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.
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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

  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/