Nanaimo Bird report, June 03, 2018

Nanaimo bird Report,June 03, 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, June 03 2018:

The Sunday bird walk went to Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in Cedar. The morning was cloudy with calm winds.  We heard Swainson's Thrush singing all morning and we also saw five Swainson's Thrush in the trees just off the trail.  We watched two Red-breasted Sapsuckers coming and going from a nest hole just above the bridge. Downy Woodpeckers and

Hairy Woodpeckers were seen going to their nest holes in the same area.

We heard a Red-eyed Vireo singing its non-stop song.  The Red-eyed Vireo was high above the trail for the longest time.  A Spotted Sandpiper was perched on the river shore.   A Barred Owl with prey flew into a tree high above the trail giving us great views.  Black-throated Gray Warblers, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Cassin’s Vireos and Warbling Vireos were heard singing during the walk. 

Red-eyed Vireo: John Purves Photo:

Fifteen birders including two visiting birders from the United Kingdom saw and heard the following forty-one species:

Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Barred Owl

Spotted Sandpiper

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Rufous Hummingbird

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Cassin’s Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

 Warbling Vireo

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

 Bewick's Wren

Pacific Wren 

Bushtit

European Starling

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

  Black-headed Grosbeak

Brewer’s Blackbird

                                                         Brown-headed Cowbird

Spotted Towhee

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Goldfinch

 

Hairy Woodpecker: John Purves Photo:


Saturday, June 02:
"RARE BIRD ALERT"

Yellow-breasted Chat sighting, June 02, 2018, Somenos Marsh, Duncan, 4:20 pm, June 02, 2018

Yellow breasted Chat: good view thru' binocs - perched high in birch near beginning of boardwalk. Flew as I raised my camera. Searched unsuccessfully for 3/4 hour. Long slim profile, conspic yellow throat and breast, conspic heavy dark bill and dark head and white eyebrow. No calls heard. Lifer!

                                                                 

Friday, June 01:

A Common Nighthawk and an Evening Grosbeak were seen at Yellow Point Road and Graham Road in Cedar.  

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday Bird Walk, May 29, 2018:
  The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was sunny with strong winds. We were greeted with the sounds of a Western Tanager singing high up in a tall tree just off the trail.  We heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and then saw him perched fairly low in a tree near the trail.  We spotted another Western Tanager further up the trail. As we reached the river many Northern Rough-winged Swallows were seen coming and going from their nests in the bank of the river.  A large flock of Violet-green Swallows were flying over head above the river for most of the morning.  A Spotted Sandpiper was walking along the gravel bar just across the river.  We saw many Red-breasted Sapsuckers throughout the morning with three up close, making for excellent sightings.

                                                                                          

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Nineteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-one species:

Canada Geese

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

California Quail

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Warbling Vireo

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Orange-crowned Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

American Goldfinch  

                                                                                 

Violet-green Swallow: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Monday, May 28:  

A Wood Thrush was heard at Planta Park in Nanaimo

Thursday, May 24:  

.   A pair of Evening Grosbeaks was seen in the 800 block of Douglas Avenue in Nanaimo.  

Wednesday, May 23:

A Peregrine falcon was spotted at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo

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 June 05, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville.  Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the main parking lot at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on June 10, 2018 will be going to Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo.  Meet at the Bird Store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary at 787 Nanaimo Lakes Road 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

www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com