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.

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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

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com