Nanaimo bird report, July 31, 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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Sunday, July 31, 2016:

 The Sunday bird walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with a few clouds and calm winds.

A Merlin flew in and landed in a tall tree next to the trail giving us good long views. We spotted a Barred Owl perched off the trail and again we had great looks as the owl looked us all over.  An Orange-crowned Warbler flew across the trail.  We watched as a tiny tree frog sat motionless on a leaf.  An injured bat made its way off the trail into the forest.  

Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Ten birders including a visiting birder from Colorado saw and heard the following twenty-one species:  

Mallard

 Wood Duck

 Hooded Merganser

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Barred Owl

Turkey Vulture

California Gull

 Anna’s Hummingbird

  Pileated Woodpecker

  Northern Flicker

  Common Raven

 Northwestern Crow

Orange-crowned Warbler

Common Yellow-throat

Brown Creeper

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Red-breasted Nuthatch

   Spotted Towhee

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill 

Wednesday, July 27:

A Black Swift was seen feeding a fledgling at the top of a very tall conifer tree, returning again and again to feed its offspring, at Deep Bay near the postal boxes.

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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walks have ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.
    *******************************************************************************

The Sunday bird walk on August 07, 2016 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 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

Black Swift

Hi birders,

 

Marilynne and I stopped in at Deep Bay on July 27, near the postal boxes and saw two young Northern Rough-wing Swallows being feed on the hydro lines just above us. We heard and then saw a Black Swift feeding a fledgling at the top of a very tall conifer tree. We watched and heard the Swift returning again and again to feed its offspring. A very great sighting for sure, the first time I have ever seen the Black Swift feeding a youngster.

 

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville.

Nanaimo bird report, July 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.
********************************************************************

Sunday, July 24, 2016:

The Sunday bird walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  A leucistic Common Raven flew overhead giving us great views. Willow Flycatchers and Pacific-slope Flycatchers were singing and entertaining us all morning. We saw a Black-throated Warbler high in the tall trees.  A Western Tanager spent  a long time preening itself on a branch just off the trail giving us great views.

 

Willow Flycatcher: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Ten birders including visiting birders from Portugal and Oregon saw and heard the following thirty species: 

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed hawk

Band-tailed Pigeon

Anna's Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Western Wood Pewee

Northwestern Crow

  Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Bushtit

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Goldfinch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin 

Friday, July 22:

A Female Black-throated Gray Warbler was seen sitting in an Ocean Spray bush in the 2800 block of Skrimshire Road in Shawnigan Lake. 

Thursday, July 21:

Nine Common Nighthawks over a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville this evening at about 8 p.m. 

A family of four Pileated Woodpeckers- a male, female and two fledglings are visiting suet feeders in a backyard along Barrington Road in Nanaimo. 

Monday, July 18:

A male Western Tanager and a flock of Cedar Waxwings were seen in a backyard in Ladysmith. 

A Semipalmated Plover, over one hundred  Western Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper and twelve Killdeer were seen at the Plumber Road mud flats in Parksville on the Englishman River  Estuary. 

Common Loons, Pelagic Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Canada Geese, two Surf Scoters, twenty Black-bellied Plovers, a Bonaparte Gull, twenty California Gulls, a Caspian Tern, three Pigeon Guillemot and twelve Black Oystercatchers were seen on the Strait of Georgia off the Plummer Road side of the Englishman in Parksville. 

Four Greater Yellowlegs and Purple Martin were seen at French Creek. 

Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were seen at Columbia Beach. 

Saturday, July 16: 

A large flock of Common Nighthawks were seen at 6:30 p.m. over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive, near Departure Bay, Nanaimo. 

Friday July 15:

A flock of fourteen Common Nighthawks were seen over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive, near Departure Bay, Nanaimo. 

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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walk has ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 31, 2016 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Burma Road off Lost Lake Road in north Nanaimo at about 9:20 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

Hi birders,

 

A Semipalmated Plover,  100 Western Sandpipers, over 100 Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper and twelve Killdeer were seen at the Plumber Road mud flats in Parksville on the Englishman River  estuary.  

Common Loons, Pelagic Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Canada Geese,  two Surf Scoters, twenty Black-bellied Plovers, a Bonaparte Gull, twenty California Gulls, a Caspian Tern, three Pigeon Guillemot and twelve Black Oystercatchers were seen on the Strait of Georgia off the Plummer Road side of the Englishman in Parksville. 

Four Greater Yellowlegs and Purple Martin were seen at French Creek. 

Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were seen at Columbia Beach. 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, July 17, 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, July 17, 2016:

The Sunday bird walk went to the Ladysmith Harbour. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  We saw a family of five River Otters just off shore near the parking lot at the start of the walk. Purple Martins were the highlight of the walk and we saw and heard them chatting overhead all morning. Four Purple Martin chicks were seen in the nest cam that has been set up along the dock. Three Pigeon Guillemots were spotted flying low over the water heading down the Strait of Georgia. We saw five Black Turnstones were seen resting along one of the docks along the water. 

 

Purple Martin: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eight birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species:  

     Common Merganser

Belted Kingfisher

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Pelagic Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rock Dove

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

  Northwestern Crow

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Orange-crowned Warbler

Warbling Vireo

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Anna’s Hummingbird

American Robin

Swainson’s Thrush

Bushtit

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

European Starling

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Saturday, July 16:

Over eighty Common Nighthawks were seen from the VIU parking lot in Nanaimo.

Common Nighthawks see over Meridian Way in Parksville and over

Highway 19A between Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

Monday, July 11:

A large number of Red Crossbills are frequenting feeders in Nanoose Bay.

Over one hundred Least and Western Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Sandpiper, one Greater Yellowlegs and a Long-billed Dowitcher, along with a flock of Canada Geese were seen at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

Two Pigeon Guillemots were seen off shore from the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.

 A Least Sandpiper was seen along the Millstone River Estuary in Nanaimo.

Sunday, July 10:

.  A Long-billed Dowitcher was seen at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville

Tuesday July 05:

. Four Short-billed Dowitchers and twenty Western and Least Sandpipers were seen at Port Renfrew.

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

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walk has ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.
    *******************************************************************************The Sunday bird walk on July 24, 2016 will be going to Springwood Park in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the west end of Despard Avenue in Parksville at about 9:30 a.m. (take the Highway 4a exit into Parksville and turn left on Despard Avenue)

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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

Shorebirds at the Mud flats in Parksville

Over one hundred Least and Western Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Sandpiper, one Greater Yellowlegs and a long-billed Dowitcher, along with a flock of Canada Geese were seen at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The birds were seen today at about noon, July 11, 2016

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, July 10, 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, July 10, 2016:

 The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  Purple Martins, Violet-green Swallows, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow and Northern Rough-wing Swallows were seen overhead all morning. Young fledgling Barn Swallows were perched on a branch just off the trail with an adult Swallow appearing regularly to feed them. A large flock of Bushtits was spotted feeding on a conifer next to the trail giving us great views. Common Yellowthroats and Wilson’s Warbler entertained us with their songs as we walked the trail. 

Eighteen birders including visiting birders from Duncan and North Vancouver saw and heard the following thirty-four species: 

Mallard

 Pied-billed Grebe 

 Wood Duck

 Hooded Merganser

 Turkey Vulture

Northern Flicker

 Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Purple Martin

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-wing Swallow

  Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

 Marsh Wren

 Bewick's Wren

Anna’s Hummingbird

   Eurasian Collared Dove

Band-tailed Pigeon

 American Robin

Western Tanager

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow Warbler

   Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-head Grosbeak

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow

  Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow      

Saturday, July 09:
A large flock of Bushtits are feeding on a suet feeder along Boundary Crescent in Nanaimo.

Monday, July 04:

 A mixed flock of over seventy Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and one Sanderling were seen at the Plummer Road mudflats in Parksville 

Pacific-slope Flycatcher nest in Qualicum Beach 

Photo by Stuart Spracklan

 

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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walk has ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 17, 2016 will be going to Ladysmith Harbour. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the left side of Transfer Beach parking area in Ladysmith at about 9:40 a.m.

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“National Birdday”

http://www.nationalbirdday.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purple Martin Open House  Sat., July 16th   2 – 4 pm 

            at Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina

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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

Many Sandpipers(peeps)

Hi birders,
I was out birding this morning with John Purves. We saw a mixed flock of over seventy Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and one Sanderling at the Plummer Road mudflats in Parksville.

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville

Nanaimo bird report, July 03, 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, July 03, 2016:

The Sunday bird walk went to Hemer Park in Cedar. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  We heard and then spotted a    Willow Flycatcher at the start of the walk. We spotted a Western Tanager next to the trail and then saw a total of six Western Tanagers during the morning. A Red-tailed Hawk was seen high up in the clouds over head   Pacific-slope Flycatchers serenaded us throughout the morning and we had the good fortune to see two of them down low and close to the trail.  An Osprey was observed as he perched in a tall conifer over us and then flew away. A Merlin was seen alongside Hemer Road as we left the parking lot, singing as he perched high in a conifer.  

                              Osprey: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Fifteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species: 

Mallard

Wood Duck

Hooded Merganser

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Merlin

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

  Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

  Willow Flycatcher

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Eurasian-collared Dove

Black-headed Grosbeak

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Brown Creeper

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Swainson's Thrush

  American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Warbling Vireo

Hutton’s Vireo

Wilson’s Warbler

  Common Yellowthroat

  Western Tanager

Brown-headed Cowbird

  Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

  Red-winged Blackbird

Red Crossbill 

Tuesday, June 28:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten, along the little Qualicum River, in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny and hot but much cooler in the forest.  We spotted a Black-throated Gray Warbler at the start of the walk, perched high up in a very tall tree.  A Red-breasted Sapsucker flew into a tree next to the trail and began tapping sap holes in the tree. The Sapsucker was soon joined by a young fledgling Sapsucker who started feeding in the sap holes.  We watched the pair with fascination for several minutes--a great sight to see.  A Wilson’s Warbler was singing near the trail and the made an appearance in a short bush giving us great views. We spotted a Western Tanager feeding high in a cedar tree. The Tanager worked his way down the tree playing hide and seek with us and entertaining us for about twenty minutes. 

We ended the Tuesday Bird Walks for the season with a delicious BBQ.  Thanks Callie, Carol, David and Linda. 

 

                         Western Tanager: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders including visiting birders from Malawi and St Albert saw and heard the following twenty-seven species:

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Hammonds Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

European Starling

 

 

 

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

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

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  The Tuesday bird walk has ended for the summer. They will resume on September 06, 2016.

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

The Sunday bird walk on July 10, 2016 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Buttertubs Marsh off Jingle Pot Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 a.m. (The Bowen Road entrance is closed due to construction)

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

“National birdday”

                    http://www.nationalbirdday.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purple Martin Open House  Sat., July 16th   2 – 4 pm 

            at Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina 

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

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