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 21 June 2015

Nanaimo bird report, June 21, 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.

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Sunday, June 21, 2015:
The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and hot.  The highlights included seeing a female Wood Duck swimming on the marsh with three fledglings following close by.   A Pied-billed Grebe was resting on its nest and the mate was swimming around in search of food.  We heard Marsh Wrens singing all morning. We did see them a few times during the walk.  Turkey Vultures, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows flew overhead all morning.
Marsh Wren: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from Texas saw and heard the following forty-four species: 
Mallard
 Ring-necked Duck
 Pied-billed Grebe
Wood Duck
   Hooded Merganser
 Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
California Quail
Anna’s Hummingbird
 Rufous Hummingbird
 Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
 Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
 Purple Martin
 Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
  Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
 Bewick's Wren
 Black-headed Grosbeak
 Eurasian Collared Dove
 American Robin
European Starling
 Cedar Waxwing
Warbling Vireo
 Yellow Warbler
 Wilson’s Warbler
  Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
 Red-winged Blackbird
 House Finch
 House Sparrow
Purple Finch  

Saturday June 20:
A  Lazuli Bunting was seen along Dawson Road off Highway 19 in Nanoose Bay. 
 
Wednesday June 17:
 A pair of Western Tanagers were seen visiting a backyard on Virgina Road in Coombs. 

Tuesday, June 16:
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm and nice and cool in the forest. We were greeted at the start of the walk with the sounds and sights of the many Willow Flycatchers that were everywhere singing from the top of the short bushes.  Several Chipping Sparrows were seen and heard during the morning.  Warbling Vireos were singing throughout walk. A Hutton’s Vireo sat feeding on the bushes not far from the trail. We heard and saw Yellow-rumped Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, a Yellow Warbler, a Townsend’s Warbler, a MacGillivray’s Warbler and a Black-throated Gray Warbler throughout the morning. A flock of American Robins were mobbing a Barred Owl just off the trail giving us great views. Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles circled high overhead.

                                                      Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Seattle saw and heard the following forty-four species
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
                                                  Coopers Hawk
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
 Hammond’s Flycatcher
 Warbling Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Hutton’s Vireo
 Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Violet-green Swallow
Bushtit
 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Brown Creeper
 Swainson's Thrush
 American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
 Yellow Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
 MacGillivray’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
 Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
 Chipping Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Red Crossbill 

One female Red Crossbill was visiting feeders along Drew Road in French Creek.

 Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Monday, June 15:
 A pair of Lazuli Buntings was seen at the turn around area on Dawson Road of highway 19 in Nanoose Bay. 

A Lazuli Bunting was seen on Island View Road on Gabriola Island. 

A Mourning Dove was seen along Coats Drive on Gabriola Island. 

“RARE BIRD ALERT”
A CRESTED CARACARA has been present since at least June 11th in the vicinity of Skykomish, WASHINGTON (on US Highway 2 between Everett and Stevens Pass). From June 15 to 17, it has been seen and photographed by many birders along Old Cascade Highway, about 1 km west of Skykomish near a small community called Mill Town. 

Sunday, June 14:
 A Olive-sided Flycatcher was heard and five Vaux swifts and two Black Swifts were seen from the top of Little Mountain in Parksville.  

A pair of Red Crossbills were seen at backyard feeders on Lewis Road in Nanaimo.

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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 June 23, 2015 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

. We meet at the Parksville Community Park by the Lions Club playground parking lot at 9 a.m. or the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m.

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The Sunday bird walk on June 28, 2015 will be going to Beck Creek in south Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area near the Living Forrest R.V. Campground along Maki Road at about 9:25 a.m.

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

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