Nanaimo Bird Report October 15 2017

BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669

Or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.

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Sunday, October 15, 2017: 

This Sunday’s Bird Walk went to the Plummer Rd. side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The weather was sunny and calm, making for a good day of birding.  The highlight of the day was getting some great views of a Peregrine Falcon in adult plumage that chose to sit on a snag in the middle of the estuary for over an hour.

Peregrine Falcon: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Mallard

American Widgeon

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

California Gull

Killdeer

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Bonaparte Gull

Harrier Hawk

Pigeon Guillemot

Surf Scoter

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Horned Grebe

Redneck Grebe

Red-breasted Merganser

Harlequin Duck

Steller’s Jay

Dunlin

House Finch

White Crowned Sparrow

Green-winged Teal

Pine Siskin

Varied Thrush

California Quail

Peregrine Falcon

Western Meadowlark

Northwestern Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple finch

 Varied Thrush: John Morrison Photo.

October 8, 2017

A Varied Thrush was spotted near Nathan Rd. Nanaimo. A Wilson’s Snipe was reported in Brookwood Marsh.

October 11, 2017

A Wilson’s Snipe was seen near Fitzwilliam St. Nanaimo.

October 12, 2017

A Mourning Dove was sited off Yon Place in Nanaimo.

October 13, 2017

A Sandhill Crane was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary.

October 14, 2017

A flock of Chipping Sparrows and a Snow Bunting were spotted at Piper’s Lagoon. A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen near Weeks Crescent in Nanaimo.

October 15, 2017

The Snow Bunting was reported to still be at Piper’s Lagoon.

October 14, 2017

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk

October 10, 2017:

The Tuesday bird walk went to Deep Bay. The morning was cloudy and with rain for the first half of the walk and then turned clear and sunny, making for a pleasant bird walk. Hundreds of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and singing Black Scoters were seen on the Strait of Georgia.  We spotted the first of the season Long-tailed Ducks just offshore.  Three Pigeon Guillimots, seven Ancient Murrelets and four Marbled Murrelets were seen on the Strait during the walk.  We watched a Merlin chasing a flock of crows high above a conifer tree near the trail.  Two Black Turnstones and seven Black Oystercatchers were seen on the gravel bar near the shore.

Long-tailed Duck: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Ten birders saw and heard the following fifty-three species:

American Widgeon

Northern Pintail

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Greater Scaup

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pigeon Guillimot

Ancient Murrelet

Marbled Murrelet

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Black Turnstone

Black Oystercatcher

Killdeer

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rock Pigeon

                                                               Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

White-crowned Sparrow

Anne’s Hummingbird

American Robin

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Black Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday Bird walk on October 17, 2017, will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum . 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 9:15 a.m.

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Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on Sunday & Tuesday. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. on Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo.  We leave from the Parksville Community Park at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings and go to a different location in the Oceanside area.

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The Sunday bird walk on October 22, 2017 will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 a.m. or at the end or Raines Road at about 9:30a.m.

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     Good birding

       Nicole Renaud

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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/

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