Parksville Community Park, November 27, 2017

Five Brant Geese, four hundred Bonaparte's Gulls, forty Dunlin and twenty Black-bellied Plovers   were seen at the gravel bar. at the Parksville Community Park on November 27, 2017

A Palm Warbler was seen at Eaglecrest in Qualicum Beach on Monday, November 27, 2017

Palm Warbler: Rosemary Taylor Photo:

Parksville/Qualicum Beach bird walk

This Tuesday's ( November 28) Bird walk was cancelled because of the weather!!

The Tuesday bird walk on December 05, 2017 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek, depending on the weather! 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 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, November 26, 2017

Nanaimo bird report, November 26, 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.

************************************************************ 

Sunday bird walk, November 26, 2017

The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning started out sunny but turned cloudy and very windy as the morning progressed. Fourteen Black Turnstones and twelve Black Oystercatchers were seen on the rocks just offshore. A large flock of Pacific Loons were seen further offshore. Brandt Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants and Double-crested Cormorants were resting on the big rocks at the Point.

Black Turnstones: Ralph Hocken Photo.

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

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Brandt Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pigeon Guillemot

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

                                                                            Killdeer

Mew Gull

California Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Song Sparrow

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

 Common Raven

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brandt Cormorant: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note

Check this site early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday bird walk on November 28, 2017 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek, depending on the weather! 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 a.m.

*******************************************************************

The Sunday walk on December 03, 2017 will be going to Nanoose Bay, depending on the weather. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at beach in front of the Nanoose Bay Church Camp off highway 19 and Arlington 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:http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 21.

This Tuesday's ( November 21) Bird walk was cancelled because of the weather!!

The Tuesday bird walk on November 28, 2017 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek, depending on the weather! 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 a.m.

Nanaimo bird report, November 19, 2017

Please Note

Check this site early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

Nanaimo bird report, November 19, 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.

************************************************************ 

Sunday, November 19, 2017:

This Sunday’s Bird walk was cancelled because of the weather!!

The Tuesday bird walk on November 21, 2017 will be going to Columbia Beach in French Creek, depending on the weather! 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 a.m.

*******************************************************************

The Sunday walk on November 26, 2017 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo, again depending on the weather. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Neck Point in Nanaimo off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15 a.m.

**********************************************************************

“RARE BIRD ALERT”

Wednesday, November 08:

A Blue Jay has been visiting a backyard feeder for two days along Greendale Road and Highway 18 in Lake Cowichan.  

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:http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 21.

Hi birders,

 The November 14, bird walk, was very wet so it was cancelled!!! 

We will head for Columbia Beach again on the 21st of November.

The Tuesday bird walk on November 21, 2017 will be going to 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 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

Sad news

We are very sorry to pass on the sad news that Frank Stoney has passed away. We will miss Frank's soft spoken presence on our bird walks. It was always a pleasure to have him join us. Our deepest condolences to Barb.
Neil

Nanaimo bird report, November 12, 2017:

BIRD REPORT
“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669Or 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.

************************************************************ 

Sunday, November 12, 2017:

This Sunday’s Bird walk was cancelled because of the weather!!

A Northern Pygmy-Owl was seen visiting a backyard along Meridian Way in Parksville.

Saturday, November 11:

A Mountain Bluebird was seen at the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road side in Parksville.

Thursday, November 09:

A Mourning Dove was spotted in with a flock of Eurasian–Collared Doves along Jingle Pot Road in Nanaimo.

             Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, November 07:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River on the Plummer Road side in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the strait of Georgia.  We spotted a Northern Harrier at the beginning of the morning flying just above the grass. The Harrier then perched on a log to give us great views.  A Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin flew over head. A very large flock of American Wigeon’s, with one Eurasian Wigeon were seen swimming in the flooded estuary. Three flocks of Dunlin and a flock of Black-bellied Plovers were seen flying up the Strait of Georgia. We spotted a Clark’s Grebe swimming up the Strait and we were entertained by him for about thirty minutes.

Clark’s Grebe (front) and a Western Grebe (back): Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twelve birders saw and heard the following fifty-seven Species:

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Bufflehead

 Mallard Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal

 Greater Scaup

 Harlequin Duck

 Surf Scoter

 White-winged Scoter

 Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

 Red-breasted Merganser

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

 Pacific Loon

 Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

 Horned Grebe

 Clark’s Grebe

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

 Northern Harrier

 Cooper's Hawk

Merlin

Killdeer

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

  Mew Gull

 California Gull

Iceland Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

 Belted Kingfisher

Anna's Hummingbird

 Northern Flicker

Common Raven

 Northwestern Crow

 Steller’s Jay

Eurasian-collared Dove

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

European Starling

Bewick’s Wren

Red-breasted Nuthatch

 Spotted Towhee

 Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

 Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Pine Siskin

 House Finch

                                               Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Friday, November 03:

A White-throated Sparrow was seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

A Canvas-backed Duck was spotted at Divers Lake in Nanaimo.

Wednesday, November 01:

A flock of White-winged Crossbills were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

*********************************************************************

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.   *******************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk on November 14, 2017 will be going to 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 a.m.

***************************************************************************** 

The Sunday walk on November 19, 2017 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Neck Point in Nanaimo off Hammond Bay 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:http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, November 07, 2017

             Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, November 07:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Englishman River on the Plummer Road side in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with a strong wind off the strait of Georgia.  We spotted a Norther Harrier at the beginning of the morning flying just above the grass. The Harrier then perched on a log to give us great views.  A Cooper's Hawk and a Merlin flew over head. A very large flock of  American Wigeons with one Eurasian Wigeon were seen swimming in the flooded estuary. Three flocks of Dunlin and a flock of Black-bellied Plovers were seen flying up the Strait Of Georgia. We spotted a Clark’s Grebe swimming up the Strait and we were entertained by him for about thirty minutes.

Clark’s Grebe(front) and a Western Grebe (back): Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twelve birders saw and heard the following fifty-five Species:

Canada Geese

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Bufflehead

 Mallard

 Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal

 Greater Scaup

 Harlequin Duck

 Surf Scoter

 White-winged Scoter

 Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

 Red-breasted Merganser

Ancient Murrelet

Common Murre

 Pacific Loon

 Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

 Horned Grebe

 Clark’s Grebe

 Double-crested Cormorant

 Brandt’s Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

 Norther Harrier

 Cooper's Hawk

Merlin

Killdeer

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

  Mew Gull

 California Gull

Iceland Gull

 Glaucous-winged Gull

 Belted Kingfisher

Anna's Hummingbird

 Northern Flicker

Common Raven

 Northwestern Crow

 Steller’s Jay

Eurasian-collared Dove

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

European Starling

Red-breasted Nuthatch

 Spotted Towhee

 Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

 Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

 Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

 House Finch

Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo:

The Tuesday bird walk on November 14, 2017 will be going to 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 Blvd. (turn onto Columbia Drive off highway 19a then turn right onto Admiral Tryon Blvd.  Go about one hundred yards and turn left to the parking area) at about 9:15 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, November 05, 2017

Nanaimo bird report, November 05, 2017

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

************************************************************ 

Sunday, November 05, 2017:  

This Sunday’s Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. We heard a Trumpeter Swan and a flock of Canada Geese singing. We saw a Eurasian Wigeon in with a flock of American Wigeon near the shore. A Varied Thrush was spotted at the start of the walk. We had great sightings of a Western Meadowlark and a Northern Shrike along the community park fence line. A large flock of Harlequin Ducks and Common Goldeneye were seen just off shore.

Common Goldeneye: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Ten birders saw and heard the following sixty-one species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Eurasian Wigeon 

American Wigeon
Western Meadowlark

Mallard 

Northern Pintail 

Harlequin Duck

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Green-wing Teal 

Gadwall

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser 

Red-breasted Merganser

 Common Loon

Horned Grebe 

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant 

Great Blue Heron 

Bald Eagle 

Cooper’s Hawk

Merlin

Northern Shrike

Dunlin

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

California Gull 

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull 

Anna's Hummingbird 

Belted Kingfisher 

Northern Flicker 

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Steller's Jay 

Northwestern Crow 

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

Red-breasted Nuthatch 

Pacific Wren 

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling 

Spotted Towhee 

Fox Sparrow  

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow 

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco 

Brewer's Blackbird 

Purple Finch

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, October 31:

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Brandt viewing platform and Lot Ten in north Qualicum Beach. The morning was clear and sunny with calm winds, making for a very pleasant bird walk.  The highlight of the morning was when we sighted four Humpbacked Whales far offshore. The whales entertained us royally for an hour as we watched them spout and breach.  Two Western Grebes were spotted in with a flock of Buffleheads not far from shore.  A Long-tailed Duck flew just above the water heading down the Strait Of Georgia.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers and Black Scoters were seen not far from shore.  At Lot Ten we watched large numbers of Glaucous-winged Gulls feeding on fish carcasses along the river banks.

Bufflehead: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

Canada Geese

Harlequin Duck
Bufflehead

                                                       Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe 

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron 

Belted Kingfisher

Pigeon Guillemot

Black-bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull 

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Bald Eagle 

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Eurasian-collared Dove 

Steller’s Jay

Northwestern Crow

                                                       Common Raven

                                              American Robin

                                               Varied Thrush

                                             Bewick’s Wren

                                               Pacific Wren
                                     Chestnut-backed Chickadee

                                                Fox Sparrow

                                               Song Sparrow

                                             Spotted Towhee

                                              Dark-eyed Junco                                     

                                  Glaucous-winged Gull: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

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.   *******************************************************************

The Tuesday bird walk on November 07, 2017 will be going to the Englishman River, Plummer Road side 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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:10 a.m.

***************************************************************************** 

The Sunday walk on November 12, 2017 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo . Meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at parking lot at Neck Point in Nanaimo off Hammond Bay 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: http://thebirdstore.blogspot.ca/