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 by 8am the day of the walk.

Sunday 22 January 2017

Nanaimo bird report, January 22, 2017


“Nanaimo bird report”
“Explore Nature--Go Birding”
To report your sightings call the birdstore at 250-390-3669 or e-mail thebirdstore@shaw.ca
Please remember when reporting a sighting please leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sightings.

The Sunday bird walk on January 22, 2017 went to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers but calm winds.

Western Meadowlarks were spotted along the fence post line.  Four Trumpeter Swans were resting in the estuary and then twenty more flew in and landed near the tide line.  We spotted a Northern Shrike perched in a tall bush on the estuary and then watched him throughout the morning.
Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Geese
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
 Common Goldeneye
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Northern Shrike
Northern Harrier
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
American Robin
Western Meadowlark
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
 Killdeer
 Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
 European Starling
 Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
 Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird


Western Meadowlark: Ralph Hocken Photo. 



Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk January 17, 2017 

This week’s Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with a very strong wind off the Strait Of Georgia.  Black-bellied Plovers, Black Turnstones, Black Oystercatchers and Killdeer were seen walking not far from us along the tide line.  Large flocks of Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were seen bouncing in the waves not far from shore.  Thirty-two seals were lounging on the gravel bar near the estuary. We spotted twenty Trumpeter Swans along the river and the estuary during the morning. A large number of great Blue Heron were resting in the tall grass on the estuary.

Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-four species.
Canada Geese
Brant
Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

American Widgeon

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Lesser Scaup

Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco



The Tuesday bird walk on January 24, 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 next to the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive, on the Oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on January 29, 2017 will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the Jingle Pot Road side of Buttertubs at about 9:15 a.m


Good birding,

Neil Robins



       thebackyard@shaw.ca




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