Mourning Doves

Two Mourning Doves were seen along Meridian Way in Parksville. Neil Robins

Parksville/Qualicum beachnTuesday bird walk, September 26, 2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. The morning was foggy with calm winds.  We spotted hundreds of Pacific Loons and Common Loons through the fog, on the water not far from shore. Ten Western Grebes and two Pigeon Guillemots were seen further off shore.  A Bald Eagle was perched high in a conifer tree.  A Merlin was being chased by a feisty Anna’s Hummingbird.  Several Black Oystercatchers were seen along the shore line.  Large numbers of Black-bellied Plovers and Black Turnstones as well as Iceland Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls and two Herring Gulls were roosting along the gravel bar along with two Greater Yellowlegs .

Greater Yellowlegs: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-one birders saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon

Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron
Pigeon Guillemot

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Greater Yellowlegs

Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone 

Western Sandpiper

Iceland Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher

Eurasian-collared Dove
Steller’s Jay

Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow 

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin 

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee
American Pipit

Fox Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

House Finch

Black-bellied Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on October 03, 2017, will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial in Parksville . Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club 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

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, September 24,2017

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, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 24, 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Over ten Northern Shoveller’s were seen just off shore. Three Horned Grebes, one Red-necked Grebe, four Western Grebes, three Pacific Loons, three Common Loons, a Double-crested Cormorant and a Brandt’s Cormorant were seen further offshore. The Sea Birds are returning for the winter!

Five American Pipit’s were seen feeding along the gravel bar. Two Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen feeding just off the trail, at the end of the walk. We watched in fascination as two Hump-backed Whales near the horizon were  spouting and flashing their tails as they swam down the Strait of Georgia.

American Pipit: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following forty-two species:

Mallard

Northern Shoveller

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter 

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe 

 Pacific Loon 
  Common Loon 

Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant

Ring-billed Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull 

Black-bellied Plover

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Steller‘s Jay

Band-tailed Pigeon

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Anna’s Hummingbird
American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Pipit
Spotted Towhee 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 19:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We saw flocks of Canada Geese, Surf Scoters, and White - winged Scoters, Black Scoters, several Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes from the Brant viewing platform. A Parasitic Jaeger was spotted heading up the Strait of Georgia. Four Black Oystercatchers and several Black Turnstones were seen feeding along the shore line. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers, entertained us along the walk to the river. We spotted a Merlin perched in a tall snag near the trail. We saw twenty Great Blue Herons along the tide line during the morning. A Ring-billed Gull, several Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along the gravel bars.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Six birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Green-wing Teal

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Killdeer

Ring-billed Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Pipit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House FinchAmerican Goldfinch

Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo:

                                                Wednesday, September 20: 

A Green-wing Teal and a Golden-crowned Sparrow were seen along Brookwood Marsh in Nanaimo.

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 26, 2017, will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. (Turn off highway 19a at Columbia Drive. Turn right onto Admiral Tryon Bld. and go about 100 yards to the parking area) meet at about 9:20 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on October 01, 2017 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Buttertubs off Bowen Park Road 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

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We saw flocks of Canada Geese, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, several Common Loons, Horned Grebes and Red-necked Grebes from the Brant viewing platform. A Parasitic Jaeger was spotted heading up the Strait of Georgia. Four Black Oystercatchers and several Black Turnstones were seen feeding along the shore line. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers, entertained us along the walk to the river. We spotted a Merlin perched in a tall snag near the trail. We saw twenty Great Blue Herons along the tideline during the morning. A Ring-billed Gull, several Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were seen along the gravel bars.

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Six birders saw and heard the following forty-three species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Green-wing Teal

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Killdeer

Ring-billed Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Pipit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

European Starling

Brewer’s Blackbird

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Purple Finch

House Finch

American Goldfinch

                                 Black Turnstone: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 26, 2017, will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Bld. (Turn off highway 19a on at Columbia Drive, turn right onto Admiral Tryon Bld. go about 100 yards to the parking area)  meet at about 9:20 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, September 17, 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, to leave your name and phone number with the date and location of the sighting.

                  Sunday Bird Walk, September 17, 2017:

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  The morning was cloudy with sunny periods and calm winds. Turkey Vultures flew over head heading south all morning.  A Merlin was spotted perched high at the top of tree.  A flock of Surf Scoters, a flock of White-wing Scoters and a flock of American Widgeon were seen heading down the Strait of Georgia. Twenty Black Turnstones were seen on the point giving us great views. A Black Oystercatcher was spotted on a rocky island just off shore. Many  Bonaparte Gulls were seen flying down the strait.

White-winged Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species:

American Widgeon

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-wing Scoter

Double-crested Cormorant

  Pelagic Cormorant

Belted Kingfisher

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Turkey Vulture

Great Blue Heron

Mew Gull

Bonaparte Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northern Flicker

Steller’s Jay

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Bushtit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Brown Creeper

  Berwick’s Wren

  Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Merlin: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 12, 2017 

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw a Cassin’s Vireo.  Chestnut-backed Chickadees flew in the bushes just off the trail.  Several Cedar Waxwings flew in and landed in the tall trees near the trail.  A large flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and an American Wigeon were resting along the mudflats.  Large numbers of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer were feeding along the mudflats.  White-winged Scoters, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Pelagic Cormorant and three Common Loons were seen on the Strait.                                                 

Semipalmated Plover: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Ontario, Washington and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

White-winged Scoter

American Wigeon

Harlequin Duck 

                                                 Northern Pintail

  Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great-blue Heron

Heermann’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Loon

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Killdeer

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Eurasian-collared Dove

Cassin’s Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

                                                               Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

American Goldfinch

House Finch

Purple Finch 

Saturday, September 16:

Two Baird Sandpipers were spotted at Piper’s Lagoon in Nanaimo.

 A Townsend’s Solitaire, a Sooty Grouse and a Northern Pygmy Owl were seen on Little Mountain near Parksville.

Northern Pygmy Owl: John Morrison Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 19, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 a.m.

The Sunday Bird walk on September 24, 2017 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:30 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

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 12,2017

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with strong winds off the Strait of Georgia. We heard and then saw a Cassin’s Vireo.  Chestnut-backed Chickadees flew in the bushes just off the trail.  Several Cedar Waxwings flew in and landed in the tall trees near the trail.  A large flock of Canada Geese, several Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal and an American Wigeon were resting along the mudflats.  Large numbers of Western Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer were feeding along the mudflats.  White-winged Scoters, a Double-crested Cormorant, a Pelagic Cormorant and three Common Loons were seen on the Strait.

Twenty-one birders including visiting birders from Ontario, Washington and Alberta saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

White-winged Scoter

American Wigeon

Harlequin Duck 

 Northern Pintail

  Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great-blue Heron

Heermann’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Loon

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Killdeer

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Eurasian-collared Dove

Cassin’s Vireo

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Brewer’s Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

American Goldfinch

House Finch

Purple Finch

The Tuesday Bird walk on September 19, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (at the parking lot in front of the Lions Club Playground) at 9:00 a.m. or at the Brant Viewing Platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 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