Nanaimo bird report, December 31, 2017:

BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669Or 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.

December 18, 2017

Parksville.

One Palm Warbler and one Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen at Parksville Community Park at the far end on the leafs along the shoreline.

December 19, 2017

Parksville
Three Common Redpolls were seen in a backyard feeder along Meridian Way in Parksville.

December 24-- December 27

Nanaimo.
A Gray-crowned Rosy Finch has been visiting feeders in Nanaimo.

December 27

Nanaimo.
A Rufus Hummingbird is visiting a feeder along Douglas Street in Nanaimo.

December 31

 Nanaimo.

A leucistic Dark-eyed Junco has been visiting feeders in the 3400 block of Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

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Everyone is welcomed 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 Sunday walk on January 07, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Neck Point in Nanaimo off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

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The Tuesday bird walk on January 09, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club 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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                                           Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

Rare sightings

December 18, Parksville.
One Palm Warbler and one Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen at Parksville Community Park at the far end on the leafs along the shoreline.

December 19, Parksville
Three Common Redpolls were seen in a backyard feeder along Meridian Way in Parksville.

December 24 to December 27, Nanaimo.
A Gray-crowned Rosy Finch has been visiting feeders in Nanaimo.

December 27, Nanaimo.
A Rufus Hummingbird is visiting a feeder along Douglas Street in Nanaimo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, December 19, 2017

 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk December 19, 2017:

The Tuesday went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in  Parksville. The morning was very snowy, cool and windy. The tide was high and we noted more birds appeared as the tide receded. Six Fox Sparrows were seen feeding just off the trail. Thirty Brant were seen on the Strait of Georgia. Five Killdeer and four Dunlin were seen feeding along the shoreline.

Fox Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Four birders saw and heard the following twenty-three species:

Brant

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Greater Scaup

Green-wing Teal

Bufflehead

 Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Killdeer

Dunlin

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Glaucous-winged Gull

European Starling

Brown Creeper

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco 

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)  early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”

The Tuesday Bird Walks will resume on January 09, 2018

Good birding

From us hardy birders-“David, Bud, John and Neil”  

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Palm Warbler, December 18, 2017

One Palm Warbler  and a Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen at the  Parksville Community Park in Parksville. The birds were seen at the far end of the park, feeding on the leafs and ground cover near the shore. The birds were seen at about 1:00 pm on December 18.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: John Purves Photo:

                                                         Palm warbler: John Purves Photo:

Nanaimo bird report, December 17, 2017

Nanaimo bird report, December 17, 2017:

“MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR” 

FROM EVERYONE AT THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE. 

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 bird walk, December 17, 2017  

The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with light rain showers and very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. Over fifty Brant Geese were spotted along the shoreline. A cloud of an estimated five hundred Dunlin lifted and flew along the shore giving us great views. We saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch, three Chestnut-backed Chickadees, five Golden-crowned Kinglets and two Ruby-crowned Kinglets feeding on bushes about six feet off the ground, next to the trail.

Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Six birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:

Brant Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Dunlin

 Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Northern Flicker

Varied Thrush

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Pacific Wren

Brown Creeper

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow 

 Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Pine Siskin  

Brant: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Saturday, December 16:

Over two hundred Pacific White-sided Dolphins were seen corralling herring at Nanoose Bay at 11:30 a.m. 

Tuesday, December 12:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday birds walk December 12, 2017:

The Tuesday went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Common Redpolls feeding in a tall birch tree next to the trail.  We heard a flock of Red Crossbills fly overhead.  We saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet moving very quickly in the trees along the trail.  A large flock of Brant Geese were spotted on the ocean. Ten Gadwall were seen near the shore line.  We had great views of a Hairy Woodpecker feeding in a tall conifer.  A Brandt’s Cormorant, several Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers were seen just offshore.

 Hairy Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two birders including two visiting birders from St. Albert, Alberta saw and heard the following fifty-four species:

Canada Geese

Brandt Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Common Murre

Belted Kingfisher

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Shrike

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

American Robin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Brewers Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Common Redpoll

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

  Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo:  

Please Note

Check this site early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! 

 The Tuesday Bird walk on December 19, 2017, will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the Oceanside of Highway 19A in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m.

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The Sunday Bird walks will resume on January 07, 2018

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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

Pacific White sided Dolphins

A herd of over two hundred Pacific White sided Dolphins  were seen corralling herring at Nanoose Bay today. GREAT SIGHTING!!!

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk December 12, 2017:

The Tuesday went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in  Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of two Common Redpolls feeding in a tall birch tree next to the trail.  We heard a flock of Red Crossbills fly overhead.  We saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet moving very quickly in the trees along the trail.  A large flock of Brant Geese were spotted on the ocean. Ten Gadwall were seen near the shore line.  We had great views of a Hairy Woodpecker feeding in a tall conifer.  A Brandt’s Cormorant, several Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers were seen just offshore.

 Hairy Woodpecker: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two birders including two visiting birders from St. Albert, Alberta saw and heard the following fifty-four species:

Canada Geese

Brandt Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Common Murre

Belted Kingfisher

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Shrike

Anna's Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

American Robin

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Brewers Blackbird

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Common Redpoll

Red Crossbill

House Finch

Pine Siskin

  Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo:

 

Please Note

Check this site   early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird walk on December 19, 2017, will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the oceanside of Highway 19A in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m.

Good Birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, December 10, 2017

Nanaimo bird report, December 10, 2017:

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 bird walk, December 10, 2017  

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was mostly sunny with calm winds. One Trumpeter Swan flew high over head. We saw one Canada Goose on the marsh. Two Pied-billed Grebe, and three Hooded Mergansers were also on the marsh. We spotted three Downy Woodpeckers feeding on the tall trees. A Golden-crowned Sparrow, a Fox Sparrow, several Pine Siskins and American Goldfinch were seen just off the trail. A Merlin was perched at the top of a very tall tree, preening itself.

                                                Pied-billed Grebe: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Mallard

American Wigeon

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Hooded Merganser
Ringed-necked Duck

Great Blue Heron

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Eurasian Collared-Dove

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Steller's Jay

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Anna’s Hummingbird

Brown Creeper

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bushtit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Pine Siskin

Purple Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow   

                                                                                              Fox Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Tuesday, December 05:

Tuesday bird walks December 05, 2017:

Finally it wasn’t raining and the Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach in French Creek! Third try lucky!  The morning was cloudy with calm winds. A Merlin was spotted perched high up in a tall snag. Several flocks of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Common Loons and Long-tailed Ducks were seen just off shore. Many flocks of Common Mergansers, Red-breasted Mergansers and Pacific Loons were seen further offshore. Eight Brant Geese were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia.  Flocks of Ancient Murrelets and Common Murre were seen heading up the Strait all morning.  We spotted a Fox Sparrow, a Song Sparrow, four Varied Thrush and four White-crowned Sparrows just off the trail.  Looking towards the horizon from French Creek, we were entertained by two Hump-backed Whales for fifteen minutes as they spouted and came in and out of the ocean. 

                                                                               

                                                          Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eleven birders saw and heard the following forty-nine species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Brant

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter 

 White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead 

 Common Goldeneye

 Common Merganser 

 Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

 Horned Grebe

 Red-necked Grebe

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Pelagic Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

 Bald Eagle

Merlin

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Black-bellied Plover

 Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

 Black Turnstone

 Mew Gull

 California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Iceland Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull 

 Eurasian-collared Dove 

 Northern Flicker

                                                             Northwestern Crow

Steller’s Jay

Anna’s Hummingbird

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

 American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow
House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Over sixty Common Redpolls were seen in the Alders near the parking lot at Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.

A flock of thirty Evening Grosbeaks were seen at the end of Lowery’s Road near the Little Qualicum Cheese works in Qualicum Beach.

Thursday, December 07:

An American Kestrel was spotted along Cameron Road near the Nanaimo Airport in south Nanaimo. 

Please Note

Check this site early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

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The Tuesday Bird walk on December 12, 2017, will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the Oceanside of Highway 19A in Parksville at about 9:10 a.m.

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The Sunday walk on December 17, 2017 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville, depending on the weather. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at main parking at Rathtrevor Park off highway 19a, at about 9:30 a.m.

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

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