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 28 April 2015

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, April 28, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning started out very windy with light rain showers. But turned sunny with calm winds making for a very pleasant morning of birding. We were greeted with the songs of Chipping Sparrow at the start of the walk and throughout the morning. Three Long-billed Dowitchers flew low over overhead giving us great views. We saw Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles fly overhead during the morning. Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers Black-throated Gray Warblers, Townsend’s Warblers and a Yellow Warbler sang and were seen during the walk. We heard a MacGillivray's Warbler sing near the ponds. Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Warbling Vireos were often heard during the walk. Four American Goldfinch put on a great show singing and flying close overhead. 

                                                                MacGillivray's Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Mallard
Common Merganser
Long-billed Dowitcher
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Eurasian-collared Dove
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
                                                                           
                                                              American Goldfinch: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday on May 05, 2015 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.
              
                                                           Long-billed Dowitcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Monday 27 April 2015

The Avocet is at the Little Qualicum River Estuary

American Avocet was seen this morning April 27, 2015 at the Little Qualicum River Estuary just off Surfside Drive in Qualicum Beach. The Avocet was feeding with Green-wing Teal and Western Sandpipers on the estuary.
 
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 26 April 2015

Nanaimo bird report, April 26, 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, April 26, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to West Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.. The morning was cloudy with a breeze. The highlights included seeing many flocks of Northern Rough-wing Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows flying low over the meadows, giving us close views. We heard Yellow Warblers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers singing during the morning. 
 

Yellow Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty species:
Canada Geese,
 Mallard
   Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Red-tail Hawk
Virginia Rail
California Quail
Eurasian-collared Dove
 Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Northern Rough-wing Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
 Common Yellowthroat
 Black-throated Grey Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
 Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
European Starling
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin 

Thursday, April 23.

An American Avocet was seen on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

American Avocet: John Purves Photo. 

Tuesday, April 21:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy and cool with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.  A Red-throated Loon flew up the strait—a very unusual sighting for this area. Two Marbled Murrelet were seen just offshore giving us great looks.  A very fast Parasitic Jaeger flew up the Strait just above the water.  A Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were spotted further offshore. We heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers singing during the walk. We saw and heard many Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Townsend’s Warblers and  Black-throated Grey Warblers throughout the morning.

 

                                                                                        
                                    Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
 Mallard
Bufflehead
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
 Common Loon
 Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Marbled Murrelet
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Parasitic Jaeger
Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Mew Gull
California Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tail Pigeon
 Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
 Rufous Hummingbird
 Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
 Black-throated Grey Warbler
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Pacific Wren
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 American Robin
 European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
 Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
                                                                  
                                            Parasitic Jaeger: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 28, 2015 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.

 

 

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

Monday, April 27:

Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at Knox United Church in Parksville. 

Doors open at 7 pm.  Presentation on Ecological Reserves by Erica McClaren from BC Parks at 7.30.

*************************************************************************************
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 April 28, 2015 will be going to The top Bridge Trail in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or at the parking alone Indrustrial Way in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on Sunday, May 03 will be going to the Bowen park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot near the Bowing Green at Bowen Park at about 9:15 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

Thursday 23 April 2015

American Avocet

An American Avocet was seen this morning on the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The bird was spotted at about 7:30 a.m. this morning. Also seen from the viewing platform on the Shelly Road side of the River. It was seen flying away from the Plummer Road at about 8:45 a.m. towards the Shelly Road side.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

                                                        American Avocet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, April 21, 2015

The Tuesday bird walk went to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy and cool with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.  A Red-throated Loon flew up the strait—a very unusual sighting for this area. Two Marbled Murrelet were seen just offshore giving us great looks.  A very fast Parasitic Jaeger flew up the Strait just above the water.  A Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were spotted further offshore. We heard Pacific-slope Flycatchers singing during the walk. We saw and heard many Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers,Townsend’s Warblers and  Black-throated Grey Warblers throughout the morning. 

                                                    
                                                                 Pacific-slope Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
 Mallard
Bufflehead
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
 Common Loon
 Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Marbled Murrelet
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Parasitic Jaeger
Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Mew Gull
California Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tail Pigeon
 Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
 Rufous Hummingbird
 Anna’s Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
 Black-throated Grey Warbler
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Pacific Wren
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 American Robin
 European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
 Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin                                                                      

 
                                                                      Parasitic Jaeger: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 28, 2015 will be going to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.  

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 19 April 2015

Nanaimo bird report, April 19, 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 *****************************************************************************

Sunday, April 19, 2015:

The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny with a breeze. The highlights included seeing a Swamp on the edge of the marsh not far from us. The Swamp Sparrow is a rare bird for this area. We heard a Cassin's Vireo, Orange-crowned Warblers, Many Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Grey Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers throughout the morning. A Red-tail Hawk and a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead.
 
Black-throated Gray Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.       

 

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Canada Geese,
 Mallard
 Ring-neck Duck
 Wood Duck
 Hooded Merganser
 California Quail
 Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
 Turkey Vulture
 Bald Eagle
Red-tail Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Rock Pigeon
 Band-tailed Pigeon
 Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
 Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Steller’s Jay
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
 Marsh Wren
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Cassin's Vireo
 Orange-crowned Warbler
 Common Yellowthroat
 Black-throated Grey Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
 Spotted Towhee
Swamp Sparrow
 Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
 Pine Siskin 

Saturday, April 18:
A Yellow-headed Blackbird was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.
 

Two Townsend’s Solitaire’s were seen on Little Mountain near Parksville. 

Tuesday, April 14:
 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia but it was very calm in the forest and meadows.  As we started the walk we spotted a Hermit Thrush feeding along the trail just in front of us. The birding got better as the morning went on.  A Townsend’s Warbler was singing and feeding high up in a big leaf maple tree.  He was soon joined by a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and an Orange-crowned Warbler.  An American Kestrel was perched on a snag and we watched as he flew and hunted over the meadow.  We were entertained as he hovered and flew over the meadow looking for prey. We spotted a Savannah Sparrow perched on a bush close to the shoreline.  A Snow Goose and two Greater White-fronted Geese were feeding in the meadow near the R.V. Park.  A Townsend’s Solitaire perched on a short bush along the trail giving us great looks. We watched a Red-breasted Sapsucker making a nest hole in a tall snag .  He would peck for a while and then go into it to see if it was big enough. We left before he accomplished that!  A Northern Flicker was drilling into a tree for a nest on another snag further on in the forest.  Spring is here!!

 

Townsend’s Solitaire: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Thirteen lucky birders saw and heard the following sixty-one species (a record for this time of the year!):

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Brant
Greater White-fronted Geese
Mallard
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
American Kestrel
Dunlin
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Greater Yellowlegs
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
California Quail
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
                                                    American Robin
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
Townsend’s Solitaire
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
                                                                           

    Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Saturday April 11:
 A flock of Sandhill Cranes were seen flying up the Alberni Inlet in Port Alberni. 

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

Monday, April 27:

Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at Knox United Church in Parksville. 

Doors open at 7 pm.  Presentation on Ecological Reserves by Erica McClaren from BC Parks at 7.30.

*************************************************************************************
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 April 21, 2015 will be going to the Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or at the parking lot at Moorecroft off Stewart Road (look for the Moorcroft sign on Stewart Road near Dolphin) at about 9:20 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on Sunday, April 26 will be going to the West Buttertubs Marsh Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot off Jingle Pot Road at Buttertubs Marsh (wear rubber boots it may be wet) at about 9:15 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