Count feeder birds for science! Project FeederWatch begins November 1st. Join now.

Sunday, 26 February 2017

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



No comments: