Black-headed Grosbeak

A Black-headed Grosbeak, a first of the season, is visiting a backyard feeder in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville.

Good Birding
Neil Robins

Nanaimo bird report, April 29, 2018

Nanaimo bird Report,April 29, 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, April 29, 2018  

The Sunday bird walk went to Morrell Sanctuary in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy with rain showers all morning. We heard and saw Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Townsend's Warbler during the walk. We heard two California Quail singing off the trail. A Mallard and a Wood Duck were seen on the lake.

Twelve birders including visiting birders from St. Albert saw and heard the following twenty-three species:

Mallard

Wood Duck

Rufous Hummingbird,

Pileated Woodpecker,

California Quail

Northwestern Crow,

Common Raven,

Brown-headed Cowbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee,

Red-breasted Nuthatch,

Brown Creeper,

Berwick’s Wren,

Pacific Wren,

Golden-crowned Kinglet,

American Robin,

Orange-crowned Warbler,

Yellow-rumped Warbler,

Townsend's Warbler,

Spotted Towhee,

Song Sparrow,

Dark-eyed Junco,

Purple Finch,

Pine Siskin,

California Quail: Ralph Hocken Photo.  

A pair of Blue-wing Teal were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Saturday, April 28:

A Yellow-Headed Blackbird is visiting a yard in the 700 block of Ermineskin Avenue Parksville. 

Thursday, April 26:  

A Canvasback Duck was seen at the Morningstar Ponds in French Creek.

          Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 24, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was clear with calm winds. We watched a Wilson’s Warbler feeding in a short bush just across the river from us.  Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were seen feeding on the mudflats. A Hump-backed Whale was spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia. Eight Band-tailed Pigeons, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead during the morning. Two Black Oystercatchers, four Black-bellied Plovers a Dunlin, a Killdeer, a Long-billed Dowitcher and a Short-billed Dowitcher were seen feeding on the mudflats.  A  Eurasian Teal was seen feeding on the mudflats with a flock of Green-wing Teal at the end of the walk.

Wilson’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Twenty-eight birders including visiting birders from Penticton, Chicago and Ontario saw and heard the following sixty- three species:

Canada Geese

Brant

                                                                           Mallard

Gadwall

Green-wing Teal

Eurasian Teal

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-neck Grebe

Bufflehead

American Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific loon

Common Loon

Common Murre

Doubled-crested Cormorant

Long-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher

                                                                     Least Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper
Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Cooper’s Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

                                                                    Barn Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Townsend’s Solitaire

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Long-billed Dowitcher: Ralph Hocken Photo: 

Monday, April 23:

A very large flock of Northern Rough-wing Swallows were seen at the Nanaimo Airport.

Please Note

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 May 01, 2018 will be going to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking lot at Moorcroft at 1563 Stewart Rd, (off Northwest Bay Road, follow signs to Moorcroft )at about 9:20 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on May 06, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo at 9:20 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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Yellow-headed Blackbird

A Yellow-Headed Blackbird is visiting a yard in the 700 block of Ermineskin avenue Parksville, April 28, 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday birdwalk, April 24, 2018

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 24, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was clear with calm winds. We watched a Wilson’s Warbler feeding in a short bush just across the river from us.  Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Sandpiper were seen feeding on the mudflats. A Hump-backed Whale was spotted heading down the Strait of Georgia. Eight Band-tailed Pigeons, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, a Merlin and a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead during the morning. Two Black Oystercatchers, four Black-bellied Plovers a Dunlin, a Killdeer, a Long-billed Dowitcher and a Short-billed Dowitcher were seen feeding on the mudflats.  A  Eurasian Teal was seen feeding on the mudflats with a flock of Green-wing Teal at the end of the walk.

Wilson’s Warbler: John Morrison Photo:

Twenty-eight birders including visiting birders from Penticton, Chicago and Ontario saw and heard the following sixty- three species:

Canada Geese

Brant

Mallard

Gadwall

Green-wing Teal

Eurasian Teal

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-neck Grebe

Bufflehead

American Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific loon

Common Loon

Common Murre

Doubled-crested Cormorant

Long-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher

Least Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Dunlin

Killdeer

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Cooper’s Hawk

Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Townsend’s Solitaire

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

Red-winged Blackbird

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin 

 

Long-billed Dowitcher: Ralph Hocken Photo:

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

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 29, 2018 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary at 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo at about 9:20 am.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on May, 2018 will be going to Moorcroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking lot at Moorcroft  at 1563 Stewart Rd, (off Northwest Bay Road, follow signs to Moorcroft )at about 9:20 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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com

Nanaimo bird report, April 22, 2018

Nanaimo bird Report,April 22, 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, April 22, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. The morning was sunny with calm winds. We saw two Townsend’s Warblers feeding in a tall Big Leaf Maple Tree just off the trail.  A Wilson’s Snipe was spotted near the marsh.  A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen in a conifer tree just off the trail giving us great views.  We heard  a Hutton’s Vireo and then spotted him.  Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warblers were heard and seen all morning.  A Rufous Hummingbird was perched in a short bush for a long period of time giving us great views.  Turkey Vultures, a Bald Eagle and a Cooper’s Hawk were seen high overhead during the walk.

                                         

Townsend’s Warbler:

Sixteen birders including visiting birders from Red Deer saw and heard the following forty-six species:

 Ring-neck Duck

 Wood Duck

 Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Hooded Merganser

Wilson’s Snipe

Great Blue Heron

 Turkey Vulture

 Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

 Band-tailed Pigeon

 Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

                                                                Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Steller’s Jay

 Northwestern Crow

 Common Raven

 Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren

Varied Thrush

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hutton’s Vireo

 Orange-crowned Warbler

 Common Yellowthroat

 Townsend’s Warbler

 Yellow-rumped Warbler

 Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

 Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

 Dark-eyed Junco

 Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Hutton’s Vireo: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Thursday, April 19:

Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Avonlea Road and Cavendish Road in Nanaimo.

Wednesday, April 18: 

Four Ruddy Ducks were seen at Pilot Bay, Twin Beach on Gabriola Island.

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, April 17, 2018 
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  A Hermit Thrush was spotted just off the trail.  A Trumpeter Swan and three Canada Geese were seen along the river.  Two Townsend’s Solitaires were seen perched in a berry bush not far from the trail. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen high up in a tall tree.  White-crowned Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows were heard singing all morning.  A Chipping Sparrow was spotted just off the trail. We watched a Lincoln’s Sparrow preening itself in a bush near the trail. A Barred Owl was perched next to the trail giving us great views.

Chipping Sparrow: Ralph Hocken Photo.

Twenty-four birders including visiting birders from Chicago and Red Deer  saw and heard the following sixty- four species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Geese

Brant

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Gadwall

Northern Pintail

Mallard

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Green-wing Teal

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Surf Scoter

Common Loon

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Barred Owl

Turkey Vulture

Virginia Rail

Great Blue Heron
Bonaparte’s Gull

Mew Gull

Iceland (Thayer’s )Gull

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian-collared Dove

Killdeer

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

California Quail

Steller’s Jay

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

European Starling

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Anna’s Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush

Townsend’s Solitaire

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Purple Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

An American Goldfinch was seen on Protection Island.

A Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at a backyard feeder near Tempre Road and Pry Road in Parksville.

Monday, April 16:  

An American Goldfinch was seen Along Lancewood Road in Lantzville.

Tuesday, April 10

A Rufous Hummingbird was seen in a backyard feeder in the 3300 block of Barrington Road in Nanaimo.

Townsend’s Solitaire: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Please Note
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 24, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive on the oceanside of Highway 19a at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on April 29, 2018 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 am or at parking lot at Morrell Sanctuary at 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road in Nanaimo at 9:20 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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com