The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walks are starting up again. Our first Tuesday walk of the fall is going to the Englishman River Estuary, Plummer Road side on Sept. 3rd. Our Sunday walk is going to Neck Point Park on Sept. 8th.

Wednesday 26 September 2018

NANAIMO WEEKLY BIRD REPORT SEPTEMBER 26,2018


Nanaimo bird Report, Sept 26, 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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September 18:

A flock of 25 plus Sandhill Cranes were seen flying south over Beck lake in south Nanaimo.



September 18:

Orange-crowned Warbler seen foraging in a backyard on Honeysuckle terrace in central Nanaimo.



Sunday Bird Walk, September 23, 2018



The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park. It was a nice day with a little breeze of the walk. It was a quiet start with not must chatter going on. At Sunset beach we saw 3 Spotted Sandpipers amongst the rocks along the bank. Also not much was flying out on the water but was able to enjoy the Black Turnstones.

There is that one last sighting at the end of the walk that we call our parking lot bird and for this walk the bird seen was a Cooper’s Hawk.





Spotted Sandpiper: Photo by Ralph Hocken



Thirteen birders saw and heard 30 species:



Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Harlequin Duck

Mallard

  Great Blue Heron

Surf Scoter

Cooper’s Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Black Turnstone

Spotted Sandpiper

Glaucous-winged Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Chestnut-backyard Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Purple Finch



Backyard bird sightings:

It’s a sure sign of fall when the Dark-eyed Juncos begin to return. In the past week there have been reports of the juncos returning in flocks to backyard feeders. At my feeding station it went from 2 juncos to 20 plus as a flock arrived on Tuesday September 25.

We are also hearing about flocks of Pine Siskin’s visiting the feeders, so this may be a high year for them.

Golden-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows and a few Fox Sparrows are making their fall return.

Dark-eyed Junco feeding in window feeder: Photo Nicole Renaud



Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 25, 2018.



The Tuesday bird walk went to Columbia Beach.   It was another beautiful calm fall morning.  The return of several Eagles was a welcome site.  A Pigeon Guillemot and Common Murre were seen not too far off shore.  A small group of Bonaparte’s Gull’s were found among the other gulls. There were also many Savannah Sparrow feeding in the seaweed along the shoreline.  In the meadow area at the mouth of French Creek we spotted a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and an Orange-crowned Warbler.




Bald Eagle: Ralph Hocken photo



17 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:



Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Mallard

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Pigeon Guillemot

Common Murre

Greater Yellowlegs

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Boneparte’s Gull

Iceland/Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Belted Kingfisher

Eurasian-collared Dove

Northern Flicker

Northwestern Crow

Common Raven

Anna’s Hummingbird

Spotted Towhee

European Starling

Bewick’s Wren

Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

House Sparrow

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch



Enjoy birding,

Rhonda Fleming



The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 2, 2018 will be going to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club 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 September 30, 2018 will be going to the Shelley road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at the end of Shelley road in Parksville at 9:20 am.

Good birding, Colin



THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C.

V9T-2L8

Phone: 250-390-3669



Wednesday 19 September 2018

NANAIMO BIRD REPORT SEPTEMBER 19,2018


Nanaimo bird Report, Sept 19, 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.
***********************************************************



September 11:
Vaux Swifts were seen flying over central Nanaimo.

September 13:
Gray Jays were seen at the summit of Mount Benson as well as along the old logging road.

September 17:
Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over circling above the raptor center on Herd road in Duncan.

September 18:
A flock of 25 plus Sandhill Cranes were seen flying south over Beck lake in south Nanaimo.

September 18:
Orange-crowned Warbler seen foraging in a backyard on Honeysuckle terrace in central Nanaimo.



Sunday Bird Walk, September 16, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. It was a cloudy cool day with a few like showers during the walk. Most of the usual birds were seen or heard on the walk with one exception, House Sparrow. None were seen or heard in their usual spots. We had good views of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk from underneath and its rounded tail. Also saw about 100 Band-tailed Pigeons in the west marsh.



Cedar Waxwing: Photo by Steen Petersen

Five birders including a birder from the UK saw and heard twenty nine species:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
  Great Blue Heron
Merlin
Cooper’s Hawk
California Quail
Rock Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Chestnut-backyard Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

Last week we had reports of Turkey Vultures moving south and now this week it has been reports of Sandhill Cranes.

For the backyard feeder’s watch for the Dark-eyed Juncos to begin returning as they usually start appearing at the feeders around mid to end of September. Woodpeckers are busy at the suet with Pileated, Downy and Northern Flickers being steady visitors. Bushtits are the most fun as the flock make numerous visits during the day. Lastly watch for Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers amongst the shrubs in your backyard as the last make their way south.


 Sandhill Crane: Photo Ralph Hocken

Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, September 18, 2018.

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Little Qualicum Estuary in Qualicum Beach.  The morning was sunny, warm and calm.  A Western Grebe was seen from the Brant Viewing Station.  There were 15-20 Great Blue Heron spotted on the shoreline and in the estuary throughout the walk. Two Long-billed Dowitchers were feeding in the channel in the estuary.  A pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks were chasing a Northern Flicker.  


Long-tail Duck - Ralph Hocken photo

15 birders, including visitors from Courtenay and Edmonton saw and heard the following 44 species:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Long-tailed Duck
American Wigeon
Green-wing Teal
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Pigeon Guillemont
Marbled Murrelet
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black Oystercatcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Black Turnstone
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mew Gull
Iceland/Thayer’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Anna’s Hummingbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Bewick’s Wren
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Purple Finch


The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 25, 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 September 23, 2018 will be going to Neck Point Park, Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot of Neck Point Park about 9:10 am.

Good birding, Colin

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD &  NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669










Thursday 13 September 2018

Vancouver Island Weekly Bird Report - September 12 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Weekly Bird Report
September 12, 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.caPlease remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting.
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Sunday Bird Walk, September 9, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Plummer road side. The morning was breezy with rain showers. Three hardy, or foolish, birders went out and saw 28 species. One of our highlights was watching an Anna’s Hummingbird put the run on a Cooper’s Hawk by the viewing platform. Also had some good views of American Pipits, about 20, flying around the edge of the mud flats.


Three birders saw and heard the following twenty eight species:
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Mallard
American Widgeon
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Glaucous-winged Gull
Marbled Murrelet
California Quail
Eurasian Collared Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
American Pipit
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee

Turkey Vultures are moving south and we have received reports from Black Creek to Chemainus. Watch for them as after September we won’t see them till next year.

We are hearing House Finches are busy at many backyard feeders right now and we are seeing flocks of Bushtits visiting the suet feeders.



Whimbrel: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Tuesday bird walk Parksville/Qualicum Beach
September 11, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was cloudy and calm. At the start of the walk we were rewarded with a mix of over 60 Black Swift and Vaux’s Swift circling high above. Many of them were seen throughout the walk. There was also a Whimbrel on the mudflats. An American Pipit landed within 10 feet of us, giving great views. Several American Goldfinch were flying among the trees and a Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat were also spotted.

9 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Great-blue Heron
Black Oystercatcher
California Gull
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Whimbrel
Greater Yellowlegs
Killdeer
Black Swift
Vaux’s Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Cooper’s Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Bewick’s Wren
Eurasian-collared Dove
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
House Finch
Purple Finch



The Sunday Bird Walk on September 16, 2018 will be going to the Buttertubs Marsh, Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Buttertubs Drive at the marsh entrance.

The Tuesday Bird Walk on September 18, 2018 will be going to the 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.


Good birding, Colin

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com