Bird Report - November 27 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 27, 2016: 

This Sunday’s Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning’s weather was cool, overcast and a couple of small showers. It was very quiet at the start, very few ducks on the marsh.

A couple of the highlights were seeing the Virgina Rail seen by the tall viewing stand and the 6 Trumpeter Swans that flew over. The parking lot bird seen at the end of the walk were a few Golden-crowned Kinglets passing through.

 

Trumpeter Swans in flight. Photo by Ralph Hocken

Twenty birders saw and heard the following thirty one species:

Trumpeter Swan 

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Mallard

Gadwall

Hooded Merganser

Ring-necked Duck

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Great Blue Heron

Virginia Rail

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared-doves

California Quail

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northwestern Crow

Marsh Wren

Bewick's Wren

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Northern Shrike

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Sparrow 

Sunday November 27:

NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in a backyard near the 2500 block of Glenayr drive, Nanaimo.

Thursday November 24:

2 – STELLER’S JAYS were seen on Summit drive, near Long Lake in Nanaimo.

4 - STELLER’S JAYS were also reported at end of Douglas Avenue, near the Chase River.

Thursday November 24:

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was seen again at Pipers Lagoon. It was seen between the parking lot and the fort on the lagoon side.

ROCK WREN was also seen at Pipers Lagoon further up the trail from the Mountain Bluebird.

Monday November 21:

Immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Buttertubs Marsh.

Sunday November 20:

ROCK WREN was seen again at Neck Point Park,

Saturday November 19:

4 – GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen at Buttertubs Marsh

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk

November 22, 2016:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with rain showers and a very strong wind blasting off the Strait of Georgia.  We had several good views of Pacific Wrens in the underbrush near the trails throughout the morning.  A Brown Creeper caught our attention as it crept up a conifer tree. We watched Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were feeding close to the ground during the morning. A flock of Surf Scoters, a White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter and a Long-tailed Duck were seen heading down the Strait.  A flock of Black Turnstones flew low over the stormy water heading towards the shore.

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seven enthusiastic birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species:

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

American Widgeon

Long-tailed Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black Turnstone

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pacific Wren

Brown Creeper

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

 

Golden-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on November 29, 2016 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. Or meet at Columbia Beach at about 9:15, a.m. (Turn off highway 19a at Columbia Drive turn right on Admiral Tryon Blvd. go about 100 meters turn left onto the parking area.) 

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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 December 6, 2016 will be going to Rathtrevor  Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near 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 December 4, 2016 will be going to the Shelly road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly road at about 9:20 a.m.

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     Good birding

Colin Bartlett.

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/

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