Nanaimo bird report, January 24, 2016

 

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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January 24, 2016

The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning started out foggy but soon the sun was shining. The river was running full and forceful. We watched as a Common Merganser dove into the falls and then reappeared down the river.  Bewick's Wrens and Pacific Wrens entertained us with their singing throughout the morning.  A Varied Thrush was tossing leaves just off the trail as the walk ended.

Twenty-one birders saw and hear the following nineteen species.

Mallard

Common Merganser

Glaucous-winged Gull

American Dipper

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbills

Pine Siskin

Thursday, January 21.

Evening Grosbeaks were seen near Chase River and Douglas Avenue in Nanaimo.    

Tuesday, January 19.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The morning was partly sunny with calm winds making for a good day of birding.

A large number of Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, Black Oystercatchers and one lone Dunlin greeted us at the viewing tower.  There was a flock of Ancient Murrelets further off shore. We had the unusual sighting of four River Otters swimming and playing at the mouth of the river. There were also many Seals offshore keeping an eye on us. The trees around the estuary were loaded with Bald Eagles.  Four Trumpeter Swans and large numbers of Great Blue Herons were resting on the estuary. Hundreds and hundreds of Pacific Loons and Common Murre were flying down the Strait of  Georgia.                                                                    

Twenty birders saw and heard the following sixty species:

Canada Goose

Snow Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

American Widgeon

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Ancient Murrelet

California Quail

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Pacific Wren

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

House Sparrow     

Monday, January 18.

Fifteen Red Crossbills were seen in Saltair.   

Saturday January 15.

Common Redpolls and a Lincoln’s Sparrow were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  

Wednesday, January 13.

A Clark’s Grebe was spotted offshore at Columbia Beach. 

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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 January 26, 2016 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.  

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The Sunday bird walk on January 31, 2016 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 about 9:15 a.m.

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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