Nanaimo bird report, September 27, 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, September 27, 2015 

The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville  The morning was sunny and warm. We spotted a Barred Owl perched in a tall tree just off the trail.  Seven Western Grebes were seen offshore.  A Peregrine Falcon flew past over head.  Large numbers of American Robins and Steller’s Jays entertained us all morning.

 

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following Fifty-two species:

Canada Geese

 American Widgeon

Mallard

 Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Greater Scaup

 Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Western Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

 Turkey Vulture

 Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

Barred Owl

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Mew Gull

 California Gull

 Thayer's Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

California Quail

Anna's Hummingbird

Common Yellow-throat

Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker

 Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick's Wren

 Pacific Wren

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 American Robin

 European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

 Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch 

House Finch

 Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch  

Saturday, September 26:

A greater White-fronted Goose was spotted flying at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. 

Friday, September 25:

Twelve Northern Shovelers were seen on the Englishman River in Parksville. 

A Vesper Sparrow, a Western Meadowlark and several Savannah Sparrows were seen at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

A Northern Harrier and five Long-billed Dowitchers were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo

Tuesday, September 22:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia. There were large numbers of Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes on the Strait.  A Long-tailed Duck was spotted heading down the Strait.  A Merlin was perched on top of a snag giving us good views.  Six Northern Flickers were perched in the same area.

                                                                               

 Horned Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Pacific Loon
Common Loon

American Wigeon
Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter
Common Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Long-tailed Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Merlin

Black Turnstone

Killdeer
Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Steller’s Jay
Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin

Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

                                           

        Northern Flicker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 

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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 September 29, 2015 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Playground parking lot at 9:00 am. or at Columbia Beach, at the parking area along Admiral Tyron Blvd.(off highway 19a at Columbia Drive-- at the end of Columbia Drive turn right on Admiral Tyron Blvd.) 

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The Sunday bird walk on October 04, 2015 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:20 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.co