The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo bird Report, October 07, 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, October 07, 2018

The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. It rained all morning but, for the positive, the winds were calm.  A very large flock of Canada Geese were resting on the Marsh all morning. Many Wood Ducks, several American Coots, two Greater Scaup and six Pied-billed Grebes were just off shore. A Merlin was perched on the top of a very tall tree near the trail.  An Anna’s Hummingbird was spotted resting close to the trail. 

                                                                  Merlin: Photo by Ralph Hocken

Two rather wet birders saw and heard the following eighteen species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Wood Duck

American Coot

Greater Scaup

Pied-billed Grebe

Merlin 

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Marsh Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Golden-crowned Sparrow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

House Finch

Tuesday bird walk, October 02, 2018

The Tuesday bird walk went to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The morning was cloudy with very strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. A Cedar Waxwing was seen in a bush just off the trail at the start of the walk. Several Savannah Sparrows were spotted on a snag along the waterfront. A huge flock of Mew Gulls, California Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were resting along the shoreline. The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a single Vaux’s Swift, flying high above us.  A Western Grebe was spotted just off shore with a Horned Grebe, a Red-necked Grebe, Pacific Loons and Common Loons. We spotted a Downy Woodpecker high up in a tall tree at the end of the walk.

                                           Cedar Waxwing: Ralph Hocken Photo:

Seventeen birders including two visiting birders from Toronto saw and heard the following forty-four species:

Canada Geese

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

American Wigeon
Surf Scoter
White-wing Scoter

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Pacific Loon 
  Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant

Mew Gull

California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

Bald Eagle

Cooper’s Hawk

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northwestern Crow
American Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Bushtit

Vaux’s Swift

European Startling

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch

                                        Downy Woodpecker: 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 October 09, 2018 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary 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 in Parksville at about 9:10 am.

The Sunday Bird Walk on October 14, 2018 will be going to  Neck Point Park in Nanaimo Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:20 am.

Good birding

Neil Robins

THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

6314 Metral Drive

Nanaimo, B.C. 

V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669

Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca

                                              www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com