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 11^th 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