaimo and Parksville.   

Thursday, March 12:

A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen along Colbourne Drive in Nanaimo. 

Tuesday, March 10: 

“Birding in the Fog” 

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was foggy and the winds were calm. Over one thousand Dunlin, one hundred Black-bellied Plovers and four Black Oystercatchers were feeding along the tide line and in the tide pools on the shore side of the fog bank. We counted twenty-six Brant also feeding along the tide line. Thousands of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and one Bonaparte's Gull were roosting on a gravel bar just offshore.  Fourteen Horned Grebes and one Eared Grebe were spotted further swimming offshore. Four Varied Thrush were singing and perched in the forest.     

                                                                                    

                  

   
                                                    Dunlin:: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Six birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species;

Brant

 American Widgeon

 Mallard

 White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

 Common Goldeneye

 Common Merganser

Eared Grebe

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Bald Eagle

Bonaparte's Gull

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

 Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

 Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

  Black Oystercatcher

 Northern Flicker

Pileated woodpecker

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Pacific Wren

 Bewick’s Wren

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

 Varied Thrush

 European Starling

 Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco  

              Eared Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

 

Three Band-tailed Pigeons were seen in a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.    

 

 Monday March 23rd

Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at 7 pm at Knox United Church in Parksville.  Meeting begins at 7.30 pm with guest speaker Michael Kusugak an Inuit Storyteller.  Cost for this time only $5. More info 752-7588.

*************************************************************************************
Tofino-Shorebird –Festival
18th Annual May 1-3, 2015
For  information please contact---- 
http://raincoasteducation.org/events/tofino-shorebird-festival

*********************************************************************************
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 March 17 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park
playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about  9:15 a.m.
*********************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on March 22, 2015 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.
Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:30 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