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 30 October 2016

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT, OCTOBER 30, 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-*q
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, October 30, 2016: 

This Sunday’s Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was sunny and the winds were calm. A flock of Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead heading down the island. Common Goldeneye and Barrow’s Goldeneye were seen on the Nanaimo River.

We were entertained for most of the morning with several sightings of a Short-eared Owl.  Numerous Northern Shrikes caught our attention on the walk and a Rough-legged Hawk was perched on a tree near the trail. Two Wilson’s Snipe flew over and landed in the grass near the trail giving us great views.

Several bright yellow Western Meadowlarks perched close to the trail.
Short-eared owl being mobbed by a Crow: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Twenty birders including visiting birders from Newfoundland and Alberta saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Mallard

American Wigeon

 Mallard

Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Northern Pintail

Green-wing Teal

  Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

 Great Blue Heron

  Bald Eagle

Short-eared Owl

Northern Harrier

Rough-legged Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Northern Shrike

Killdeer

Wilson’s Snipe

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

  Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

  Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

 European Starling

Western Meadowlark

 American Robin

Bewick’s Wren

Bushtit

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Spotted Towhee

Savannah’s Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch



Friday, October 28:

Over Twenty Snow Geese and two Trumpeter Swans were seen on a field next to the Black Bear Pub in north Nanaimo.



Thursday, October 27:

A Common Goldeneye was spotted at the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. 



Wednesday, October 26: 

Many Anna’s Hummingbirds and American Goldfinch are visiting feeders in Ladysmith.



The Rock Wren is still being seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.





























Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk

 October 25, 2016:



The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.  The morning started out with “hold on to your scope” winds off the water, and the rain continued fairly steady throughout the morning.  7 Brandt was seen flying low over the water, and both a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Merlin were spotted over the trees.

Brant: Ralph Hocken Photo.



7 hardy, wind worn birders, who didn’t get the memo, saw and heard the following 31 species:

                                                      Brant Geese

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Harlequin Duck

Mallard

American Wigeon

Double-crested Cormorant

Black-bellied Plover

Glaucous-winged Gull

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Merlin

Bald Eagle

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Canada Goose

Northern Flicker

Spotted Towhee

American Robin

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Dark-eyed Junco

Chestnut-backed Chickadee



Good birding,

Rhonda Fleming

  





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

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  We leave from the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

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

The Tuesday bird walk on November 01, 2016 will be going once again to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot next to the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on November 06, 2016 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the Buttertubs Marsh parking lot off Jingle Pot Road at about 9:20 a.m.

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



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

A blitz survey of geese in the Nanaimo area on

 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 09:00-11:00

As part of the Canada Geese project by VIU biology student Stew Pearce, we will be conducting a blitz survey of geese in the Nanaimo area on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 09:00-11:00

 We are seeking as many volunteers as possible to help out with these surveys.



The goal of the blitz survey will be to obtain more direct estimates of total goose abundance and distribution. The survey area between Lantzville and Cedar will be divided into 10-20+ subsections (depending on number of surveyors), which will be surveyed simultaneously. Individual surveyors (or teams) will be assigned to a subsection, and will count Canada Geese and record any neck collars present. The survey should take no more than 2 hours.



Stew will be conducting a regular count survey at the same time (along a set survey route with 60 stops). Comparison of the blitz survey and Stew’s regular count will provide an approximation of the detection efficiency for the regular count surveys. In addition, these surveys will provide estimates of the total goose population, which can be used to compare with mark-and-recapture estimates derived from collared geese.



If you are interested in participating, please email me (eric.demers@viu.ca). Anyone can participate – the only requirement is a pair of binoculars. More volunteers means a more effective, thorough and synchronized blitz survey.



Thanks ahead for your help.

Cheers, Eric (and Stew)



P.S.: You can find out more about the project from the website (https://www.viu.ca/gooseproject).



******************************************************************************
     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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/

Tuesday 25 October 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 25, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.  The morning started out with “hold on to your scope” winds off the water, and the rain continued fairly steady throughout the morning.  7 Brandt were seen flying low over the water, and both a Sharp-shinned Hawk and Merlin were spotted over the trees.

7 hardy, wind worn birders, who didn’t get the memo, saw and heard the following 31 species:
Brandt
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Harlequin Duck
Mallard
American Widgeon
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-bellied Plover
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Canada Goose
Northern Flicker
Spotted Towhee
American Robin
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Same place next week, and hopefully, we can increase that count.
Good birding,
Rhonda Fleming

Tuesday bird walk Cancelled

This Tuesday’s Bird Walk to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is cancelled due to weather conditions.
 
We have re-scheduled the walk to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park for next Tuesday, November 01, 2016
 
Neil Robins
Parksville

Sunday 23 October 2016

Nanaimo bird report, October 23, 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, October 23, 2016: 

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was cloudy with light rain showers.  A Northern Shrike was perched at the top of the tall snag near the parking area. A Northern Harrier flew over head.  A Western Grebe, a Brandt’s Cormorant, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Surf Scoters and many White-winged Scoters were seen on the Strait of Georgia. Two Chestnut-backed Chickadees were seen next to the trail.

Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Ten birders including a visiting bird from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following thirty-three species: 

Snow Geese
Mallard

Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier

Northern Shrike

Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven

Brewers Blackbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch



Tuesday, October 18: 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and Lot Ten off Highway 19a and Kinkade Road in Qualicum Beach. The morning started cloudy with light rain showers and calm winds but the rain stopped, making for a pleasant walk.  We saw Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks on the Strait of Georgia--our first of the season.  Pacific Loons and Common Loons were plentiful on the strait. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones flew in close to shore giving us great views. We heard and then saw several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets throughout the morning.  Bewick’s Wrens and Pacific Wrens entertained us just off the trail. 

Long-tail Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Thirteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull

Western Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Brown Creeper

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch 

Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.


Monday, October 17:

“Rare Bird Alert”

A White-throated Sparrow was seen near the southwest corner parking lot, about 100 meters along the straight stretch of trail heading north, at Buttertubs Marsh, in Nanaimo.



Sunday, October 16: 

“Rare Bird Alert”

A Rock Wren was seen at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.





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

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  We leave from the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

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

The Tuesday bird walk on October 25, 2016 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor at about 9:10 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on October 30, 2016 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road off Cedar Road at about 9:30 a.m.

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

Reporting Collared Canada Goose Sightings

Hello fellow birders:

As part of the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Bird Banding project, we banded and collared 200 Canada Geese around Nanaimo last June.  This banding effort is part of an undergraduate research project by VIU biology student Stew Pearce, with main objective to determine the abundance, distribution and movement of geese in the Nanaimo area.  The geese have white neck collars with black lettering that ranges from 000P to 199P.

We are conducting regular surveys to track geese, but we hope to increase the number of collared goose sightings by encouraging birders and members of the public to report their sightings through our project website - https://wordpress.viu.ca/gooseproject/.  There is a simple form to fill out to report sightings.  We are interested in any sightings of these geese, whether in the Nanaimo area or elsewhere, including the number of “uncollared” geese they may associated with.

We appreciate your help with this project.  Feel free to contact us off list to find out more about the project or results so far (stew.pearce@shaw.ca).

Eric Demers, Ph.D., R.P.Bio.
Biology Department
B.Sc. Degree Advisor
Vancouver Island University

******************************************************************************
     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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/

Thursday 20 October 2016

ROCK WREN

RBA: ROCK WREN
A Rock Wren was seen at Neck Point Park on October 19/16.
"We found the very obliging Rock Wren at Neck Point today, 19 October at about one o'clock.  We heard about it yesterday.  The bird was feeding among some logs on the shore of a small cove close to the stairway. We were able to stay with it for about ten minutes after finding it immediately when we arrived at the spot"
Good Birding.

Tuesday 18 October 2016

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 18, 2016

 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and Lot Ten off Highway 19a and Kinkade Road in Qualicum Beach. The morning started cloudy with light rain showers and calm winds but the rain stopped, making for a pleasant walk.  We saw Black Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks on the Strait of Georgia--our first of the season.  Pacific Loons and Common Loons were plentiful on the strait.  Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones flew in close to shore giving us great views. We heard and then saw several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets throughout the morning.  Bewick’s Wrens and Pacific Wrens entertained us just off the trail.                                                                                     

                                                            Long-tail Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Thirteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Mew Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Brown Creeper
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch 
                                                         Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on October 25, 2016 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Park at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot in Rathtrevor at about 9:10 a.m. 

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville  

       thebackyard@shaw.ca

Monday 17 October 2016

Snow Geese in Parksville

Over one hundred Snow Geese were spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia this morning from the Plummer Road side of Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Two Herman's Gulls, six Brandt Cormorants, seven Black Turnstones. a Long-billed Dowitcher, several Killdeer, three Bufflehead and a Western Grebe were seen in the same area.

 

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville

Sunday 16 October 2016

Nanaimo bird report, October 16, 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-*q
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, October 16, 2016: 

This Sundays Bird Walk to Nanoose Bay is cancelled due to weather conditions.

We have re-schedule the walk to Nanoose Bay for next Sunday.



Saturday, October 15:

A Northern Shrike was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.



A Red-breasted Sapsucker was spotted at Cottle Lake in Nanaimo.



Steller’s Jays were seen in the Extension area of south Nanaimo. 



Wednesday, October 12:

A White-throated Sparrow was seen in a backyard at Willow Park near Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.



 A Leucistic American Robin was seen in with a flock of American Robins at Craig Creek near Craig Bay in Parksville.

Leucistic Robin: Photo by Randy:



Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 11, 2016

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm.  We saw and heard a large number of Golden-crowned Kinglets at the start of the walk.  A Barred Owl was perched on a snag not far from the trail, giving us great long views.  We had six sightings of Northern Shrike perched at the top of shrubs on the meadows.  A large flock of Black Turnstones landed on a log next to the shoreline near American Wigeons, Mallards, a Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintails and Harlequin Ducks. We watched in fascination as a  Bald Eagle swooped in and chased a Mallard for a about 10 minutes before catching him. The Eagle held the Mallard under the water until the Mallard broke free, with the Eagle in hot pursuit.  The Mallard escaped to the cheering birders!  A  Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen high overhead.
Barred Owl: Ralph Hocken Photo.



Sixteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-eight species:

Canada Geese

 American Wigeon

 Mallard

Northern Shoveler

 Northern Pintail

 Harlequin Duck

 Green-wing Teal

 Surf Scoter

 White-winged Scoter

 Common Merganser

 Red-breasted Merganser

 Pacific Loon

 Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Great Blue Heron

Barred Owl

 Bald Eagle

 Red-tailed Hawk

 Sharp-shinned Hawk

Merlin

 Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Northern Shrike

 Mew Gull

 Bonaparte’s Gull

 California Gull

 Thayer's Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

 Anna's Hummingbird

 Belted Kingfisher

 Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

American Pipit

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

 Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren

 Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

 American Robin

Townsend’s Solitaire

 European Starling

 Spotted Towhee

 Savannah Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

 Red-winged Blackbird

 Brewer's Blackbird

 House Finch

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

American Goldfinch

Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo.



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

Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  We leave from the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

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

The Tuesday bird walk on October 18, 2016 will be going to Lot Ten north of Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

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

The Sunday bird walk on October 23, 2016 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking near the Church Camp off Highway 19 and Nanoose Station Road (across the road from Arlington Pub) at about 9:20 a.m.

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

Reporting Collared Canada Goose Sightings

Hello fellow birders:

As part of the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Bird Banding project, we banded and collared 200 Canada Geese around Nanaimo last June.  This banding effort is part of an undergraduate research project by VIU biology student Stew Pearce, with main objective to determine the abundance, distribution and movement of geese in the Nanaimo area.  The geese have white neck collars with black lettering that ranges from 000P to 199P.

We are conducting regular surveys to track geese, but we hope to increase the number of collared goose sightings by encouraging birders and members of the public to report their sightings through our project website - https://wordpress.viu.ca/gooseproject/.  There is a simple form to fill out to report sightings.  We are interested in any sightings of these geese, whether in the Nanaimo area or elsewhere, including the number of “uncollared” geese they may associated with.

We appreciate your help with this project.  Feel free to contact us off list to find out more about the project or results so far (stew.pearce@shaw.ca).

Eric Demers, Ph.D., R.P.Bio.
Biology Department
B.Sc. Degree Advisor
Vancouver Island University

******************************************************************************
     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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/