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Tuesday, 27 March 2018


Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 27, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk stopped at the Brant Viewing Area in Qualicum Beach on our way to the Little Qualicum River Estuary. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  A raft of thousands upon thousands of Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Brant Geese, Lesser and Greater Scaup stretched from the Brant viewing area to the east end of Surfside Drive.  At the estuary Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls, Herring Gull, and Glaucous-winged Gulls lined the shoreline and all of the gravel bars from the mouth of the Little Qualicum River Estuary to the Brant Viewing Area.  We estimated that there were three hundred Common Murre heading down the Strait of  Georgia. Two Eurasian Widgeons, American Widgeons and Northern Pintails were seen resting on a gravel bar at the mouth of the river. Black Oystercatchers, Black-bellied Plovers and a Black Turnstonewere seen along the shore.
Bonaparte's Gulls: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eighteen  birders including visiting birders from Ottawa, Calgary and North Vancouver saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
Brant
Canada Geese
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
American Widgeon
Eurasian Widgeon
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tail Duck 
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Northern Pintail
Barrows Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Common Murre
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Black Turnstone
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Eurasian-collared Dove
Violet-green Swallow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
House Finch 
House Sparrow
Surf, White-wing and Black Scoters: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

The Tuesday Bird Walk on April 03, 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 Bld. (turn onto Columbia Drive off Highway 19a, go to the tee intersection of Admiral Tryon Bld., turn right & go about one hundred yards to parking area on your left) at about 9:20 am.

There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on April 01, 2018 as it is Easter Sunday. (Check www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for the location of the April 08, 2018 Sunday Bird Walk)
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










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Monday, 26 March 2018

Hi birders,

John Purves and I found a Eurasian Teal at the mud flats on the Plummer Road side of the English River Estuary in Parksville today, March 26, 2018 at about 11:45 am.

                                              Top- Eurasian Teal, Bottom-Green-wing Teal
                                                                      John Purves Photo:

Good birding
Neil Robins
Parksville
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Rufous Hummingbird

Hi  birders,

We had our first of the season Rufous Hummingbird at the feeder this morning at 8:14 am. Along Meridian Way in Parksville.

A sharp looking male!!
Neil
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Sunday, 25 March 2018

Nanaimo bird report, March 25, 2018


Nanaimo bird report, March 25, 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.
***********************************************************
Sunday bird walk, March 25, 2018:
The Sunday bird walk went to Bowen Park in Nanaimo..  The morning was sunny with calm winds. We saw and heard the following woodpeckers-
Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker all that we see in this area of the island. A Yellow-rumped Warbler was spotted high up in a tall tree just off the trail. Several single Bushtits were seen during the morning. We watched a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets gathering nesting material in a  tree across the river, and an American Robin was seen building a nest nearby.
Hairy Woodpecker:Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eleven birders saw and heard the following twenty-eight species:
Mallard
Glaucous-wing Gull
Bald Eagle
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Steller’s Jay
Rock Dove
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
House Sparrow
Bushtit: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Rare Bird Alert “King Eider”
A King Eider was seen in Qualicum Beach at the end of Whitmee Road.

A Rufous Hummingbird was visiting a backyard feeder along Boys Road in Duncan.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 20, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk stopped at the Brant Viewing Area in Qualicum Beach on our way to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We estimated that we could see over twenty thousand Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Brant, Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup on the Strait from the Brant viewing area.  A large raft of Long-tailed Ducks and Western Grebes were seen further off shore. Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were resting along the shoreline.  There were two American Dippers on the Little Qualicum River at the fish hatchery.  Varied Thrush and American Robins entertained us with their singing all morning.  Red-breasted Sapsuckers were seen feeding from tree sap just off the trail.  Several Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen not far from the trail. We spotted six Bald Eagles circling high above us.

American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two  birders including visiting birders from Ottawa and Saskatoon saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Canada Goose
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
                                                            Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Murre
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Turnstones
Black-bellied Plover
Bald Eagle
American Dipper
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 27, 2018 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

There will be no Sunday Bird Walk on April 01, 2018 as its Easter Sunday.( Check www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for the location of the April 08, 2018 Sunday Bird Walk)
Happy Easter!
Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
No comments:

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, March 20, 2018




Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, March 20, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk stopped at the Brant Viewing Area in Qualicum Beach on our way to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery north of Qualicum Beach. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We estimated that we could see over twenty thousand Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters, Brant, Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup on the Strait from the Brant viewing area.  A large raft of Long-tailed Ducks and Western Grebes  were seen further off shore. Black Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were resting along the shoreline.  There were two American Dippers on the Little Qualicum River at the fish hatchery.  Varied Thrush and American Robins entertained us with their singing all morning.  Red-breasted Sapsuckers were seen feeding from tree sap just off the trail.  Several Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen not far from the trail. We spotted six Bald Eagles circling high above us.
American Dipper: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-two  birders including visiting birders from Ottawa and Saskatoon saw and heard the following fifty-two species:
Canada Goose
Brant
American Widgeon
Mallard
Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Bufflehead
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Common Murre
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Turnstones
Black-bellied Plover
Bald Eagle
American Dipper
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 27, 2018 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Estuary.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on Marsh 25, 2018 will be going to the Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 AM., or the main parking lot off Bowen Road at Bowen Park near the bowling green of at about 9:20AM.

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
www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
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Sunday, 18 March 2018

Nanaimo bird report, March 18, 2018




Nanaimo bird report, March 18, 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.
***********************************************************
Sunday bird walk, March 18, 2018:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with calm winds. We watched a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets building a nest near the trail.  A large raft of Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters were seen offshore. A  Western Meadowlark and a Yellow-rumped Warbler were seen and heard.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Eighteen birders including a visiting birder from Ottawa saw and heard the following fifty-seven species:
Canada Geese
Brant
Trumpeter Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant,
Great Blue Heron
Killdeer
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Iceland(Thayer's) Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian-collared Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Virginia Rail
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Hutton's Vireo
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven,
California Quail
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Steller’s Jay
Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
                                                           Western Meadowlark
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Anna’s Hummingbird
European Starling
Spotted Towhee,
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Fox Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Eight Red Crossbills are visiting a backyard feeder along Honeysuckle Terrace and Forest Drive in Nanaimo.

Wednesday, March 14:

A Rufous Hummingbird was visiting feeders along Bluebell Terrace and Meredith in Nanaimo.

Friday, March 16:

Nineteen Trumpeter Swans were seen flying above Long Lake in Nanaimo.


Three Swallows were seen flying above Morrell Circle by Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.

Monday, March 12:

BC Rare bird alert.

KING EIDER (1 male)
Location: Eaglecrest area of Qualicum Beach; originally found off Bluffs Dr, but last seen off Whitmee Rd

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  The morning was cloudy with a calm wind off the Strait of Georgia.  Light rain started just as we were finishing the walk.  Over three hundred Dunlin, several Black-bellied Plovers and one Sanderling were seen feeding along the shoreline.  Hundreds of Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Iceland (Thayer's) Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls noisily filled the shore all morning.  A very large raft of thousands of Brant, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Black Scoters and  Long-tailed Ducks were  seen further offshore. Pacific Loons and Common Loons were spotted even further offshore. As we were doing the tally at the end of the walk a Northern Harrier did a fly pass!


Dunlin: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Seventeen birders including a visiting birder from Edmonton saw and heard the following fifty-six species:
Canada Geese
Brant
American Widgeon
Green-wing Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Mew Gull
California Gull
Iceland(Thayer's} Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Sanderling
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Anna’s Hummingbird
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Harrier: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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



The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 20, 2018 will be going to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the Brant viewing platform in north Qualicum Beach at about 9:20 am.



The Sunday Bird Walk on Marsh 25, 2018 will be going to the Bowen Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 AM., or the main parking lot at Bowen Park near the bowling green of at about 9:20AM.

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


www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
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