Nanaimo bird report, July 05, 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, July 05, 2015:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with smoke clouds and the sun was covered with a smoke screen. Marbled Murrelets, Double-crested Cormorants and Pelagic Cormorant were on the Strait of Georgia. A family of Yellow-rumped Warblers was being fed high up in the conifer trees. A family of five great Blue Herons flew over head.

Pelagic Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twelve birders including visiting birders from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following twenty-six species:

Canada Geese

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Marbled Murrelet

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Black Oystercatcher

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

  Band-tailed Pigeon

Pacific-sloped Flycatcher

 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Downy Woodpecker

  Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee

   Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

House Finch 

Tuesday, June 30:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot but lovely and cool in the forest.  A  Pacific-slope Flycatcher flew in low near the trail and then disappeared in the bushes.   A  Black-headed Grosbeak was singing from high up in a tall conifer.  A pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers flew in and landed close to the trail.   A large flock of Bushtits were seen flying across the river. We had great views as we watched a very colorful Western Tanager feeding on a tall cedar tree just across the river for about ten minutes.  A flock of Red Crossbills flew overhead.  Swainson's Thrush's filled the morning with their songs and we did seen one on the trail.  Several Turkey Vultures and Violet-green Swallows flew overhead.

 Swainson's Thrush: Ralph Hocken Photo 

Seven birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:

Turkey Vulture

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

 Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-eyed Vireo

 Pacific-slope Flycatcher

 Warbling Vireo

 Violet-green Swallow

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Brown Creeper

 Bewick's Wren

Bushtit

 Pacific Wren

 Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Western Tanager

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow

 Black-headed Grosbeak

 American Goldfinch

 Brown-headed Cowbird

European Starling

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

 

Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

 Sunday, June 28:

An Oliver-sided Flycatcher was heard and seen on the hillside behind Colbourne Drive 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 walks will resume on September 08, 2015

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The Sunday bird walk on July 12, 2015 will be going to the Ladysmith Harbour in Ladysmith.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area on the left side of Transfer Beach in Ladysmith at about 9:45 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