Parksville/Qualicum beach Tuesday bird walk, february 28, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk on February 28, 2017 went to the Brant viewing platform in Qualicum Beach and the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The morning was mostly sunny with cloudy periods and calm winds. The surprise sightings of the morning was a Sanderling and a Eurasian Widgeon, feeding along the shoreline at the viewing platform, with Black Turnstones, Killdeer, a Black-bellied Plover and four Black Oystercatchers.  Many Surf Scoters, four Long-tailed Ducks, two Pacific Loons and six Common Loons were seen further off shore.  Four Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead the hatchery, heading down the Island.  We spotted two singing American Dippers on the river at the Fish Hatchery.  A large number of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding on a tree just off the snow covered trails.  A Cooper’s Hawk was seen flying high overhead. A large number of American Robins scurrying about throughout the morning.  A  Varied Thrush was spotted in a tree near the trail.  Three Snow Geese, feeling quite at home in the snowy conditions, flew overhead just above the trees.

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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

Trumpeter Swan

Snow Geese

Canada Geese

Harlequin Duck

Green-winged Teal

American Widgeon

Eurasian Widgeon

Mallard

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Bonaparte Gull

Sanderling

Black Turnstone

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

 American Dipper

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee

  Downy Woodpecker

 Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird

American Robin

 Varied Thrush

 Spotted Towhee

 Song Sparrow 

           

Hooded Merganser:  Ralph Hocken Photo. 

The Tuesday bird walk on March 07,2017 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park at the parking lot next to the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road on the ocean side of highway 19a 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, February 26, 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. 

Sunday bird walk, February 26, 2017 

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and a cool breeze off the Strait of Georgia. A Glaucous Gull was spotted in with a flock of  Mew Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls just off shore on the estuary.  White-winged Scoters, Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe and Horned Grebes were seen further off shore.  We spotted a Northern Shrike perched on a bush at the edge of the estuary.  Two Bald Eagles were perched near the top of a tall tree giving us great views.

Northern Shrike: J. Morrison

Five birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species:

Canada Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Northern Pintail

Common Goldeneye

                                                                                                                                            Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Northern Shrike

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

European Startling

American Robin

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow 

Monday, February 20:

Two Band-tailed Pigeons were seen at Sproat Lake near Port Alberni. 

Twenty Violet-green swallows and four Tree Swallows were seen over Brannen Lake in Nanaimo. 

Six Bohemian Waxwing were seen feeding on Hawthorne Berries near Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. 

                                                                   Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 21, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk on February 21, 2017 went to Deep Bay.  The morning was sunny and warm and the winds were calm.  The Strait of Georgia was as smooth as glass.  Four Trumpeter Swans flew over head. A large number of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were seen and heard on the water not far from shore.  A flock of at least sixty-eight Long-tailed Ducks were about fifty feet from shore and entertained us with their singing for a good part of the morning.  A Pigeon Guillemot in winter plumage was spotted near the boats.  A White-crowned Sparrow, two Golden-crowned Sparrows were in the bushes along the roadway  and there were several House Finch's were perched and singing just off the road—Spring is here!!  

 Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

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

Trumpeter Swan

American Widgeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northwester Crow

Common Raven

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker 

California Quail 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Golden-d                                                                                                                                               Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch  

 Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo. 

Two Trumpeter Swans and a Cedar Waxwing were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. 

Twelve Tree Swallows were spotted flying over Brannen Lake in Nanaimo. 

A male Rufous Hummingbird was seen at feeders in the 3500 block of Shetland Drive in Nanaimo. 

Saturday, February 18:

Two Sandhill Cranes were seen in with a flock of Canada Geese across from McNabbs Corn Field in Yellowpoint. 

The Tuesday bird walk on February 28, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in north Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville, at the parking lot near the Lions Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on March 05, 2017 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at Buttertubs Marsh parking lot off Bowen Road (on Buttertubs Drive) at about 9:15 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: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

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With a minimum purchase of $120

Until March 11 2017

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 21, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk on February 21, 2017 went to Deep Bay.  The morning was sunny and warm and the winds were calm.  The Strait of Georgia was as smooth as glass.  Four Trumpeter Swans flew over head. A large number of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and Black Scoters were seen and heard on the water not far from shore.  A flock of at least sixty-eight Long-tailed Ducks were about fifty feet from shore and entertained us with their singing for a good part of the morning.  A Pigeon Guillemot in winter plumage was spotted near the boats.  A White-crowned Sparrow, two Golden-crowned Sparrows were in the bushes along the roadway  and there were several House Finch's were perched and singing just off the road—Spring is here!!  

 

 

Long-tailed Ducks: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

Trumpeter Swan

American Widgeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northwester Crow

Common Raven

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker 

California Quail 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

                                                            Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch 

 Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on February 28, 2017 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery in north Qualicum Beach.Meet at the Parksville Community Park in Parksville, at the parking lot near the Lions Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:15 a.m.

Good birding

Neil Robins

Parksville 

 http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/

       thebackyard@shaw.ca

 

 

 

Nanaimo bird report, February 19, 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.

Sunday bird walk, February 19, 2017 

The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with light rain showers. Over sixty

Brant Geese, Mew Gulls, Thayer's Gulls California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls  were feeding along the tide line close to shore. Several

Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Pelagic Cormorants, Brandt’s Cormorants,

Double-crested Cormorants and a Common Murre were seen further offshore.  We had great views of two Golden-crowned Kinglets who were feeding on a bush just off the trail.

Brant Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-eight species:

Brant Geese

American Widgeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black scoter

Northern Pintail

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

                                              Long-tailed Duck

                                                Horned Grebe

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Murre

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Black Oystercatcher

Bald Eagle

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

European Startling

American Robin

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Pine Siskin

Saturday, February 18:

Two Sandhill Cranes were seen in with a flock of Canada Geese across from McNabbs Corn Field in Yellowpoint.  

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, February 14, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach.  The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.

Several large flocks of Brant Geese were heading up the Strait.  A Brandt’s Cormorant, several Pacific Loons, Common Loons, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Ducks and Surf Scoters were seen offshore.  One Marbled Murrelet, an Ancient Murrelet and a Common Murre were seen further offshore.  One Ring-billed Gull, two Black-bellied Plovers, four Killdeer, four Greater Yellowlegs, twenty Black Turnstones and three Black Oystercatchers were feeding alone the shore near the gravel bar. A Northern Shoveler was spotted feeding along French Creek.  Four California Quail were seen hiding in a bush just off the trail at French Creek.

  Greater Yellowlegs: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

 Twenty-two birders, including visiting birders from Vancouver, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Washington State saw and heard the following forty-five species:

                                                  Canada Geese

                                                        Brant

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye 

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Horned Grebe

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Marbled Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Belted Kingfisher

Ring-billed Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

California Quail

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

European Starling

Anna’s Hummingbird

Bewick’s Wren

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Varied Thrush

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Ring-billed Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk on February 21, 2017 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 Deep Bay Marina parking lot at about 9:30 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on February 26, 2017 will be going to Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at beach just past the church camp off Highway 19 and Arlington Road across from Arlington Pub at about 9:15 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: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com