Nanaimo bird report, April 09, 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, April 09, 2017:  

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was mostly cloudy with some sunny periods, the wind was very strong off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw Savannah Sparrows in the grass, on short bushes and the top of a post near the trail.

Large numbers of Common Ravens were heard and seen throughout the morning.  Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagle were seen high overhead. Three Western Meadowlarks were perched on the tall shrubs off the trail. We spotted a first of the season Purple Martin flying low near the trail. A Northern Harrier was hunting for prey just above the ground; it was seen for most of the morning.

Savannah Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nine birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species: 

Canada Geese

Mallard
American Wigeon

Green-winged Teal

Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Northern Harrier

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

American Robin

Western Meadowlark

Bewick’s Wren

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Great Blue Heron

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Purple Martin

Northern Flicker

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird  

Friday, April 07:

Four Western Bluebirds were seen at the Art Gallery Grounds on the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 04:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the Strait of Georgia.  We were greeted at the beach by four Black Oystercatchers, hundreds of Brant, Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers feeding along the shoreline. Further offshore we saw hundreds of Common Murre, Mew Gulls, Thayer’s Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls in a feeding frenzy with Sea Lions stirring up the sea.  A flock of singing Red Crossbills landed in a  tree just off the trail giving us great views. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets played hide and seek with us as they fed in the bushes near the trail. We spotted a Dark-eyed Junco in the forest with a mustache of nesting material.  A flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers and two Orange-crowned Warblers were feeding just above us near the end of the walk.  As we were doing the morning tally we spotted Bushtits in the bushes.

                 

                   Orange-crowned Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nineteen birders including visiting birders from Calgary, St. Albert and Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-two species:

Brant

Mallard

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Surf Scoter

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Mew Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

European Starling

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco 

Song Sparrow

Red Crossbill

Black-bellied Plover & Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photos:

Monday, April 03:

A flock of Sandhill Cranes were seen flying north over Linley Valley in Nanaimo.

Sunday, April 02:

A Common Loon and a Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumage were seen near the Yellow Point Lodge in Cedar.

Bird Walks This Week:

The Tuesday bird walk on April 11, 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 near the Lions Club Kids Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.

The Sunday bird walk on April 16, 2017 is cancelled due to the Easter Sunday Holiday:

The Sunday bird walk on April 23 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Morrell at about 9:15 a.m. off Nanaimo Lakes Road (look for the Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary sign).

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo

V9t-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669

Fax: 250-390-1633

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blof: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com