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 here by 8am the day of the walk. Our first bird walks of the year are going out on Sunday February 4th and Tuesday February 6th. Locations will be posted to our next Bird Report.

Tuesday 28 March 2017

At the start of the Tuesday bird walk we scouted out a rare bird for this area—an Indigo Bunting.  We saw the Bunting where it had previously been reported, in the 4900 block of Nicholas Street in Port Alberni.  It was a rare treat to see this bird here.  The Indigo Bunting is usually seen in eastern and southern United States at this time of the year.

                                                                      Indigo Bunting: John Purves Photo.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Somass Estuary in Port Alberni. The morning was cloudy with light showers and calm winds.

Hundreds of Violet-green Swallows and several Tree Swallows were flying overhead for most of the morning. We counted forty-two

Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding in the reeds and trees along side the estuary. Twelve Gadwall, a large flock of Ring-necked Ducks,

many Greater Scaup and several Lesser Scaup were seen resting on the side of the trail and flew into the estuary as we walked by.

Twelve birders including visiting birders from St Albert and Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-nine species:
Canada Geese
Gadwall
American Widgeon
Mallard
Bufflehead
Green-wing Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American Coot
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shrike
Turkey Vulture
California Gull
Mew Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
Indigo Bunting
Yellow-rumped Warbler
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Marsh Wren
Bushtit
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red-winged Blackbird
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
 
 
 


 


Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.

On the drive home from Port Alberni we saw a Turkey Vulture and four Trumpeter Swans along the highway. 

The Tuesday bird walk on April 04, 2017 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. 

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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com


Sunday 26 March 2017

Nanaimo bird report, March 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, March 26, 2017
The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with heavy rain and very strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler singing at the start of the walk. Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead and Common Mergansers were on the Strait. A Downy Woodpecker was seen feeding on a bush just off the trail. American Robins were plentiful throughout the morning.   


American Robins: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eight birders saw and heard the following fifteen species: 
Harlequin Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
  Glaucous-winged Gull 
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
    Northwestern Crow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
  Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
   American Robin
  Spotted Towhee
  Song Sparrow

Saturday, March 25:  
Turkey Vultures have been seen over Colbourne Road in Nanaimo and Meridian Way in Parksville.

A Common Snipe was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Thursday, March 23:
Rufous Hummingbirds have been seen at feeders along Dolphin Drive in Nanoose Bay, along Morell Circle in Nanaimo, in the 800 block of Harewood Mines Road in Nanaimo, on Meridian Way in Parksville, the top of Colbourne Road in Nanaimo, in Ladysmith and two were seen at the Little Qualicum Village.  They are back!  Spring MUST be here!

Wednesday, March 22:
Rare Bird Alert”
An Indigo Bunting was seen visiting suet feeders in the 4900 block of Nicholas Street in Port Alberni.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen visiting a suet feeder near Christopher and McGirr in Nanaimo.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday Bird Walk, March 21, 2017
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with light rain and a light wind off the Strait Of Georgia. We saw hundreds of  Brant Geese offshore from Columbia Beach. Thousands of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and newly arrived Bonaparte's Gulls were in the area all morning.  Numerous Pacific Loons and Common Loons were seen on the Strait of Georgia.  A Brandt's Cormorant, a Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were observed further offshore. Over twenty Long-tailed Ducks were heading up the Strait.  Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers were resting along the many big rocks along the shoreline. Song Sparrows, a White-crowned Sparrow, a Golden-crowned Sparrow and an Anna’s Hummingbird were seen just off the road. 

There are thousands of Surf Scoters, Gulls, Dunlin and Plovers at Parksville Bay today.
                                                                        
   Bonaparte's Gulls in flight; Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese
 Brant
 Mallard
 Harlequin Duck
 Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
 Long-tailed Duck
 Common Goldeneye
 Barrow's Goldeneye
 Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
 Horned Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Bald Eagle
Black Turnstone
Black-bellied Plover
 Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull,
California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
                                                    American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
Red-wing Blackbird
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 House Finch
House Sparrow
                           
Brandt’s Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo:



Bird walks this week

The Tuesday bird walk on March 28, 2017 will be going to the Somass Estuary in Port Alberni. Meet at The Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Kids Playground at 8:30 a.m. or meet at the parking lot along Alberni Inlet & third Avenue in Port Alberni at about 9:15 a.m.(Follow Highway 4 into Port Alberni, go right to the tee intersection, turn left along third Avenue and park at the parking lot next to the Alberni Inlet

The Sunday bird walk on April 02, 2017, will be going to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Shelly Road off highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:25 a.m.

Revive the Nanaimo Naturalists’ Club
Monday April 3rd 2017 at 7 PM Vancouver Island University,
Building 180- Room 134.

 All welcome
Enjoy a great presentation by John Neville and help to get a naturalists’ club going again in Nanaimo

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo
  V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633

Tuesday 21 March 2017

Parksville/ Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 21, 2017 

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach. The morning was cloudy with light rain and a light wind off the Strait Of Georgia.  We saw hundreds of  Brant Geese offshore from Columbia Beach. Thousands of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and newly arrived Bonaparte's Gulls were in the area all morning.  Numerous Pacific Loons and Common Loons were seen on the Strait Of Georgia.  A Brandt's Cormorant, a Common Murre and a Pigeon Guillemot were observed further offshore. Over twenty Long-tailed Ducks were heading up the Strait.  Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers were resting along the many big rocks along the shoreline. Song Sparrows, a White-crowned Sparrow, a Golden-crowned Sparrow and an Anna’s Hummingbird were seen just off the road. 

There are thousands of Surf Scoters, Gulls, Dunlin and Plovers at Parksville Bay today.



Bonaparte's Gulls in flight: Ralph Hocken Photo:
 

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-four species:
Canada Geese
 Brant
 Mallard
 Harlequin Duck,
 Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
 Long-tailed Duck
 Common Goldeneye
 Barrow's Goldeneye
 Common Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Pacific Loon
 Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
 Horned Grebe
 Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
 Pelagic Cormorant
 Bald Eagle
Black Turnstone
Black-bellied Plover
 Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
 Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull,
California Gull
 Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
 Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Eurasian-collared Dove
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird
Spotted Towhee
 Red-wing Blackbird
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
 Dark-eyed Junco
 House Finch
House Sparrow







Brandt’s Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo:
 
The Tuesday bird walk on March 28, 2017 will be going to the Somass Estuary in Port Alberni. Meet at The Parksville Community Park at the parking lot near the Lions Kids Playground at 8:30 a.m. or meet at the parking lot along Alberni Inlet & third Avenue in Port Alberni at about 9:15 a.m.(Follow Highway 4 into Port Alberni, go right to the tee intersection, turn left along third Avenue and park at the parking lot next to the Alberni Inlet)           
 
 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
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
 

Sunday 19 March 2017

Revive the Nanaimo Naturalists’ Club

Monday April 3rd 2017 at 7 PM  Vancouver Island University, Building 180 Room 134.


All welcome

Enjoy a great presentation by John Neville

 and help to get a naturalists’ club going again in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo bird report, March 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, March 19, 2017   
The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny with calm winds.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler was heard and then seen at the start of the walk.  An Orange-crowned Warbler was heard singing.  We saw a Pileated Woodpecker working on his nest hole and two other Pileated Woodpeckers hammering a snag.  Seven Brown Creepers were seen throughout the morning climbing up the trunks of trees.  Bewick's Wrens and Pacific Wrens were seen several times and they entertained us all morning.  Two Downy Woodpeckers were pecking at a tree very close to the trail,  giving us a great show.
Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Sixteen birders saw and heard the following Twenty-seven species:
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Glaucous-winged Gull
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 Anna's Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
 Red-breasted Sapsucker
California Quail
Rock Dove
Northwestern Crow
 Common Raven
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Bewick's Wren
 Pacific Wren
Bushtits         
                                           Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
 Brown Creeper
 American Robin
Varied Thrush
Spotted Towhee
 Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

Saturday, March 18, 2017
Four Band-tailed Pigeons were seen along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday Bird Walk, March 14, 2017
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brant Viewing Platform and the Little Qualicum River Estuary in north Qualicum Beach. The morning started out cloudy with light rain, but the sun came out, making for one of the first sunny walks in a long while!  Thousands of Surf Scoters, twenty Long-tail Ducks, several Lesser Scaup and hundreds of Greater Scaup were seen from the viewing platform.  Several Bald Eagles were seen resting on a log along the shore.  A Western Gull and thousand's of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were flying and resting on the shoreline and gravel bars all morning.  Hundreds of Common Goldeneye and Barrows Goldeneye were seen on the Strait just beyond the gravel bar at the estuary.  A large number of Common Mergansers’ were roosting on the River.  We spotted a Cooper’s Hawk perched on a tall Conifer Tree on the estuary giving us great views. There were an estimated three thousand singing Brant Geese not fifty feet from the shore----a great sight!

Brant Geese: Ralph Hocken Photo.

 
Fourteen birders including two visiting birders from Ottawa saw and heard the following forty-three species;
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
American Widgeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tail Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Horned Grebe
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Pacific loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
                                             Sanderling                                                           Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Western Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
 House Sparrow
California Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo

Tuesday, March 14:
A first of the year a Turkey Vulture was seen above the Waterline trail off Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo. 

Two Violet-green Swallows were seen above Arrowsmith Road in French Creek.

Monday, March 13:
A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen in the Sherwood Forest area of Nanaimo.

Bird walks this week.

The Tuesday bird walk on March 21, 2015 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 at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (Turn off highway 19a at Columbia Drive, turn right at Admiral Tryon Blvd. go about one hundred yards to the parking area)

The Sunday bird walk on March 26, 2017 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Neck Point (off Hammond Bay Road) at at about 9:15 a.m.

Revive the Nanaimo Naturalists’ Club
Monday April 3rd 2017 at 7 PM  Vancouver Island University,
Building 180 Room 134.
 All welcome
Enjoy a great presentation by John Neville and help to get a naturalists’ club going again in Nanaimo

Good birding
Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo
  V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633