The Backyard's Weekly Bird Walk locations are found in the Backyard Bird Report at the very end of the most recent report. Any cancellations will be posted by 8am the day of the walk.

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.
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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










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