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 here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Sunday 28 February 2016

Nanaimo Bird Report, February 28 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.
********************************************************************

Saturday, February 27, 2016:


Evening Grosbeak (Photo: Malcom)

An American Dipper was spotted at the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville.

8 – 10 swallows were seen at Buttertubs Marsh

Some Cackling Geese were spotted at Piper’s Lagoon, blending in with 6 Canadian Geese


30 Evening Grosbeaks were spotted near Lowry’s Rd. in Parksville

Sunday, February 28, 2016: 

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh, where it was a wet, windy day. There were five hardy birders in total on the blustery day, one visiting from Alberta and one visiting from Seattle.


Belted Kingfisher (Photo: Ralph Hocken)
Five birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species.
Canada Goose
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Bufflehead
Ring-necked Duck
Bald Eagle
Pied-billed Grebe
California Quail
Glacous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Tuesday, February 23: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the Strait of Georgia was calm. Two pair of Gadwall were on the river as the walk started. Many Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail were resting on the mud flats. A large flock of migrating Canada Geese with one Cackling Goose flew over head eventually landing on the far side of the estuary. California Gulls, Mew Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls, one Western Gull and a large number of Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting on gravel bars along the estuary.  Barrow’s Goldeneye, American Wigeon and an Eurasian Wigeon were feeding along the side of a gravel bar not far from shore. Twenty Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters were seen swimming further from shore. We saw hundreds of Brant Geese on the strait swimming and flying during the morning. We spotted three large flocks of Bushtits feeding on big Scotch broom bushes along the road.

 


Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-three birders, including visiting birders from Edmonton, Winnipeg and Seattle saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:
Brant
Cackling Geese
Canada Geese
 Mallard
Gadwall
Bufflehead
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
  Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
Brant’s Cormorant
Common Murre
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
California Gull
 Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Western Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Bald Eagle
Steller’s Jay
 Common Raven
 Northwestern Crow
Northern Flicker
Anna’s Hummingbird
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton's Vireo
European Starling
Red-wing Blackbird
American Robin
 Spotted Towhee
House Finch
Purple Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin   
 
California Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on March 01, 2016 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.
Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

********************************************************************
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. *******************************************************************************
The Tuesday bird walk on March 01, 2016 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.
*************************************************************************************
The Sunday bird walk on March 6, 2016 will be going to Neck Point. Please meet at the Birdstore at 9:00am, or at Neck Point Park at about 9:15am. *************************************************************************************
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

TO UN-SUBSCRIBE FROM THESE EMAILS, PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL WITH “REMOVE” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.  Thanks….





Tuesday 23 February 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 23, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny and the Strait of Georgia was calm. Two pair of Gadwall were on the river as the walk started. Many Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail were resting on the mud flats. A large flock of migrating Canada Geese with one Cackling Goose flew over head eventually landing on the far side of the estuary. California Gulls, Mew Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls, one Western Gull and a large number of Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting on gravel bars along the estuary.  Barrow’s Goldeneye, American Wigeon and an Eurasian Wigeon were feeding along the side of a gravel bar not far from shore. Twenty Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters were seen swimming further from shore. We saw hundreds of Brant Geese on the strait swimming and flying during the morning. We spotted three large flocks of Bushtits feeding on big Scotch broom bushes along the road.
 

Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo.
 
 

Twenty-three birders, including visiting birders from Edmonton, Winnipeg and Seattle saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:
Brant
Cackling Geese
Canada Geese
 Mallard
Gadwall
Bufflehead
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
  Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
Brant’s Cormorant
Common Murre
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
California Gull
 Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Western Gull
 Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Bald Eagle
Steller’s Jay
 Common Raven
 Northwestern Crow
Northern Flicker
Anna’s Hummingbird
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hutton's Vireo
European Starling
Red-wing Blackbird
American Robin
 Spotted Towhee
House Finch
Purple Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin   
 
 

 
California Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on March 01, 2016 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at Parksville Community Park at the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville



 

Sunday 21 February 2016

Nanaimo bird report, February 21, 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.
********************************************************************

Sunday, February 21, 2016:  

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with strong winds blasting off the Strait of Georgia. A flock American Wigeon’s including a Eurasian Wigeon flew in and landed close to shore. We spotted a Peregrine Falcon flying slowly into the strong wind hovering all the way. A short time later a Red-tailed Hawk was doing the same thing giving us great views.

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Twelve birders saw and hear the following thirty-one species.
Canada Geese
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon

Mallard, Gadwall,

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna’s Hummingbird

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Siskin

 

 Saturday, February 20: 

A Turkey Vulture was spotted heading north, above highway 4a in Parksville.

 

Tuesday, February 16: 
The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach the morning was sunny with light winds off the Strait of Georgia.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks as well as Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes were seen off shore. Common Murre, a Pigeon Guillemot and Western Grebes were further offshore.  Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Dunlin and Black Turnstone were resting with a large number of Gulls on the gravel bar.  A flock of American Wigeon with one Eurasian Wigeon landed close to shore giving us great views.

Eurasian Wigeon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-three birders including birders from Calgary, Winnipeg and Seattle saw and heard the following forty-five species:

Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter 
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye 
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Anna’s Hummingbird
House Wren
Red- breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin 
 

                                         Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Monday, February 15:
A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen near Long Lake in Nanaimo. 

********************************************************************
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. *******************************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk on February 23 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 parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.

*************************************************************************************

The Sunday bird walk on February 28, 2016 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at Buttertubs Marsh parking area off Bowen Road at about 9:15 a.m.

*************************************************************************************

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

 

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 16, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach the morning was sunny with light winds off the Strait of Georgia.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks as well as Pacific Loons, Common Loons,  Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes  were seen off shore. Common Murre, a Pigeon Guillemot  and Western Grebes were further offshore.  Black-bellied Plovers, Killdeer, Dunlin and Black Turnstone were  resting with a large number of  Gulls on the gravel bar.  A flock of American Wigeon with one Eurasian Wigeon landed close to shore giving us great views.

 
Eurasian & American Wigeon in flight: Ralph Hocken Photo.

                                                  Eurasian Wigeon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-three birders including birders from Calgary, Winnipeg and Seattle saw and heard the following forty-five species:
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
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
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Dunlin
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Anna’s Hummingbird
House Wren
Red- breasted Nuthatch
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin

 
                                                   Red-breasted Merganser: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on February 23 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 parking lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Sunday 14 February 2016

Nanaimo bird report, February 14, 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.

********************************************************************

Sunday, February 14, 2016 

The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. Eight male Common Mergansers were seen along the river at the start of the walk. Two Bald Eagles were talking loudly from their nest across the river. Brant, Common Murre, Common Loons, Pacific Loons and Long-tail Ducks were resting on the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on a log in the meadows.
 
                                                                Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Nine birders saw and hear the following fifty species.
Canada Geese
Brant
American Wigeon
Common Goldeneye
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Horne Grebe
Red-neck Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
White-wing Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Murre
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Sharp-shined Hawk
Northern Shrike
Black Turnstone
California Quail
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Steller’s Jay
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin   

Friday, February 12.
A Peregrine Falcon was seen at the corner of Campbell and Shelby Street in Nanaimo.  

Tuesday, February 09.
 The Tuesday morning bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was draped in heavy fog making for a challenging time looking for birds. Two singing Belted Kingfishers were seen racing up the river calling all the time. We saw a Merlin flying high up near the top of the conifers. Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen perched just off the trail through out the walk, giving us great views.  There were large numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos moving in and out of the underbrush along the trail. 
   
                                                                  Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders including visiting birders from Winnipeg, Langley and Seattle saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow 

                                                    Dark-eyed Junco: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Monday, February 08. 
A Turkey Vulture was seen near Enos Lake in Nanoose Bay. 

********************************************************************
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. ******************************************************************************* 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 16,2016 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. (off Columbia Drive) at about 9:15 a.m. 

****************************************************************************************

The Sunday bird walk on February 21, 2016 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the beach near the church camp off highway 19 and Arlington Road at about 9:15 a.m. 

***************************************************************************************

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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.co

 

 

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 09, 2016

The Tuesday morning birdwalk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was draped in heavy fog making for a challenging time looking for birds. Two singing Belted Kingfishers were seen racing up the river calling all the time. We saw a Merlin flying high up near the top of the conifers. Several Anna's Hummingbirds were seen perched just off the trail through out the walk, giving us great views.  There were large numbers of Dark-eyed Juncos moving in and out of the underbrush along the trail.
Anna’s Hummingbird: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty birders including visiting birders from Winnipeg, Langley and Seattle saw and heard the following thirty-seven species:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Steller’s Jay
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow
 
 
 
 
 

 

Dark-eyed Junco: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 16,2016 will be going to Columbia Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park near the Lions Club Kids Playground Parking Lot at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area along Admiral Tryon Bld. (off Columbia Drive) at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
 
thebackyard@shaw.ca