Nanaimo Bird Report October 21 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store Weekly Bird Report Nanaimo Bird Report, October 21, 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 was seen and location of your sighting. *********************************************************** Nanaimo bird Report, October 21, 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 and location of your sighting. *********************************************************** Sunday Bird Walk, October 21, 2018 The Sunday bird walk went to Nanoose Bay. The morning was sunny with calm winds. A Northern Shrike was seen at the start and several other times during the walk. A Red-tailed Hawk was seen circling above the tall conifer trees. Buffleheads, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and a large flock of Surf Scoters were seen on the Strait of Georgia. Two American Pipits were seen resting near the shore, giving us great views. A flock of Canada Geese flew over, heading down the Island. A large flock of Pine Siskin’s were spotted several times landing in the tall trees along the estuary. A Varied Thrush was spotted at the end of the walk. Northern Shrike: Photo by Ralph Hocken: Seventeen birders including visiting birders from Ontario and Alberta saw and heard the following forty-four species: Canada Geese Mallard Bufflehead American Wigeon Green-winged Teal Surf Scoter Horned Grebe Red-neck Grebe Western Grebe Common Loon Pacific Loon Pelagic Cormorant Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Killdeer Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Northern Shrike Mew Gull California Gull Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Northwestern Crow Common Raven European Starling Red-wing Blackbird Anna’s Hummingbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Pacific Wren Bewick’s Wren Chestnut-backed Chickadee American Robin Varied Thrush American Pipit Spotted Towhee Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Pipit: Ralph Hocken Photo: Parksville/Qualicum Beach Tuesday bird walk, October 16, 2018 The Tuesday bird walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm with calm winds from the Georgia Strait. Two Northern Flickers were seen high up in a tall tree off the trail. An Orange-crowned Warbler was feeding high up in a tree near the trail. We heard and then saw a Fox Sparrow singing in a bush along the trail. Two Cooper’s Hawks flew overhead giving us great views. We saw a Barred Owl perched on a tree not far from us. The owl spent a long time looking down on us. A Western Meadowlark was seen on the meadows. Many flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls were flying in single file, just above the water heading up the Strait. Barred Owl: Eighteen birders saw and heard the following fifty-four species: Canada Geese American Wigeon Mallard Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter Northern Shoveler Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Pacific Loon Common Loon Great Blue Heron Barred Owl Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper’s Hawk Killdeer Herring Gull Bonaparte's Gull Mew Gull California Gull Thayer's Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Band-tailed Pigeon Eurasian Collared- Dove Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Northwestern Crow Common Raven Orange-crowned Warbler Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Pacific Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bushtit American Robin European Starling Western Meadowlark Spotted Towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Brewer's Blackbird Purple Finch House Finch Pine Siskin House Sparrow Bonaparte's Gulls: Ralph Hocken Photo: Wednesday, October 17: A Harris Sparrow was seen at the Englishman River Estuary on the Plummer Road side near the crab apple tree. A Bohemian Waxwing was spotted at Buttertubs Marsh near Jingle Pot Road. It was seen in with a flock of Cedar Waxwings. Please NoteCheck 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 23, 2018 will be going to the Columbia Beach in French Creek. Meet at the Parksville Community Park (near the Lions Club playground parking lot) in Parksville at 9:00 am, or at the parking area along Tryon Bld. (Turn onto Columbia Drive on oceanside of Highway19a. Go to the tee intersection on Columbia Drive and turn right onto Admiral Tryon Bld. Go about one hundred yards to the parking area on the ocean) at about 9:20 am. The Sunday Bird Walk on October 28, 2018 will be going to Nanaimo River Estuary in Nanaimo. Meet at the Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9:30 am. Good birding Neil Robins

*********************************************************** Please Note Please check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled! *********************************************************** THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE 6314 Metral Drive Nanaimo B.C.V9T-2L8 Phone: 250-390-3669 Fax: 250-390-1633 Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com