Nanaimo bird report, February 11, 2018

Nanaimo bird report, February 04, 2018:

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 bird walk, February 11, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with some sunshine and finished off with rain showers.  We saw four sightings of Northern Shrike, and two Western Meadowlarks. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on top of a tall snag giving us great views.

Northern Shrike: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty-one species:

Trumpeter Swan

American Widgeon

Green-wing Teal

Mallard

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Shrike

Glaucous-winged Gull

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin

Northern Flicker

Western Meadowlark

Steller’s Jay

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Golden-crowned Sparrow

House Finch 

Parksville/Qualicum Beach, Tuesday bird walk, February 06, 2018:

Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds—and no rain!  We watched as a Yellow-billed Loon was swimming and diving off shore along the Strait of Georgia for a good portion of the morning.  There were many flocks of Pacific Loons, Common Loons and Brant Geese heading up the Strait. Large flocks of Harlequin Ducks, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoters, Wing-winged Scoters and Black Scoters  were spotted not far from shore. A Large flock of Western Grebes were seen further off shore.  A small flock of Brant Geese were right along the shore line. As a grand finale at the end the walk, two Trumpeter Swans flew high overhead heading down the island. 

Yellow-billed Loon: Ralph Hocken Photo:  

Twenty-two birders including visiting birders from Ottawa, Seattle, North Vancouver and Red Deer saw and heard the following thirty-five species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Brant
Mallard

Harlequin Duck
Greater Scaup

Surf Scoter

Wing-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

                                                                      Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Long-tailed Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Yellow-billed Loon

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Western Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Common Murre

Mew Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

American Robin
Anna’s Hummingbird

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Trumpeter Swans: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Please Note

Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com)  early Tuesday and Sunday mornings on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

The Tuesday Bird Walk on February 13, 2018 will be going to Columbia Beach. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area off Admiral Tryon Blvd. (from Highway 19A turn onto Columbia Road and turn right at the tee intersection.  Go about one hundred feet along Admiral Tryon Blvd. to the parking lot on the left) at about 9:20 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on February 18, 2018 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 AM. Or at Buttertubs Marsh, on the Bowen Road entrance side at about 9:15 AM.

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