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 10 October 2018

WEEKLY BIRD REPORT October 10, 2018

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Weekly Bird Report

Nanaimo bird Report, October 10, 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.
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October 3, 2018
3 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen in the center field of the Vancouver Island University track. 
Oct 8, 2018
A Barred Owl was seen and heard in the hospital area near Forest  drive and Honeysuckle terrace.
On the waterfront there have been regular reports of Pacific Loons along with the Common Loons and also a report of Red-throated Loon off of Pipers lagoon.

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
:  
Wood Duck: photo by Raiph Hocken 

Tuesday bird walk, October 09, 2018
The Tuesday bird walk went to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River in Parksville. The morning was sunny with strong winds on the Strait of Georgia. We heard and saw a huge amount of American Robins, during the morning. Four Red Crossbills were seen perched high at the top of a tall Conifer Tree and a flock were seen flying over the tall trees. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Cooper’s Hawk and a Merlin flew over head. Two Northern Shovelers were spotted just off the mud flats. A Clark’s Grebe was spotted off shore and three Western Grebes were seen a little further off shore. A Band-tailed Pigeon being chased by a Cooper’s Hawk was spotted. Pacific Loons and Common Loons were heading up the Strait. A Lincoln’s Sparrow was preening itself just off the trail.
Red Crossbill: photo by Ralph Hocken
Twenty-one birders including three visiting birders from Victoria and two visitors from Ships Point saw and heard the following fifty-three species:
Canada Geese
American Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Northern Shoveler
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Clark’s Grebe
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Common Murre
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Merlin
Iceland(Thayer’s) Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Northwestern Crow
Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Anna’s Hummingbirds
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
European Starling
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer’s Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch

Backyard Happenings
More of the sparrow family are arriving at many backyard feeders including a Harris Sparrow in the Hammond Bay area. Golden-crowned Sparrows are arriving and very vocal around the store and at my backyard feeders. Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows are still about as well. For some lucky backyard birders the American Goldfinch are still about and busy feeding on Nyjer seed and sunflower seed. Problems with wet bird seed with these storms passing through, try using less seed in your bird feeder, enough for a day or a half day instead of filling it full. Even with all the rain we have had the birds are busy in the bird baths so remember to keep them clean and topped up with fresh water. Good birding Colin

Please NoteCheck this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

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 at 6314 Metral Drive in Nanaimo at 9:00 a.m. or at the main parking lot at Neck Point off Hammond Bay Road at about 9:15am.
The Tuesday Bird Walk on October 16, 2018 will be going to the Shelly 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 end of Shelly Road on the oceanside of Highway 19a in Parksville at about 9:10 am.

Good birding
Neil Robins

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

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