Nanaimo bird report, November 06, 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, November 06, 2016: 

This Sunday’s Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with cloudy periods and the winds were calm. We had great views of several Ruby-crowned Kinglets showing their bright red crown. Two Lesser Scaup and an American Coot were seen on the marsh along with many Canada Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. A Green Heron was spotted very quickly from the viewing platform. Two Cooper’s Hawks and a Red-tailed Hawk was seen overhead.

Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Mallard

American Wigeon

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Wood Duck

Hooded Merganser

Ringed-necked Duck

Lesser Scaup

American Coot

Great Blue Heron

Glaucous-winged Gull

Virginia Rail

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Eurasian Collared-Dove

California Quail

American Robin

Steller's Jay

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

Pacific Wren

Marsh Wren

Bewick's Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbirds

American Goldfinch

Purple Finch

House Sparrow 

 Fifteen Snow Geese were seen along Holden creek in south Nanaimo.

Saturday, November 05: 

A Short-eared Owl and three Western Meadowlarks were seen at the end of the spit at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo. 

 A Snow Bunting was seen for the last two days at the French Creek Jetty near the gravel spit. 

Snow Bunting: John Purves Photo:

Thursday, November 03:

A Red Phalarope and a flock of Surfbirds were seen at the end of the spit at Pipers Lagoon in Nanaimo.  

Red Phalarope: Nick Smith Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk

November 01, 2016:

 The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning started out partly cloudy with calm winds but the wind picked up from the Strait of Georgia as the morning went on.  Eight Snow Geese were seen at the Parksville Community Park.  Two thousand Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters were seen offshore.  Two large flocks of Greater Scaup were seen flying down the Strait.  Long-tailed Ducks, Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Brandt's Cormorants and Doubled-crested Cormorants were seen on the water all morning.  A large number of  Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding along the edge of the forest.  A Hermit Thrush was spotted lowdown in the forest.  We spotted a Palm Warbler pumping its tail constantly and moving quickly at the top of an apple tree near the Nature house.

Long-tailed duck with Surf Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders, including birders from Newfoundland and Gabriola Island, saw and heard the following fifty species:

Snow Geese

Canada Geese
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck

White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant

Doubled-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Black Turnstone
Bald Eagle
Thayer’s Gull

Mew Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet

Pigeon Guillemot
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven

Palm Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin

Hermit Thrush

European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
House Finch

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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 08 will be going to Deep Bay. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at the Deep Bay Marina at about 9:30 a.m.

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The Sunday bird walk on November 13, 2016 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:30 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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/